5-day dog friendly itinerary in Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe has always been on our bucket list so when we got a few days of vacation, my then fiancé, dog, Rocky and I drove from San Diego to South Lake Tahoe in search of lake life and epic hikes. Lake Tahoe is the second deepest lake in the United States. With over 70 miles of shoreline split between Nevada and California, Lake Tahoe is situated in the Sierra Nevada and is the perfect destination for outdoor enthusiasts.
We visited during the end of October, so it wasn’t warm enough for summer and not quite ski/snowboarding season yet. This was perfect timing for us because the hikes, beaches and town were less crowded. We stayed at a dog-friendly AirBnB that was in the perfect location - just outside of town, walkable to coffee and a few other shops. Check out this Lake Tahoe itinerary for things to do in Lake Tahoe!
Day 1 – Drive & Discover
After our 9-hour drive from San Diego, we finally arrived in Lake Tahoe in the afternoon and explored Emerald Bay State Park by car, stopping at vista points (including Inspiration Point) along the journey. There are many hiking trails around here that we planned to do later in the trip to we wanted to scope it out by car first. The fall foliage was absolutely stunning and of course the lakes are magnificent. We ventured to Kiva Beach for sunset and let our dog roam around the beautiful, forested shores.
Day 2 – Engagement pictures at Lake Tahoe’s Most Picturesque Locations
Lake Tahoe was our engagement picture destination. Since my husband proposed on the beach in San Diego, we wanted a slightly different wilderness vibe for our engagement pictures. Lake Tahoe was the perfect location with its alpine forests, granite rock formations, and of course serene lake! We booked a local photographer (highly recommend Jen!) prior to arriving and scheduled this for our first full day in Lake Tahoe (in case of inclement weather).
Cave Rock, Valhalla and Kiva Beach were our three backdrops.
Starting at Cave Rock (type in “Cave Rock Trailhead” into your GPS), we ascended the jagged granite rocks for some stunning views of the Lake. The walk to get there is less than a mile and an easy trek on a sandy path. Once you get to the rocks, you will have to climb over boulders a bit. (Go at your own risk.) The cliff is quite a drop so definitely take caution. If you are an adventurer and don’t mind hiking this in a nice outfit, I highly recommend this option to capture some unforgettable memories!
Tip: Parking at Cave Rock is extremely limited. We got lucky with finding spots likely because it was mid-October. Go early, plan to stop by a couple of times to check on parking, or plan to hike uphill to get here.
Next stop was Valhalla. Valhalla was about a 30-minute drive from Cave Rock. With its picturesque dock and quaint shed, Valhalla was the perfect spot to get the lake-vibe we were looking for.
Kiva Beach is just on the other side of Valhalla and was where we ended the shoot. We brought a scarf, champagne and glasses to celebrate.
With the many hidden gems, state parks, and of course, lakes in the area, you can’t go wrong with a photoshoot in Lake Tahoe!
Lake tahoe engagement photos
Day 3 – Desolation Wilderness
Our first summit in Lake Tahoe was Maggie’s Peak, with stops at Eagle Lake and Granite Lake. Maggie’s Peak. We parked near Eagle Falls Trailhead, located in Desolation Wilderness, part of the El Dorado National Forest. and walked about a mile to Eagle Lake. Our dog Rocky, went for a swim here and enjoyed this refreshing break. From Eagle Lake, we ascended to Maggie’s Peak which took about an hour. We missed the sign for Maggie’s Peak and ended up hiking upwards off trail. From Maggie’s Peak we ascended down via Granite Lake Trail, stopping at, of course, Granite Lake.
We didn’t see any snow on the trail as the first snowfall in Lake Tahoe hadn’t occurred yet but I imagine this gets quite snowy from winter through early spring.
We were quite hungry after this 7-mile hike, so we ordered takeout from Jade Garden.
Day 5 - Mount Tallac
For our final full day in Lake Take, we conquered Mount Tallac, arguably the most famous hike in Lake Tahoe. This 10.5 mile out-and-back trail summit is just shy of 10,000 feet and dog friendly. On this hike, you’ll discover some alpine lakes including Fallen Leaf Lake and Cathedral Lake. Both are magnificent and worth taking a stop to have a snack or lunch. Once you reach the summit, you’ll experience breathtaking views of Emerald Bay and Lake Tahoe. There’s lots of rock terrain, climbing, and exposed sections but absolutely worth it if you are up for the challenge!
Our dinner was nothing to write about (as we found most of the food in Lake Tahoe). Come for the scenery and hikes, not for the gourmet grub!
On our way home from Lake Tahoe, we made a pit stop in Yosemite to meet some friends and climb Half Dome. Climbing Half Dome was an experience I’ll never forget as we beat the crowds and ascended without cables. More of that later.
Lake Tahoe is known for its an abundance of outdoor activities in the summer and world class winter sports. We opted to go right in between at the end of October and had the experience of a lifetime! Whether you want to swim, boat, or ski, Lake Tahoe is the perfect getaway to connect with nature, breathe in the mountain air, and enjoy natural beauty at it’s finest! Enjoy your Lake Tahoe itinerary! Read on for things to do in Lake Tahoe, California.