1. Eagle Falls Trailhead

1. Eagle Falls Trailhead

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South Lake Tahoe, CA

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Eagle Falls Trailhead

4.6 (212 reviews)

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Majestic
Matt K.

One of many waterfalls in the Tahoe area. The hikes to the summit and to the falls are neither very difficult nor long, but you will need to move a bit on up to trail to avoid the crowds that are filling up the water at the base. We parked on the street which was just a short walk from the trailhead.

Eagle Falls

Stumbled upon this trailhead on the way around the drive of the lake second day of our trip. Beautiful area!

Gabriela M.

This was a short hike from the parking lot area to Eagle Falls. I learned that day that there are many trails in the area, but our goal was to visit the top of the hill. It was a fun and kid-friendly hike. Parking space is minimal; luckily, we found parking as we pulled up. A hiker was gracious enough to give us his parking ticket to use for the remainder of the day. The hike is less than 1 mile from the parking lot. It can be steep and has stairs, so watching your steps and strollers is not recommended. There's a small rest area with a bench and rocks you can sit on. You can view the waterfalls from this area or continue towards the bridge. There's also a small swimming area that you will see after you cross the bridge to the right. It was busy when we arrived, and families enjoyed the water. Overall, a convenient and short hike. A place to consider visiting. Good luck with parking!

Lower Eagle Falls
Alex C.

This review is solely for Lower Eagle Falls. Instead of hiking here, we opted to simply drive directly here. Starting from highway 89, we went through the Upper Eagle Point Campground, which takes you through some very narrow public and private roads, many of which are littered with large potholes. Would only recommend the drive during non-winter months, and during the day when it is still well-lit outside. Although it takes awhile to reach from car via our route, we were able to go directly to Lower Eagle Falls without the need to hike. This was a huge boon for my elderly in-laws, as they were able to enjoy the scenic views without the physical exertion. You can conveniently park right across the falls on the side of the dirt road. And there are several key spots to stand to make some great pictures. We didn't feel the need to continue up the ever more treacherous dirt path upwards towards the bridge and onwards to Upper Eagle Falls, so at that point we simply turned around.

10-1-24. Signage
Lloyd C.

Eagles Falls Trailhead is a nice hike. A lot of great scenery to see and enjoy. The hike is not too bad. The weather was awesome.

Madonna M.

Beautiful hike with a lot of steps. Parking was free when we went and the trails were well maintained. I would argue that its difficulty is not "easy" or necessarily family friendly. My kids loved it, but I was expecting an easier hike!

David L.

We hiked the trails this past weekend. Parking is limited and kind of crazy at times. People park in the most dangerous parts of the road. The rangers call it the highway of hell. Pretty crazy. We had to park a mile away almost and walk here. It was still fun but the cars get hectic later in the day. The altitude really effects you as you are walking around. It takes a little to get use to. Plus I'm not in shape but still kept at it. It was not far before you saw the waterfall and bridge going up. So beautiful and great place for the pictures. We took a lot. If you continue on you get to a lake I believe but we wanted to go down to the big lake. So we continued back on the loop side this time. The rangers were trimming the bushes as we were hiking up the trails. So nice of them to do that. The trails are kept in very nice shape because of them. Please try not to liter. Be carful on the bridge. I took a picture of it. I was walking and filming and that is when I tripped and almost fell. There are extra boards in the middle of the bridge and about 6 inches or more on each side of the walkway is lower than the middle and I caught my foot and thus tripped. We had such a great time hiking here and it is very pretty. Go out and walk around. you will love it to.

River
Michelle R.

100% worth it. $5 for parking, but it goes to trail maintenance. Well marked path, but it will definitely make you break a sweat- it's mostly stairs the whole way.

Valerie T.

moderate trail, def expect to get your cardio in with all the stairs up the loop. should take about 45 mins if you take it chill like we did with pit stops to take in the beauty. we found one of the last two spots of parking at like 9:30a! parking was under $10 if i'm not mistaken (can't remember the actual price). everyone else was parking on the side of the road or in another parking lot just a minute north up the road. remember to get your day pass filled out before hiking! carry out what you carry in.

Eagle Falls trail - rocky hike
Sam R.

