D.L. Bliss and Emerald Bay, Southwest Shore of Lake Tahoe

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D.L. Bliss and Emerald Bay, Southwest Shore of Lake Tahoe

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Difficulty: Moderate
Length: 13.2 miles / 21 km
Duration: Full day

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Overview: D.L. Bliss and Emerald Bay are effectively operated as the same State Park so why not walk a trail highlighting both!

The Rubicon Trail along the southwest shore of Lake Tahoe is a gem! It's easily accessible and has some of the best views on Tahoe. It's absolutely a hike one can look forward to repeatedly.

If you happen to have two cars, do it as a 6.6 mile one way trip, otherwise it's just over a 13.2 mile hike. With a pair of vehicles it will leave plenty of time to swim and visit Vikingshom...one of those "Must do" highlights on the Lake. I'd also given some thought to leaving a kayak at Eagle Point for the run back to the car left at Calawee Cove Beach...definitely next time!

Note: It is possible that there may be kayak concessions at these parks in 2012 or 2013!

The Rubicon covers a lot of terrain. There are flats, undulating short elevation gains and drops, and twists along some stunning shoreline cliffs. The trail dips into secluded coves, and along easily accessible shorelines in Emerald Bay. At both the beginning of the trail and end are a campgrounds, also along the south shore of Emerald Bay, you can find active nesting area for Eagles.

Tree coverage includes sugar pines in D.L. Bliss and overall coverage throughout the balance including ponderosa and Jeffrey pines, firs, incense cedar, and Sierra juniper.

Along the streams grow alders, quaking aspen, mountain dogwood, service berry and bitter cherry, and black cottonwood. Wildflowers include columbine, leopard lily, lupine, bleeding heart, yellow monkey flower and nightshade. The bulk of the brush includes ceanothus, chinquapin, currant, gooseberry, huckleberry, and manzanita.

Additionally the Parks have several other draws. Diving on the shipwrecks that dot the area, swimming, paddle boarding, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, sailing, and power boating are all popular here. Mentioned before is Vikingsholm, the Scandinavian influenced and stunning historic vacation residence at the heart of Emerald Bay. Fannette Island in the bay is accessible by boat only.

One of the Rangers told me they also get quite a lot of traffic in the winter from cross-country skiers on the park’s roadways. The Rubicon is closed to travel during the winter for safety reasons.

Tips: D.L. Bliss:
The park is located 17 miles south of Tahoe City on Highway 89, a couple of miles north of Emerald Bay.
Latitude: 38.9779
Longitude: -120.103

Park Office Telephone:
(530) 525-7277 Summer
(530) 525-7232

Emerald Bay:
The park is located 22 miles south of Tahoe City.
Park Office Telephone:
(530) 541-3030

Dogs are allowed in the parks on roads and developed areas only. They must be kept on a six-foot leash and in an enclosed vehicle or tent at night. Dogs are not permitted on the trails, on beaches or in the Vikingsholm area.

Seasons/Climate, D.L. Bliss and Emerald Bay:

Summer temperatures range from about 75 degrees during the day to the low 40s at night, and winter temperatures average from a high of 40 to a low of 20 degrees; during extremely cold winters Emerald Bay freezes over.

Camping:
Between the parks there are 268 family campsites, each
with a table, food locker and stove, plus nearby restrooms and hot showers. Although there are no hookups, some sites at D.L. Bliss will accommodate trailers up to 15 feet or motor homes up to 18 feet. Emerald Bay can accommodate trailers up to 18 feet or motor homes up to 21 feet. The D.L. Bliss group campground will accommodate up to 50 people, with a limit of 10 cars.

Reserve all campsites by calling (800) 444-7275 or visit
www.parks.ca.gov.

Twenty primitive campsites are reachable by boat. While the parks themselves have no launching facilities, boats can be launched from private facilities about 6 miles to the north or south. Scuba diving is allowed in the underwater park.

D.L. Bliss SP facilities are closed during the. The campground is open from late May through Labor Day. Please call for specific dates.

Emerald Bay: Eagle Point Campground and Boat Camp are closed in winter. They are generally open from late May or early June through Labor Day. Please call for specific dates.

There are Black Bears in the area. See the parks websites for more information during an encounter.

Food Storage Locker Information
Metal bear-resistant food lockers are provided in each campsite. All food, beverages, and toiletries are required by law to be stored in provided food lockers. The inside dimensions of the food lockers are 36" deep, 43" wide, and 22" high.

