Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Lake Tahoe

As the audio guides play commentary based on your gps location, you can create your own itinerary along the tour route to match your interests and schedule. Or you can use our trip planners for our suggestions on half, full or multi day itineraries. Some of the many highlights are listed below;

Chimney Beach is arguably the most fabulous of Tahoe's undeveloped beaches. Named after the remains of the old caretaker's cabin, this sheltered cove of giant boulders and glittering turquoise waters casts its spell on all who visit. A sometimes steep, half mile hike down is required but persevere and you'll make it. The hidden coves stretching in both directions allow for some degree of solitude.

Donner Pass is the site of a key passage through the Sierra Nevada range, and as such has witnessed some epic moments in American history, ranging from the tragic fate of the Donner Party to the construction of both the first transcontinental railroad and transcontinental highway. Visiting options at the Donner Pass area include the Donner Memorial State Park and Lake which is home to an engaging museum, or keep driving up the old highway to see the remnants of the original railway tunnels blasted out by Chinese immigrants, ancient petroglyphs, and several scenic viewpoints.

Completed in 2019, the gorgeous East Shore Trail runs for three miles between Incline Village and Sand Harbor, offering easy access to 11 semi-wild beaches and 17 vista points as it meanders through Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park. The trail is paved and wide, making it bicycle, wheelchair and pedestrian friendly. And if you'd like to visit Hidden Beach (one of the more peaceful spots in North Tahoe to enjoy the sunset), walking or cycling from here is the only option. At the trail's terminus is Sand Harbor State Park, where you can rent kayaks and stand-up paddleboards.

Castles, waterfalls, and beaches, oh my! Whatever your fancy, you’ll be sure to find it at Tahoe’s most popular park. This stunning glacier-carved cove has one photogenic vista after another and is the most photograph location around Lake Tahoe. Admire Tahoe’s only island, Fanette, from Inspiration Point; or idly floating on an SUP while soaking up some rays, you can’t go wrong. One of Emerald Bay’s most unique sights is the maritime heritage underwater trail for snorkelers and divers, which passes the wrecks of various barges and boats beneath the surface. Hikers can take in the famous Rubicon Trail, Lower Eagle Falls, Upper Eagle Falls, and Eagle Lake in the Desolation Wilderness. This can be a busy location and an early arrival improves your chances of scoring a close-by parking spot.

The Gatekeeper's Museum in Tahoe City has two main collections: a collection of Native basketry, and a small display related to the 1960 Winter Olympics. The 270 handwoven baskets, most of which date from the turn of the twentieth century, range from Arizona to British Columbia, exhibiting an array of traditional designs. Just next to the Gatekeeper’s Museum is Fanny Bridge, which crosses Lake Tahoe’s only outlet: the Truckee River. Fanny Bridge originally got its name from - you guessed it - the backsides of all those tourists peering over the bridge at the trout in the Truckee River! And we'll enjoy scenic views of the pretty Tahoe Dam from this location.

You don’t have to be a skier or hike huge vertical to get elevated views for less effort. With over a dozen ski resorts in the Tahoe area, there are plenty of choices to take in the high country, but the most famous ride of all is the Heavenly Gondola. Climbing 3,000 feet in 12 minutes, and traveling 2.4 miles from the lake shore to the observation deck and Tamarack Lodge, the eight-seat gondola is the fastest - and least demanding - option for getting into the mountains. Open year round, the summer season features an adventure park, hiking trails, and a second chair lift that climbs even higher than the gondola.

Following the shoreline between Emerald Bay State Park and DL Bliss State Park, the Rubicon is often named Tahoe’s best hike. You can link up all sorts of sights along the way, from the Vikingsholm Mansion and Lower Eagle Falls in Emerald Bay to a ruined 1916 lighthouse in DL Bliss. If you set up a car shuttle (parking can be a challenge), you can just do the hike one-way (4.5 miles). If not, you’ll need to hike round trip, which is a total of 9 miles, but the elevation change is not like a true mountain hike.

Get a taste of the lifestyles of San Francisco’s rich and famous... one hundred years in the past. Three vacation homes - the Baldwin, the Pope, and the Valhalla -stand amid towering old growth trees on Tahoe’s south shore. At the turn of the 20th century, a casino, ballroom, croquet courts, and steamer cruises kept well-heeled guests entertained. During the summer months you can tour the mansions or catch a concert en plein air, but the grounds remain open throughout the year and always make for an interesting stroll. Nearby is the public Kiva Beach, with fabulous views of the Desolation Wilderness beyond.