Sunday, 8/13/2023 - We headed up to the mountain to hike at Eagle Falls. Address is 138 Emerald Bay Rd, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150. There is parking by the street and there a parking lot with bathrooms here. Upon arrival... Pros 1) parking is limited. So if you go on the weekend, good luck on finding parking. It was packed when we arrived. 2) there are bathrooms here. Eagle Falls has its own parking lot besides the legal street parking. 3) hike isn't too far to see the falls. We got close to it. We didn't go all the way. Kiddos were tired and hot after a quarter mile hike. It was hot this day. Will have to try this hike again and go a little further when it's a little cooler. But it's beautiful!!! 4) it's an easy hike. But it is very rocky and lots of stairs. Not wheelchair friendly. 5) if you've any lower body pains, this may not be the hike for you. 6) when you go about a quarter mile hike in, there is a bench under a tree to rest up. 7) there's lots of nice people hiking. 8) Cons 1) none Conclusion I liked this hike. Wasn't too bad. Easy for the kids. Short hike to see the waterfall from a distance. This hike may be harder for those with lower body pains or those in wheelchair, as it's very rocky and lots of stairs. But it's a nice hike.

Beautiful views from the trail
Shayla B.

The hike to Eagle Falls is short, easy, and very family friendly. This was the first hike that I did while visiting Emerald Bay State Park, and it was a great warmup for the longer hike that I did later on. The Entrance to the Eagle Falls Trailhead is right before the Emerald Bay State Park parking lot. Parking is terrible. Straight up. It might be best to find an open spot along the road unless you plan on arriving around 7 am. The parking lot is extremely small for the amount of visitors that come here. Once you secure parking, the trailhead entrance is hard to miss. The trail to Eagle Falls is a short loop trail, so you can start on either trail to get there. The elevation gain is minimal and it's less than a mile roundtrip. There are a few scenic vista points that are worth stopping by on your way to the falls. The views of Lake Tahoe at the top are stunning! There's no signage for the falls, but they're located underneath the bridge. I came during mid September and unfortunately the falls were damn near non-existent. I actually didn't even realize that I had passed them up until I saw another group taking pictures behind the bridge. If you're going for the falls, don't go during September or you'll be disappointed. You can continue to Eagle Lake which requires a permit. I feel like most people who were hiking to the Lake didn't have a permit, but that's none of my business. Didn't hike to the lake since I had planned on doing a second hike on the Rubicon trail, but now that I know that it's not much further from the falls, I will definitely hike to it next time. Even though the falls were sparse and the trail to the falls was short and quick, I still enjoyed the views of the lake and forest. Looking forward to coming back now that we've had some rain. Hopefully the falls will be flourishing next time.

Ed T.

This review is for Vikingsholm Trail To Lower Eagle Falls which was a ~2.5 miles round trip that took ~1.5 hours to complete. Extremely crowded and popular hike ($10 parking fee at Vikingsholm Parking Lot or free parking on the side of the highway). Easy decline down to Emerald Bay; tough incline back to the parking lot. Great views of the bay and waterfall! Short video of the hike for those interested! https://youtu.be/LugElt4D7h0

Road is well maintained
Gloria M.

What a gorgeous place! We have been here a few times during summer but never during winter. What a nice surprise that it was snowing. It's amazing and peaceful during anytime of the year

Emerald Bay from the Bayview Trail

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The yelp direction was wrong. It took me to a neighborhood that has no trails at all.

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Eagle Falls Trailhead Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Eagle Falls Trailhead

Are dogs allowed?

We were there summer of 2020 and yes dogs were allowed.

How many miles?

2 mile round trip to Eagle Lake trail, up the Eagle Falls trailhead being on a stair master the majority of the way, but it was so worth the beautiful views you get to enjoy during the hike. There are plenty of spots to stop and take photos of… 

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Review Highlights - Eagle Falls Trailhead

Anyways you'll keep heading down the trail and it's about a mile or so in and you will come across Eagle Lake.

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Mount Tallac Trail

Mount Tallac Trail

4.7
(92 reviews)
0.7 mi

I did this trail in late May when there was still a lot of snow on the mountain. I started the hike…read moreearly in the morning (7 a.m.) to make sure the snow was packed and not slippery (because of the sun beating down on it). There were only 2 other cars in the lot when I got there. That already signaled me that this trail may not be as safe to hike as I had initially thought. The hike started easy, but soon after I passed the second lake, it became tricky because it was really hard to keep track of the trail. Parts of the trail were either buried under the snow or harder to identify due to the fallen trees, bushes, and streams of water. I definitely went off the trail a few times, but thankfully, I had the map downloaded on AllTrails (yayyy AllTrails+ subscription), which came in clutch. The trail is mostly covered until you get past the 3rd lake. After the third lake, it was all rocky and exposed. It was really hard to follow the trail from that point on because of the snow. It gets steeper from there on out. Since the trail was convere in snow, I decided to rock scramble straight to the top. It was probably not the best idea. Having done that, I'd advise against it because the rocks were loose. One wrong step, and you are either falling or twisting your ankle. I did this hike with no poles, spikes, or gloves. Spikes would have helped because some areas required going downhill on snow-covered patches (some steeper than the others). I don't think you need gloves or warm layers. The views throughout the hike were amazing. Don't forget to stop and look back on your way up (and look up on your way down). Avoiding snow-covered areas in some cases will lead you off the trail, so take your time when going through those patches of snow. Don't let your ego get in the way and turn back if you start having doubts. A tip (shouldn't be a surprise) - When going through a patch of snow, make sure your first step is somewhat bigger so you don't step on the edges of the snow patch where the snow is usually thin and chances of you falling through are high.