Points of Interest

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Entrance to D.L. Bliss SP

Finding D.L Bliss and Emerald Bay is quite simple. Take HWY 89 along the western shore of Lake Tahoe between Rubicon Bay and Camp Richardson/Spring Creek. The drive in is a good one.

At the Bliss Entrance is the Visitor's Center. Follow a winding road down to the Check-in Station and continue through the campgrounds. Maps are available at both the Visitors Center and Check-in. During the summer ask about nests and bird sightings on Emerald Bay, there's always the possibility of spotting occupied nests.

Getting to the Rubicon trailhead is as simple as following the roadway signs to Lester Beach and more particularly to Calawee Cove. There are 3 parking areas available down along the Tahoe shore.

The campgrounds on the way in are extensive and spread out in all the level areas between HWY 89 and the lake shore! Each of the campground areas has well developed restrooms and showers. Bear lockers are in every site with secure trash bins nearby. It's a well laid out campground.

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Shorefront Parking for Trailhead

Calawee Cove parking is perched a short way above the cove itself. It's an ample paved area for 16-18 cars with views overlooking both the cove and lake.

It does have a restroom at the north end of the lot. Planning ahead for small children, the next restroom will be a few hundred yards off WP 12 in the center of the Pines Campground. At a bit over 1.25 miles it's not far but with all the views and stops to be made on the way, it's handy for planning.

The trailhead is at the south end of the parking lot.

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Informational Signage

Originally constructed at Rubicon Point the lighthouse is the highest on any navigable water in the world. Constructed in 1919 at the cost of $900.00 its 70 candlepower light was visible 7 miles across the lake.

In 1921 it was moved to the present location down the shore at Sugar Pine Point.

The trail is posted for no bicycles and no dogs. Many segments of the trail are narrow and on steep and cliff like slopes. There simply isn't room to accommodate both bikes and hikers.

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Rubicon Trailhead

The Rubicon trail for much of its first mile is that of a single track trail that features numerous steep short up grades and descents, periodic granite steps, and steep side slopes and cliffs down to the lake. In places, its boulders, thin to moderately heavy forest, and packed full of Tahoe views.

There isn't a lot of elevation gain or loss but one will get a good workout. In a lot of spots, one's looking down and into the clear waters of Tahoe into little coves accessible only by boat.

It's about as much fun as hiking a place like Desolation Wilderness and it's also easier to get to.

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Junction-Lighthouse Trail

Just up the trail will be the trailhead for the lighthouse trail. It rapidly heads upslope and generally parallels the lower Rubicon Trail. They will rejoin further down the trail.

The Rubicon generally follows the contour...with severe short rises and drops aided by rock steps. Much of the slope below drops steeply into the lake below.

Have the camera ready, there's spectacular vistas along much of the route as one looks down into the clear lake waters.

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Vista and Rock Face

This is one of the most entertaining sections of the hike! The trail's been carved into the side of a granitic outcropping overlooking an amazing drop down to the lake.

Along the trail edge is a convenient chain safety rail.

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Lighthouse Above

Look up the cliff face. It's the old lighthouse.

Originally lit in 1921 as one of several navigational aids for commercial service on Lake Tahoe and temporarily shut down in 1935 only to be relit again a year later.

Its original location was a short distance away at Rubicon Point it was billed as the worlds highest lighthouse.

Other Resources
Rubicon Point Light
Sugar Pine Point Light

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Side Trail-Rocks below the lighthouse

Side-trail out to the rocks below the light.
Take care with children, it's a long and steep drop down to the lake!

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Out on the rocks

Out on the rocks nearly the entire lake is before you. Looking down are the crystal clear waters of Tahoe.

When done, head back to the trail. It will continue as it was, following the steep shoreline, moderately narrow in spots, granite steps where needed, lake views...as it winds its way toward the next cove.

If it's a busy weekend expect to see the occasional boat at anchor below.

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Junction-Lighthouse Trail

This is the point where the Lighthouse Trail rejoins Rubicon. This junction does not appear on the Park Map. The lighthouse is 0.2 miles up trail.

Just up ahead the trail will dip into forest cover as it pulls away from the lake.

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Scenic Lookout

Just past a boulder outcropping is a fenced and graded scenic viewpoint with sweeping vistas to the east and south across to Nevada and South Shore.

The forest cover thickens from here.

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Junction-Pines Campground Access

One of 2 trails up to the Pines Campground (Sites 1-90).

Should you need them, showers, restrooms, and check-in station. Its just over 100 yards to the campgrounds. Eyeballing the map, less than 300 yards to the restrooms (I've children in mind).

