Eagle Lake

Breathtaking views. Eagle Lake in the morning was very peaceful and quiet with no one around. A water circle with a single duck swimming towards us was clearly drawn on the water. It was a great hike to breathe in the crisp fresh morning air and take in the scenery.

I cannot tell you how to live your life, but I can tell you this trail is worth the hike. This trail is worth the $5 parking. Which is cash only btw because there's no ranger on duty if you go early so its an honor system where you fill out a slip and place the money in a safety box. If you don't have the cash its certainly worth the risk to park alongside the road or risk getting a ticket (sans paying the fee). The trail is worth getting lost. Well it's hard to get lost with plenty of signs and paved trails BUT you may feel like the lake doesn't exist. Just follow the signs that mention the lake NOT the loop. Its not a far walk (1.5/2 miles). You may feel like you are getting lost but keep going! Once there the view is straight from a Bob Ross painting, serene and majestic. It's not a heavily populated trail (we went early on Monday morning so that could of been the reason for the emptiness) and it is a great workout. I wouldn't recommend brining small children because there's a bit of climbing and steep hills. It isn't difficult but could be challenging for those with tiny legs. Overall beautiful view, bring a camera and enjoy!

Great hike, bring water.

Worth the trek to this beautiful lake. Nature at its best!

A beautiful lake even when frozen over!

This is the most beautiful place I've ever seen. Went to Lake Tahoe for our honeymoon, 10 years ago, and decided to take a drive around the lake to see Emerald Bay. We ended up at the trailhead for this lake and decided to take a hike. Absolutely gorgeous, I will never forget it and plan to go back asap!

This experience was beautiful! My family had a blast hiking all the way up to Eagle Lake !

Gorgeous lake, a good little hike up, and fun climbing. Does get very crowded, but I won't take a star off for that ;-)

As is often the case in life, good things are worth working for. The Eagle Falls area at South Lake Tahoe has much to offer. Close to the parking lot are some short trails that bring you to the Eagle Falls Vista Point as well as the Upper Eagle Falls. A footbridge crosses the gently sloped waterfall, and this is where a lot of people like to pause and enjoy the scenery. The stream here can be a mere trickle or a full rush of water depending on the season. But don't let your journey stop here. The hike from the Upper Eagle Falls to Eagle Lake is less than a mile, and the terrain is rugged but doable. The lake is in an area known as Desolation Wilderness and requires a permit for entry. Day hikers can pick up a free permit at the self-serve kiosk at the trailhead. Eagle Lake was so tranquil and picturesque! We visited during June of 2021 and while there were a few groups of people there, it didn't feel crowded. The crystal-clear water, blue skies, and rocky mountain scenery peppered with fir and pine trees made this a terrific place to relax and enjoy nature before continuing on. We visited Eagle Lake as part of a 10-mile loop which also included Granite Lake and Cascade Lake. There's so much beauty and wonder at Lake Tahoe and Desolation Wildness and this is just scratching the surface. My only regret is not staying longer and venturing further. Someday.

Hiking through running streams of water, flooded trails, fallen trees, and fields of snow on June 6, 2023. Got to the trailhead parking lot Tuesday at 8:20am, with plenty of open parking spaces. The $5 parking fee is waived. The pit toilets are open, as you can smell from a distance. One dog lifts its leg right next to the buildings, knowing from the smell that this is the place to relieve itself. From the start of the trail there is water streaming down the stairs, and puddles on the areas above each stair. Cross the bridge over the raging water falls and through the first of several fields of snow. Slippery going through the snow. Encounter two giant trees with trunks 2 feet in diameter, toppled over each other by storms over the trail. Tough time climbing over the fallen trees, so crawl under it. Able to do this only because my waist size is 35. Rocks everywhere on the trail, doing boulder jumping and climbing, requiring heavy duty hiking boots with ankle support. Those wearing sneakers risk turning an ankle, and bruised foot soles at the end of the day. Open expanses of granite with views of Emerald Bay in the background. Forested areas with large areas of the trail covered in running water from melting snow. Parts of the trail are completely submerged under running water. Saw many folks with soaked sneakers and socks. My Big 5 Sporting Goods Hi Tech Yosemite high top hiking boots are waterproof, and unaffected by the water. The farther we go toward the lake, the more snow appears, until the entire trail is covered a hundred yards of snow. You can follow the trail only by the footprints in the snow. Reach the lake by 9:30am with snow covering all the mountains all the way to lake level. Deep blue colored lake due to heavy snow runoff. Cold with high winds. Not a time to wear shorts. Going back to the trailhead is no easier than going up. Afraid of slipping on my behind going down through the snow fields. Helps to have hiking poles. Surprised at the number of people with brand new hiking boots. Saw last week's $29 Denali Outback Hiking at Big 5 sporting goods on more than one person. My 3 year old $49 High Tech Yosemite boots from Big 5 show tiny gaps in the glued bottoms from the beating on the trails. It's life expectancy is limited, but at least water proof, unlike the Denalis. At the full parking lot encounter a lady wearing decorative flip flops. Got to show those expensive pedicures with painted toenails. She's in for a rude awakening after her bare feet get soaked in the extensive puddles, running streams of water, and frost bite on her toes in the fields of snow.

