Brazil
Argentina
Bolivia
Chile
Colombia
Ecuador
Guyana
French Guiana
Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
Paraguay
Peru
Suriname
Uruguay
Venezuela
Germany
Austria
Belgium
Croatia
Denmark
Spain
Finland
France
Greece
the Netherlands
Hungary
Ireland
Iceland
Italy
Luxembourg
Norway
Poland
Portugal
the United Kingdom
the Czech Republic
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
Canada
Mexico
the Dominican Republic
South Africa
Australia
Fiji
New Zealand
Papua New Guinea
State park · South Lake Tahoe, California
Emerald Bay and Vikingsholm
A green-water cove on the southwest shore of Lake Tahoe, featuring Fannette Island and Vikingsholm, a 1929 Scandinavian-style house reached by a steep trail of about 1.6 km.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Emerald Bay and Vikingsholm
Emerald Bay is a narrow cove on the southwest shore of Lake Tahoe, surrounded by mountains and featuring the lake’s only island, the small Fannette. The shallow water at the entrance is green-tinted, which gives the bay its name. Highway 89 runs above, with viewpoints offering views over the entire cove.
At the head of the bay stands Vikingsholm, a summer house built in 1929 for Lora Josephine Knight, who bought the property in 1928. The design, by architect Lennart Palme, follows medieval Scandinavian architecture, with sod roofs, carved woodwork and furniture copied from museum pieces in Norway and Sweden. On Fannette Island she built a small stone tea house, now in ruins.
The house is shown on guided tours from late May through late September. From the roadside parking lot, a trail of about 1.6 km descends to the house and the beach. Nearby, the Eagle Falls trail leads to a waterfall and alpine lakes.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
Two to three hours, including the trail, the tour and the beach.
Best time
From June to September, in the morning, before the parking lot fills. Guided tours of Vikingsholm run from late May to late September; confirm before you go. In winter, Highway 89 at the bay can close due to snow.
How to get there
On Highway 89, about 15 km northwest of South Lake Tahoe. Vikingsholm parking is paid and small. You can also reach the bay by boat or kayak.
Tip
Remember the trail is easy downhill and tiring on the return, at altitude: bring water and wear sneakers.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Emerald Bay and Vikingsholm
What is Vikingsholm?
A summer house built in 1929 in Emerald Bay in a medieval Scandinavian style, visited on guided tours in summer.
How do you get to Vikingsholm?
By a steep trail of about 1.6 km that descends from the parking lot on Highway 89, or by boat and kayak across the bay.
When is Vikingsholm open?
Guided tours run from late May to late September. Confirm before you go.