For parents with kids the next restroom is at the Boat-In campground (WP 27).

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Junction-Pines Campground and Rubicon Trailhead

The second road to the Pines Campgrond (Sites 1-90) and the local Rubicon Trailhead.

From here the trail maintains an easy, well groomed grade through alternating heavy and light forest cover.

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A thinning in the tree cover

The trail overall through this section is very well graded and fairly level. Sounds...primarily the breeze, jays, and the thumping of woodpeckers.

The forest has been thinned and cleared for fire prevention in this area.

The forest cover will thicken shortly. There will also be an area that shows fire damage...blackened trunks, dead lower branches, clear forest floor with an additional area that appears to have floor debris burned as a wildfire preventative measure.

After passing through the cleared section the forest and groundcover again will become very dense, blocking views of the region

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Vista Point

Another fenced and graded viewing platform overlooking Tahoe and the mouth of Emerald Bay.

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Switchbacks

The first real drop in elevation for the Rubicon as it heads for the lakeshore.

Upslope in places it appears past slides have stripped out the forests. These would be marked by heavily thinned or only young trees and full undergrowth.

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Waterfalls

Entering a shallow cove the vegetation becomes lush and while rounding a bend, a pair of small waterfalls cross the trail and continue down to the cove below.

The single track trail heads briefly upwards to cross another point before heading down into the next cove.

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Switchbacks

Switchbacks and short rock staircase.

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Vista Point

The trail provides access to the top of a point with the vista encompassing most of the Tahoe Basin.

The trail will continue to slowly loose elevation.

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A Secluded Cove

Now down just above the lakeshore the trail will wind it's way from cove to cove. Periodically there will be short but steep side trails to the water.

This region of Tahoe has been long known for avalanches and landslides. HWY 89 is periodically closed in the winters as a result. Ahead on the trail we will be entering the recovering site of a huge 1989 avalanche. The primary indications will include a marked thinning of tree cover. Countering the loss of trees, the ground covering shrubs have become prolific with the availability of direct sunlight.

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A Cove, crossing Emerald Point, and to the bay.

At the northerly side of Emerald Point there is a particularly nice and sheltered cove with easy access and a shallow sandy bottom. It's an ideal place to stop, have a picnic, and spend some time in the water.

It makes for a terrific paddleboard, kayak, or canoe stop.

From here the trail heads inland and cuts across Emerald Point on its way to the bay. The Park Map shows no "official" trails out to the point's end though several well establish "volunteer" trails exist. Please stay on the main trail to protect the nesting bald eagles on the point

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Shoreline Access

Along Emerald Bay there will be a number of easy water access points featuring log steps into the bay. In general there's little or no beach at each of these stepped locations. The bay bottom is generally sandy with scattered boulders and shallow near the shore.

Incidentally, the trail is entering another area affected by the 1982 Avalanche here in Emerald Bay.

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Shoreline Access

The trail is about 10 feet above the shore itelf.

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Shoreline Access

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Shoreline Access

There is a slight elevation gain above the shore as the trail heads toward the "Boater's Campground" and into a somewhat heavier forest cover.

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Rubicon Trailhead and Boating Camp

An expansive campground with 20 primitive sites terraced up the slope along the bay. There is offshore mooring, a dock, restrooms, drinking water a paved service road in, and several small beachheads suitable for canoes/kayaks. Picnic benches, fire pits, and food lockers are at the sites.

The campgrounds are a fun warren of trails leading to build up terraced campsites among tall trees and boulder outcroppings.

Follow the service road/trail down toward the shore and through the campgrounds to the next Rubicon Segment which will take us through to Vikingsholm ahead.

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Informational Sign

Park Map and several historic images of Emerald Bay include early 20th Century automobile travel and boating.

The dock access is close by.

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Rubicon Trailhead

The trail follows along the shoreline toward the southerly end of the campground and toward Vikingsholm on a graded path that will gently gain elevation.

Vikingsholm: 0.9 miles.
Eagle Point: 2.6 miles.

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Junction

A track heading upslope and northwesterly. It does not appear on the Park Map.

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Shoreline Access

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Footbridge

The first of two short footbridges over creeks draining into the bay.

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Footbridge

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Parson's Rock Trail

A side trail out to Parson's Rock.

Entering the area of the 1980 Landslide Path.

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Parson's Rock and Fannette Island

Views of essentially all of Emerald Bay.