Great view in Tahoe! We hiked at 3pm at the end of September and the weather was perfect the whole time. Good uphill hike, you have to navigate the rocks a little bit but it's pretty straightforward. It's private and I think you can wander further once at the hike to get more privacy and better swim access. We parked a little far since parking was still crowded at 3pm but at 5pm when we finished, a lot of the spots had cleared up. We hiked about an hour each way from parking spot to the lake. We kept at a moderate to slow pace. Cold water but I'd say swimmable!

Eagle Lake is definitely worth the visit! Finding parking was difficult, but my family got lucky and found one on the lot. The hike was about 1.5-2 miles according to my google maps (when there was service). There was a good amount of rocks and uphill/downhill, so be careful. Would also recommend hiking shoes; I wore boost running shoes and but still would have preferred hiking shoes. Getting to the lake may be tiring, but was well worth it for the beautiful view. Lots of kind hikers gave words of motivation that helped with that.

One of the best of hikes nature has to offer. Like I always tell people, we have to work with what we have. This weekend I took a trip to South Lake Tahoe to get away from the smoke. Feeling blessed the wind blew away and was in great conditions to compare with the bay. NOTE: Go early, there is barely no parking and can get packed fast. We arrived at 830a and people were already leaving. Eagle trailhead is a short hike but has stunning views.

The lake was absolutely stunning! The trail is dog friendly but definitely not easy for smaller dogs, we brought our 10 pounds terrier with us and had to put her in her backpack for the last 3rd of the hike. Need to be careful of unstable rocks and slippery snow on the trail but the view was absolutely worth it! So glad we came here, 5/5 would recommend!!

One of the best hiking trails in Lake Tahoe. Parking situation - Since the park's parking is super small (max 6-8 cars) so its mainly street parking. We had to wait by the main road for about 10 minutes for some car to leave to score a parking spot. Covid situation - We went on a Saturday, the trail was pretty crowded and we felt quite uncomfortable. Parts of the trail is narrow, so you will be in close proximity with others. Please take extra precaution and wear your masks for safety. However, best would be to avoid weekend crowd altogether and do this trail on a week day. Trail Difficulty level - Hike to the Eagle Falls is a 10 minute short uphill. We visited in the last weekend of September and Eagle Falls was completely dried up, which was pretty disappointing. The trail itself keeps your interest going. Walk through stone stairways and pine woods, waterfalls and the bridge, dramatic boulders, great view of lake Tahoe, and the finale - the very picturesque Eagle Lake itself.. there's no time to get bored in this trail. However from the falls continue your hike up to Eagle Lake. This hike is of moderate mid-level strenuous. It's an approx 1.5 miles incline on rocky stairs and takes about 45 minutes to the lake. Highly recommend to wear your hiking shoes for better stability and grip on those rocky stairs as it can get tough on your knees and ankle. The view - On the top, suddenly a deep blue lake emerges in front of you, nestled in between the green pines and peaks surrounding it. The sight is jaw-dropping. The lake has pristine water, but the water is cold as its snow melted straight from the peaks. We walked around the lake further from the entry and chose a serene shaded spot for lunch. It felt like we were on our own little island. Definitely pack a picnic to enjoy by the lake, take a dip in the water and make a day out of it. Overall a great workout hike with majestic view of Lake Tahoe and Eagle Lake. Happy adventure!