This trail is a killer! I've done strenuous hikes before, but I think part of my soul left on this…read moretrail. Not sure if it's the 80° weather, all the rocks, or I was just out of shape, but this trail really tested my mind over matter. The trailhead is easy to find, with a small parking lot but there's tons of parking nooks along the road for overflow. I would say this hike has 3 sections to conquer. 1. The trail starts off easy, soft dirt path with some shade alongside great views of Lake Tahoe. There's some slight parts of incline, but nothing too elevated. You pass by several lakes that are great picnic spots and we saw many dogs taking a swim. Butterflies everywhere. 2. The trail starts getting rocky the further you go, like walking along a dry creek. You hike uphill for what seems like a lifetime, then finally get to the base of the mountain.. of boulders. SO many rocks, BIG rocks, and switchbacks! ALL incline. And no shade. This took some time to get to the top. 3. You made it to the top! But oh no, you're not done yet. To get to the summit is about another mile to the right. The trail eventually splits with a less noticeable trail to the right. Keep right to get to the summit. This was probably the most beautiful part of the trail with open plains, soft grass, and wildflowers along both sides of the path. However, at this point I was so exhausted that my steps were like the mini steps of a toddler. The struggle was real ya'll. Every uphill was a battle. Finally, after what felt like a lifetime, you climb up some rocks and you're at the top of the summit, greeted by a metal sign "Mt Tallac 9,739" elevation. Whoo! It was a spectacular 360 view. There were oddly a ton of flies up there. Also, lots of butterflies and chipmunks. Of course going down was much faster but beware if you have bad knees. My knees usually never hurt going downhill but I definitely felt it on this hike. With 9.5 miles (out and back) of rocky trail and the 3,284 ft elevation gain, hiking sticks are a must! On part two of the trail, certain parts you can hear rattlesnakes so make sure you stay on the trail. Cover up and bring more water than you think you'd need. I plowed thru my hydropack and additional two bottles. At the end, the sight of the trailhead sign and our car was like heaven on earth.

Photos
California tortoiseshell butterflies were everywhere
California tortoiseshell butterflies were everywhere
Doggo in the lake
Doggo in the lake
A cool stretch of forest running along a plateau above Fallen Leaf Lake. Awesome section of the trail.

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A cool stretch of forest running along a plateau above Fallen Leaf Lake. Awesome section of the trail.
Spooner Summit

Spooner Summit

4.4
(17 reviews)
6.1 mi

This is a great little spot for snow play during the winter season. Parking is a little tough. The…read moreonly facilities are Porta potties. There is a very small parking lot, and along the sides of the road, but it's a tight squeeze going down the lane. The area is beautiful and there's plenty of space and small hills for sledding. And best of all - it's free! We had *snow* much fun! Yelp 2026 Challenge: 03/30

From my Genoa perspective, I usually take the Kingsbury grade to go to South Lake Tahoe and Back…read more I'll drive up from the Valley to the Spooner Summit if I'm going to the State Park of that name, Sand Harbor, Incline, and destinations North. I might drive back to the Valley via Spooner if I'm coming from South Lake and need to run errands in Carson City. Observations 1. As "The Lake" doesn't have a Costco or a Trader Joes, there can be decent visitor traffic coming down to the Valley from Spooner Summit. That includes considerable cheaper gas prices available at Costco gas. 2. The scenery coming down Spooner into the Valley is stunning. So can car speed of which a Carson Sherriff's car may happily pull you over. And that stop light can come into view fairly quickly. 3. One thing you might notice coming down are the distinct large piles of logs associated with the new Carson City Sawmill (in partnership with the Washoe Tribe). Tahoe Forest Products processes timber salvaged from wildfires, forest thinning projects. 4. I make it a point to drive this route (in either direction) for the fall colors. 5. What I always marvel at is the transition between Alpine and High Desert, in either direction. 6. In wintertime at the Alpine Summit, you'll find scores of cars and families taking advantage of sledding opportunities. Parking can be challenging. Some of those cars don't know how to drive in the winter (or understand chains) of which I saw first hand last Saturday as Gayle and I were dropping off Darling Granddaughter. Lots of slipping and sliding and 2 overturned vehicles were noted. 7. There are also hiking opportunities at the Spooner Summit of which I've only done the easy trek around nearby Spooner Lake.