Fannette Island:
Fannette Island can be visited by boat only. Note that swimming to the island is strictly prohibited by state and county law. Historically the island has also been known as Coquette Island, Baranoff Island, Dead Man’s Island, Hermit’s Island, and Emerald Isle over the past 100 years. Tahoe's only island stands about 150 feet tall and today features the remains of a stone structure at it's top known as "The Teahouse".

The island was the home of an English settler named Captain Dick Barter from 1863-1873, "the Hermit of Emerald Bay" who built both a small chapel and tomb for himself there. Lost in a storm, he was never interred here.

The Teahouse was built in 1928-29. It was originally outfitted with a round table and chairs where tea was periodically served the guests at Vikingsholm. Today, only the stone structure and fireplace remain. There's no camping allowed. Dog are also not allowed on the island as it is a seasonal rookery for geese.

Other Resources
Fannette Island
Underwater Park

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Footbridge

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Waterfall

A late running creek with a small waterfall along another footbridge.

Entering the Vikingsholm Day Use Area with picnic benches scattered around.

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Junction-Vikingsholm Trail

Side Trail-Vikingsholm Trail heads up to HWY 89 and the Emerald Bay Lookout. The lower trail starts out flat then heads steeply up the valley wall.

Keep to the low ground and follow the shoreline to Vikingsholm. Shortly there will be a boardwalk heading over some low ground to the beach.

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Boat Pier

The boating pier at Vikinsholm and a long sand beach fronting the home itself. The pier is restricted to loading and unloading only of personal boats under 23 feet in length.

The Rubicon Trail appears to on the beach although there are a number of additional paths branching out into the home area itself that are worth exploring.

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Vikingsholm

In 1928 Lora Knight of Santa Barbara purchased this land on Emerald Bay and instructed the Swedish born Architect Lennart Palme to design a home based on their travels to Scandinavia. The home was to be inspired by elements of Norwegian farmsteads and wooden churches of that region. It was also desired that the trees of the site not be disturbed, the home designed around them.

Of particular interest are the design and construction details. The construction methods and materials duplicate the methods that have been used since ancient Scandinavia. The intricate carvings, the hand-hewn timbering, the living sod roofs were iall nspired and copied faithfully.

In furnishing Vikingsholm Mrs. Knight wanted perfection. So much so that the Norwegian government actually prohibited her from exporting historically significant pieces. Her solution was to duplicate the originals in fine detail, down to simulating the textures, the aging, and coloration.

Vikingsholm was completed in September 1929 and became Mrs. Knight's summer home until she passed in 1945. Today the home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is open for visitation from Memorial Day through September.

The site is also accessible from HWY 89 via a steep mile long trail beginning near the Emerald Bay Overlook.
Call the D.L. Bliss office in advance at (530) 525-9529
for information about accessibility at Vikingsholm.

Other Resources
Vikingsholm.org
Vikingsholm-State Parks Site

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Leaving the Beach

Nearing the southerly end of the beach past Vikingshom round the meadow like area (hopefully with wildflowers in bloom)and locate the paved path.

The path enters a shaded park like area with a stone lined pond just inshore of the mouth of Eagle Creek.

It's about 1.7 miles to the Eagle Point Campground.

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Old Boat Shelter

An old stone-lined boat shelter.

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Visitor Center

The Visitor Center has the appearance of an old stone cottage. Inside are plenty of interpretive displays, a gift store, and a very friendly staff!

The interior is small and can get quite crowded as it's a popular stop.

Other Resources
Sierra State Parks Foundation

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Trailhead

Behind the Visitor Center the paved trail heads up to a bridge crossing over Eagle Creek through a open forested area then along a portion of the lower creek that rushes down a boulder strewn slope.

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Junction: Eagle Falls Trail

Climb the stone steps to the Junction and bridge.

The Eagle Falls Trail heads upslope toward Lower Eagle Falls, 0.2 miles.

Cross the bridge over Eagle Creek, stopping to take in the view of the cataract. The waters flow from the snowmelt upslope in the surrounding peaks and Desolation Wilderness.

After crossing the bridge our path will be entering a very rocky area, the general region of a 1955 landslide.

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Footbridge

The path runs through an area of broken forest along the foot of the 1955 landslide area to a "quaint" for want of a better term, "A" framed footbridge nestled in the forest, crossing a small creek. There is only a handful of this style of bridge in the State Park system.

The vegetation will become the lushest of what we've traveled so far.

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Footbridge

"A" framed footbridge in a lush riparian grove.

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Viewpoint

Looking out over Emerald Bay in a slide area.

Keep an eye open for treetop Osprey nests along the rest of the trail. This day, there was one young osprey making its first short trip out of its nest!