Go early. Parking is full by 10:30am. Family and dog friendly to the waterfall, more difficult to Eagle Lake. At the beginning of the trail head, take the right (uphill) trail the the vista point. Great view of the lake.

Eagle lake is one of the many trails at Desolation Wilderness in South Lake Tahoe. Parking is mainly street parking since the tiny parking lot usually gets packed very quickly. We hiked a total of 3.6 miles. It's about a 2 mile hike of incline to get to the lake. It's definitely a very moderate hike. *FYI: 50% of people are wearing masks and are following the notion of social distancing while some aren't. So again, use extra precautions wear a mask for your safety and the safety of others and remember to social distance. *Also, Eagle Lake Falls - Is just across from the trail to the Lake. It's a bit of a rock climb down to get a better view of the waterfall and up top isn't so bad. You'll also find a mini-waterfall along the bridge trail to the lake. Oh, and before I forget... Remember to wear your hiking shoes. The rocks can be a little steep and slippery! Any who, Happy Hiking!

Who knew there were so many other lake hikes in Tahoe besides Lake Tahoe?! My family has been coming out to visit Lake Tahoe a few times a year since I was 3 years old. They now spend about half of their year in the area - yet there are still a number of hikes neither they nor I have ever heard of before! This hike has lots of interesting things to see aside from the beautiful lake. It is an easy hike for those of all ages and physical condition, and in the off season it is not overly crowded. If you're in the area that means now until the snow starts to fall! Remember to pack out whatever you have packed in to keep Tahoe trails clean!

Wow! It was quite a climb from the bridge at Upper Eagle Falls to get to this lake. It was well worth the effort. A lot of people made their way down to the shoreline. We elected to head back. The hike downhill took nearly as long as the hike up. Either the elevation gain or the irregular spaced steps wore me out! Be sure to get a permit if you're going to the lake. You just need one for your party.

Hiked this with my girlfriend last Saturday. Let me just say I fell in love! The hike itself wasn't too bad... easy to moderate depending on your fitness level. There is some incline on the way up to the lower falls and a bit more on the way up to the lake but it won't kill you. The path is lined with rocks and some area is dirt. Easy. The lake was beautiful. With the mountains as its backdrop, you almost feel like you're on your own little island! The water was crystal clear and cool. So pretty. It can get crowded due to the easiness of the hike but go, it's worth it. The view of Emerald bay along with the waterfalls and the lake you can't go wrong. This is now added to my list of favorites! Bring your swimming gear, water shoes, pack a little picnic and you're going to have a fabulous day! There is camping and fishing allowed by the lake! Happy hiking and exploring. Get there early for a good free parking spot!

Eagle Lake is the perfect shorter hike if you're looking to get a taste of Desolation Wilderness without going too far in to the backcountry. Parking is $5 at the Eagle Falls trailhead if you're lucky enough to score a spot-otherwise park (carefully) alongside the road where it's permissible. Follow the trail up to the left and you'll approach Upper Eagle Falls (which were still flowing nicely in August.) Cross the bridge and you'll start to head up to the lake. It's a bit of an incline with a rocky path and exposed tree roots-not to be done in flip flops or sneakers without traction. It's steep in some areas but manageable. Once you arrive, you'll realize how worth the short trek is. The lake is beautiful, set within the granite peaks surrounding it and framed in pines. There are plenty of spots to sit and enjoy the scenery. This was my second time visiting this lake. Last year it was over Memorial Day weekend and the trail and lake were packed. This time, it was a random Friday in August and I stopped at Eagle Lake after a long arduous day hike up to Velma Lakes. This was my last stop of the day and I enjoyed the cool breeze as I rested my legs before heading back to my car. Eagle Lake is so peaceful and lovely that I hope to make it a must stop any time in Tahoe. Know if you go: -trail is 2 miles round trip -rocky and steep in spots -decent hike for families (I've seen plenty of kids and families up there) -if you're adventurous and an experienced hiker, this is a great gateway to Desolation Wilderness

After a short trek on the Eagle Falls Trailhead, we made it to the lake! It was quite stunning but best of all, the water wasn't freezing cold where you couldn't get in. Therefore, the husband and I decided to take a dip along with a couple other people who trekked up there. If you're going to make the trek to the lake, do yourself a favor and get in! You might as well enjoy it. You'll dry off on the hike down anyway and it's super refreshing.

