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Echo Lake, California

Echo Lake, California is a great spot for outdoor adventure seekers. With its stunning scenery and wide range of activities, it's a must-visit for all looking for an outdoor escape. From hiking and biking trails to fishing and kayaking, there are plenty of top activities to enjoy. For the more adventurous, Echo Lake offers a range of challenging trails, offering stunning vistas along the way. Whether you're looking for a leisurely stroll or a more strenuous climb, Echo Lake has something for everyone. With its abundance of outdoor activities, Echo Lake is the ideal spot for a weekend getaway.

Top Spots in and near Echo Lake

  • South Lake Tahoe, California

    Catch a Sunset at Keys Beach

    Owned by the State of California, Keys Beach sits at the end of a peninsula bordered by the Tahoe Keys marina inlet to the west and the Upper Truckee River to the east. This relative isolation along with its only access being by water or a single trail keeps the beach remarkably quiet relative to...
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  • South Lake Tahoe, California

    Chillin at Lake Tahoe's Kiva Beach

    4.7
    Kiva is a secluded sandy crescent beach flanked by a beautiful meadow and mountain backdrop. This beach is rarely crowded and has free parking unlike other beaches in Tahoe. Kiva is a great place to bring dogs and is actually well known as a dog beach. Kiva is also accessible from the bike trail...
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  • South Lake Tahoe, California

    Paddle from Kiva Beach to Emerald Bay

    4.0
    Grab your paddleboard or rent one from Baldwin Beach, and head out along the southwest shores of Lake Tahoe towards Emerald Bay. Enjoy the pristine blue water and keep your head up for the occasional osprey or bald eagle.Once you make it to the bay, there are plenty of places to go. You can relax...
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  • South Lake Tahoe, California

    Baldwin Beach

    4.5
    Baldwin Beach offers a half mile of views of Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada mountains. People come to this beach to relax and picnic. This is also a popular launch spot for those kayaking or stand up paddling to Emerald Bay.  This beach is on national forest land and has a parking fee of $8.00...
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  • South Lake Tahoe, California

    Paddle from Baldwin Beach to Emerald Bay

    4.0
    Explore Lake Tahoe's southern shores by paddling from Baldwin Beach to Emerald Bay.  There are many places to stop along the way for photographs, snorkelling, or swimming. The more popular ways to paddle from Baldwin Beach to Emerald Bay are by SUP or kayaks.  But paddling a foamie can be extra f...
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  • South Lake Tahoe, California

    Cascade Falls

    4.8
    1.32 mi / 98 ft gain
    Starting out at the Bayview Trailhead you will make your way out through the campground towards the trail. Once you find the trail it is a simple way to the falls. It starts out as a wide trail and winds through the pine and fir trees. You will come to some stone steps as the trail narrows for th...
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  • South Lake Tahoe, California

    Backpack to Eagle Lake and Dick's Lake

    4.5
    13 mi / 1500 ft gain
    Get ready to get your lake on! This backpacking trip will take you 13+ miles through awesome scenery to several alpine lakes.Starting at the Bayview Campground, off of HWY 89, this hike follows the Granite Lake Trail along a difficult climb. Don't let the climb discourage you! As you climb, the v...
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  • South Lake Tahoe, California

    Hike to Snow Lake in Desolation Wilderness

    5.0
    5 mi
    This wonderful alpine lake is a relatively short hike in Desolation Wilderness and is a perfect introduction to off trail exploration. This area lacks the crowds that other lakes in Desolation garner because most maps don't show the trail leading to the lake. Although there is a rough trail, the ...
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  • South Lake Tahoe, California

    Lower, Middle, and Upper Velma Lakes

    3.0
    10.14 mi / 2316 ft gain
    The hike starts at Bayview Trailhead (Latitude: 38.938619 | Longitude: -120.14197). A wooden sign points right to "Desolation" and left to Cascade Falls. Follow the sign towards Desolation. The first 3/4 mile is comprised of switch-backs that lead to a high point with a spectacular view of Lake T...
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  • South Lake Tahoe, California

    Swim in Granite Lake

    5.0
    1.25 mi / 900 ft gain
    Granite Lake is a pristine alpine lake near Lake Tahoe just off the Highway 89 above Emerald Bay. To get there park at the Bayview Campground Trailhead, which can be pretty crowded in peak season so get there early. The trail begins with an split: right takes you into the Desolation Wilderness (a...
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  • South Lake Tahoe, California

    Maggie's Peaks

    5.0
    3.85 mi / 1663 ft gain
    This hike starts from the Bayviews Campground Trailhead. This day use area is usually pretty crowded so arrive early to get a parking spot. There is parking a quarter of a mile into the campground near the trail head, but if there is no room there is overflow parking just outside of the camping a...
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  • South Lake Tahoe, California

    Bike around Lake Tahoe

    5.0
    72.2 mi / 4308 ft gain
    You'll want to wake up early for this adventure. Be sure to have breakfast and hydrate before you start.  I suggest going clockwise around the lake. The elevation hit me. I also went with a group of friends, and what's nice about going in a group though is that you can stop every so often to make...
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  • South Lake Tahoe, California

    Camp at Bayview Campground

    5.0
    Bayview is a first come, first serve campground in South Lake Tahoe, halfway between Emerald Bay and Cascade Lake. You can catch an amazing sunrise over Emerald Bay! Large pine trees provide ample shade, and each site is equipped with a picnic table, grill, and bear boxes. Bring plenty of water -...
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  • South Lake Tahoe, California

    Explore Lake Tahoe's Vikingsholm Castle

    4.0
    The drive to the location of Vikingsholm was beautiful with spectacular views of Lake Tahoe and Emerald Bay, when approached from South Lake Tahoe. The hike down the hill to see this gem was worth it but could be hard for some (because the only return is up this somewhat steep path with switchbac...
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  • South Lake Tahoe, California

    Stand Up Paddle Board Yoga at Lakeview Commons

    Stand up paddle board yoga is some of the most difficult and rewarding yoga there is and you would be hard-pressed to find a more beautiful place to do so than on the south shore of Lake Tahoe.  Lakeview Commons is a city park that provide direct lake access for the public, including boats, along...
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  • South Lake Tahoe, California

    Photograph Lake Tahoe’s Inspiration Point

    4.7
    Lake Tahoe’s Emerald Bay is a national natural landmark and is one of the prettiest parts of the lake.  Inspiration Point is located along route 89 on the Southwest side of Tahoe about 10 miles from South Lake Tahoe or about 33 miles South from Truckee.  It is very easy to get to, and its high va...
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