Eagle Falls

Eagle Falls is a popular two-part waterfall system in Emerald Bay State Park at Lake Tahoe, consisting of a 40-foot upper cascade and a more dramatic lower section that tumbles about 170 feet down to the shores of Emerald Bay. Upper Eagle Falls is the easier of the two to access and is the primary destination for most hikers, offering a scenic cascade flowing over granite boulders framed by Sierra pine forest. The lower falls are visible from the highway and Emerald Bay lookout points but are not safely accessible on foot.

The trail to Upper Eagle Falls is a 1.9-mile round trip with about 430 feet of elevation gain. It starts at the Eagle Falls Picnic Area trailhead on Highway 89 and climbs through shaded forest past the falls and continues to Eagle Lake in the Desolation Wilderness. The waterfall is reached after just half a mile, making it accessible to most hikers. Those continuing to Eagle Lake will find a pristine alpine lake surrounded by granite peaks. The views back toward Emerald Bay and Lake Tahoe from various points on the trail are spectacular.

Late spring and early summer (May through July) offer the best water flow. The trailhead is open from mid-May through mid-October. A Desolation Wilderness day permit ($5) is required and available at the trailhead. Parking fills very quickly on summer weekends — arrive before 8 AM or expect to park along the highway. This is one of the most photographed locations at Lake Tahoe, and the combination of waterfall, alpine lake, and Emerald Bay views makes it easy to see why.