Amazing trail to the lake. Kids loved the trip as not to strenuous. Good for the whole family and the views are amazing. Take lots of pics and enjoy the hike.

Hiking the Eagle Falls to the top for Eagle Lake. It takes about 45 minutes to the top but worth the view and the water is refreshing when you get in. The eagle fall is disappointing but the trail to the lake makes up for it.

I think i reviewed eagle lake under the eagle falls yelp. Oops. Let's just say this is a really easy short hike perfect for kids, dogs and tourists haha -- or if you don't have a lot of time. Took my sister n law today for an early morning pre wedding hike -- I'm getting married this evening and wanted to allow my fiancé to sleep in. My SIL works Out but isn't used to the whole hiking thing or the elevation. She was a bit winded but that's probably because she was trying to keep up with me. I enjoyed the peaceful morning before the wedding craziness. It gets too busy here though. Parking fills up quick. Get here early. Pack it in . Pack it out.

Beautiful and dog friendly! The view is definitely worth it and breathtaking. I recommend going really early to find parking. I went around 10 am and finished around 1 pm and beat the rush of people. Please wear your masks. There were way too many ppl on the trail not wearing face coverings.

Awesome lake, very cold since it's melted snow. Getting in the water feels a lot like an ice bath. About a 1.5 mile hike to get to the lake, it's not too bad

The lake is gorgeous, but be well warned that the hike is very strenuous. It doesn't seem like it because its only a mile or so, but its almost all climbing rough granite stairs, which are almost as painful going down as they are strenuous going up. Also, although it looks like you are following a stream, there is zero access to water until you get to the lake. So bring a LOT of water, good hiking boots or shoes, walking sticks, and dress so you can keep cool, with extra water to pour on your head if its even slightly warm. Also, note that if you've just arrived in Tahoe within a couple days, you won't have acclimated to a strenuous hike at this altitude. All this said, if you can get parking, the very short hike across the highway to Eagle fall is great, and you can go just up the first set of steep stairs and across the bridge, over another great falls, to a lovely swimming hole, and call it a day, and you'll have had the best part of the experience without having to slog up, and then back down, a mile of rough granite stairs.

Labeled as a moderate hike, it can be tricky due to slick granite steps and the steep incline. But the views are absolutely breathtaking and worth the trek.

A beautiful hike to get there. Park by the trailhead and fill out a day permit for free. You are allowed in the water and it's dog friendly.

This hike is fairly easy and family friendly. You get a pretty nice view of Emerald Bay and there are some awesome native flowers including various asters and mountain pride. Nice slabs of granitic rock throughout that look like they'd be fun for bouldering. Awesome view of the white water rapids from the vantage point of a bridge. Dog-friendly and generally pretty well populated with hikers.

Get here before 9 am if you want to beat the heat and the crowds. $5 to park in the lot (free on 89), and don't forget to fill out your free permit at the trailhead (basically just a was for the USFS to maintain accountability on the trail). This hike is about 2 miles to Eagle Lake, but it is all uphill. I would consider this a moderate trail once you get passed the bridge over the falls. Stick with the never ending stone steps, the lake is worth it!

I cannot tell you how to live your life, but I can tell you this trail is worth the hike. This trail is worth the $5 parking. Which is cash only btw because there's no ranger on duty if you go early so its an honor system where you fill out a slip and place the money in a safety box. If you don't have the cash its certainly worth the risk to park alongside the road or risk getting a ticket (sans paying the fee). The trail is worth getting lost. Well it's hard to get lost with plenty of signs and paved trails BUT you may feel like the lake doesn't exist. Just follow the signs that mention the lake NOT the loop. Its not a far walk (1.5/2 miles). You may feel like you are getting lost but keep going! Once there the view is straight from a Bob Ross painting, serene and majestic. It's not a heavily populated trail (we went early on Monday morning so that could of been the reason for the emptiness) and it is a great workout. I wouldn't recommend brining small children because there's a bit of climbing and steep hills. It isn't difficult but could be challenging for those with tiny legs. Overall beautiful view, bring a camera and enjoy!