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Spooner Summit
Spooner Summit
Spooner Summit

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Lam Watah Trail to NV Beach

Lam Watah Trail to NV Beach

4.7
(20 reviews)
5.6 mi

I just found out about Lam Watah Trail (in South Lake Tahoe/Stateline in the Nevada side) and…read morewalked it recently. The name in Washoe means permanent mortar by the stream. The trailhead is right within walking distance from the casinos and Stateline/Highway 50. If walking the strip/Stateline is not your thing, don't forget about the free Lake Link shuttle service. The trail leads to Nevada Beach. It's 2.8 miles roundtrip. Flat, no inclines. My kind of walk. Portions of the trail are packed dirt or paved with the majority of it paved. The trailhead has a small paved parking lot, it's free with no time limits but no overnight parking allowed. There are public restrooms. If they're open, I suggest using those because in the winter all the other restrooms on the trail and the beach are closed. We discovered that the hard way. There are two options of trails at the trailhead parking lot. You can use the paved path or the dirt path. The dirt path provides a view of Jennings pond and field as it is right next to it. Even though the pond itself is about 4 feet, you or your fur babies don't want to fall into that ice cold water so stay on the path. The field and pond tend to blend together in the winter scenery. The paved path doesn't provide views of the meadow or pond. Both trails link together. At this intersection, there is a foot bridge that crosses the Burke Creek. Even in the middle of winter, the creek had a trickling flow of water. The sound was relaxing and serene. The path from this point on is paved. Right now, sections of the path have ice and snow even on a warm sunny winter day. So be prepared with the right footgear. Along the way, there are info boards describing the history. I found out that the indigenous Washoe lived in the area before European settlers, and Rabe meadow served as the Sky Harbor casino and air landing strip in the 1940s. Crazy to think there was a casino and air strip here. On the opposite side of the meadow are large, beautiful granite boulder clusters viewable from the path. And Aspen grooves which I imagine are flaming gorgeous in the Fall. The trail leads to the beach. The beach has a walking path made of a composite grooved decking about 3-4 feet wide. The beach can also be reached by driving to it; it has a paved parking lot and street parking. On the weekday I walked the trail, it had a good number of folks and dogs. Leashed dogs are allowed on the trail but not allowed on the beach.

Short walk from Stateline also accessible via free Lake Link shuttle service is this flat level…read morepath that goes to the beach also connects to other trails. Bikes and pedestrians. Lot of dogs some not leashed. Lots of fowl wildlife and waters along the way.

Photos
Pond path from the trailhead. You can use this path or the other which is paved (towards the left).
Pond path from the trailhead. You can use this path or the other which is paved (towards the left).
Paco!!
Paco!!
Beach at the end of the trail

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Beach at the end of the trail
Glen Alpine Trailhead

Glen Alpine Trailhead

4.6
(7 reviews)
4.8 mi

We started out from the trailhead about 9 am on Labor Day weekend and went up to grass lake. We had…read moreto park just outside the parking lot but as we set off we noticed some earlier risers were pulling out. The 6 mile round trip hike included a little creek fording, a nice visit to the soda spring, and of course lunch by the lake. The trail is pretty rocky so puppies may do better with booties. Our girl has a 5 mile max and had to be carried for about .5 miles on the rocky path back.

The drive to the falls is beautiful ! Going along Fallen Leaf Lake is a sight to see. The road can…read moreget a little rough with holes in some parts and narrow so be careful as you drive on it and pass other cars. No phone reception so make sure the gps is already going. Once you drive by the fire station you are almost there. Parking is free along the dirt road across from the falls (you can see the falls to the right as you drive on the road). Tends to fill up toward noon so if it is full continue driving up the hill and there's more parking. Give yourself a little room to back out. I started with checking out below the falls first. Wow! What a sight to see! The water was roaring down ! Great sight for photos (see attached photos )! Here you can explore a little by going down the rocks and getting as close to the water as you feel comfortable . As you continue to follow the water runoff , there's a nice shot of the stream as it continues down (see attached photo ). You can touch and if you have enough courage to go in haha. It's VERY cold! You can walk back to the road and follow it up above the falls for more great photos and view (see attached photos ). The road continues but I'm not sure where it goes . I wanted to explore more but had other destinations on my list. If you're in the Lake Tahoe area this is a MUST SEE. I wanted to come in the winter but the road leading to it (along the lake)is sketchy and covered in snow (4x4 required). Come soon while the falls is still roaring !

Photos
Glen Alpine Trailhead
Glen Alpine Trailhead
Grass Lake 6/2014

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Grass Lake 6/2014

Eagle Falls Trailhead - hiking - Updated July 2026

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