A MUST MUST MUST when in South Lake Tahoe!!! (( See my review & rest of the photos for Eagle Falls Trailhead))

Quick tips first: In late Fall, Winter and Spring you will probably encounter icy/snowy conditions on the Eagle Falls trail after the bridge. After the bridge, the first 2/3 of the trail to Eagle Lake is on the North face and in the shade of the mountain. To be safe, particularly for a treacherous decent in icy conditions bring poles and snow/ice shoe tracks/chains/soles. You will feel so much more comfortable if you do. At least grab a wood stick, it helps a lot. You need to fill the wilderness permit form at the beginning of the trail (parking lot). Some numbers given by my Android Nexus S phone: From the parking lot of Eagle Falls Trailhead to Eagle Lake: 2.1km hike (1.3mi) 450m elevation (1500ft) Gorgeous hike, a bit strenuous (we have just done it in icy conditions during Thanksgiving WE). But my 3.5 and 6yo daughters managed to do it (with our help on the icy parts of the trail). I saw several people sliding on ice. My wife and I were always holding our kids hands and they would have found themselves on their bottom more than 8 times each. Eagle Lake is beautiful and is a nice place to rest, to snack and for the kids to play around before the descent. The view is superb when you reach the end of the trail to discover the lake. End of November more than half the lake was frozen (check my photo).

Hiked this yesterday, second week in September, with my wife & 20 yr old daughter. Skies were clear. Temps in the mid 70's. The parking lot was a zoo, but we lucked out and scored a prime spot at just the right moment. $5 fee to park. You'll be entering a wilderness area, so be sure and fill out the FREE permit. I doubt with the heavy use this area gets, you'd only get a warning from a ranger out on the trail, but hey...it's not worth the fine and it's the right thing to do. It's free and takes only a minute or two to complete. Hitting the trail, you have to make a choice: Eagle Lake Loop or Eagle Lake. We chose Eagle Lake....the "loop" appeared to go up and up and up. So keep left. Soon you'll be at Eagle Falls. This time of year it's rather a bust with barely any water flowing, but there is a nice bench to rest upon and a bridge across that you'll need to take in your journey to Eagle Lake. The trail is very well maintained and my hats off to the work crews that placed all those granite steps. I've done a few hikes in my time and this one never ceased to amaze me with the effort put in by those guys to maintain the trail all the way to Eagle Lake. The hike itself is moderately strenuous but not a killer. Anyone with bad hips or knees might be overly challenged. Definitely need to watch your step in a few places or a twisted ankle is sure to follow. It's up hill most of the way to Eagle Lake but with all the marvelous views to stop and take pics, we didn't find it overly taxing. By the time we reached our destination, I was ready for a dip in the crystal clear....read: COLD....water. So refreshing. Others did the same, with a few exercising a "clothing optional" approach. If that bothers you, don't look to closely at those going for a swim. You might see more than you wanted to see. After about an hour at the lake, we packed up and headed back. Eyes were more focused on trail as we watched our step, but again, it was in no way treacherous. Just didn't want to slip or fall. It's by no means a lightly used trail and we saw several other hikers, but we never felt crowded or rushed. Back at the parking lot, it was still full and we gladly signaled to someone we were ready to pull out. They were very appreciative. We'll be back. Definitely want to see this lake & the falls other times during the year.

Go early in the morning to avoid the crowds. The view of Eagle Lake will be worth the hike. I couldn't get enough of the peace and tranquility it offers.

Awesome hike!!! Must get there before 830ish or good luck finding a parking space. The hike can be tough. It's mostly up hill climbing stairs. Approx 4 miles round trip. Great views of the falls, stream, both Lake Tahoe and the end which is Eagle lake.

Absolutely Beautiful Lake. The hike up there is not as easy has I had read before. I went with my kids and It got a little hard at times. But even if I would of gone without them it would still be moderately difficult since it's up hill all the way basically. Lots of amazing trees and river rushing by. Pet friendly. Great views of Emerald Bay from half way mark. Definitely worth the hike up to see the Lake where the snowy mountains reflect on the clear water. Get there before 8am if possible and avoid the crowds. On our way back down from the hike at 1030 am there were so many people starting the hike up it took us longer to get back down than it did to go up. The falls are rushing right now. They are so beautiful.

Do you like awesome views of mountains and water? Do you want to feel amazed at the beauty of nature? Do you have 60-90 minutes? If you said yes to any of those questions, go do this hike. Just go do it. Parking gets crowded at the trailhead, especially on the weekend, so get there early. This is a fee site ($5/vehicle) and there are bathrooms at the parking lot. There are two routes at the trailhead but it's a loop, so you can't go wrong choosing one path over the other. If you do only the loop at a walking pace you'll probably be done within 20-30 minutes, but you'd also have missed out on a great opportunity to see some amazing scenery. At the far end of the loop and after a slight ascent, you'll come across a bridge and Eagle Falls. It wasn't anything special in October, but probably looks great when the snow melt increases the amount of water coming down. Cross the bride and continue ascending up the trail another 20-30 minutes, following the signs towards Eagle Lake. The trail opens up into a rocky ascent and the trail isn't very clearly defined, but just keep heading up and you'll see it again. Arrive, picnic, swim, take pictures, then head on down and stop at the top of the rocky portion to gaze at Emerald Bay and Lake Tahoe. Total distance is ~2 miles round trip from parking lot to the lake and back. Terrain is mainly ascending/descending (can be tough on knees) Overall a mild/moderate hike (mild if you just stick to the loop up to the bridge)

My husband and I took our dogs on the Eagle Lake Trail and we loved it. So scenic and peaceful (except for the racing of our two little ones up the steps.) Not all the Tahoe trails "allow" dogs but this one does. For us, at the end of March, there was still snow but the climb wasn't icy. I wore my snow/rain boots and I was fine. I'm not in amazing shape, but I'm not in bad shape either, and this trail was perfect. Beautiful views, so bring your camera and maybe a snack. The waterfall is worth reaching, for sure. There are bathrooms before the trail but were closed, I assume because of the time of the year.

Eagle lake is another gorgeous place in Tahoe and Really worth the hike! This place does get REALLY REALLY busy so most likely you will need to park by Emerald Bay overlook and that's quite alright since it's not awfully too far from the trail head, about less than a quarter mile. So if you do end up parking there,as you are heading to the the trail head, stay on you side of the street and there will be a trail to the right that ventures off into the side. If you go here, you will see a mini waterfall down here that you can hang around at! After that go ahead and cross the street to begin the trail head. The waterfall will come up real quick but that's not the point unless you want it to be. Anyways you'll keep heading down the trail and it's about a mile or so in and you will come across Eagle Lake. Now this is a rather large lake where you can hang out and even if it's too crowded, there's also a lot more areas that you can access the lake at! It's actually a good temperature to go for a swim if you don't really want to swim in Lake Tahoe!

The hike was amazing, and my only regret was that we were here in January, rather than the summer time. The weekend was unseasonably warm, so we decided to try a little hiking. This trail would be a moderately challenging one in good conditions... on the weekend we attempted it, the top half was at least ice and at most, hip-deep snow. To me, this hike can be broken into 3 parts: The first two overlooks, the lake, and the peak. At the time of our hike, it was fairly easy to get to the first two overlooks. A short portion of the path was completely ice, making it hard to walk on the area, but we were able to march through the thin woods to arrive at the first overlook. The views of the lake from here were amazing, and it was a great place to stop for a picture! A short walk further, you'll reach another cliff, which overlooks the smaller bay and island... truly, a very beautiful view, and a great spot to stop for a snack. Beyond this area, the trail got far more treacherous. It was almost entirely ice, which was hard to get around, as the woods became snowy. We reached an ice lake, which was frozen-through, but must be -unbelievable- in the summer time. I can just imagine bringing a picnic up here, swimming and then continuing the hike up! (Fantastic!) The next part is the hardest... the steep, uphill climb to the peak. This would be challenging on a regular day, and for us, the bulk of it was knee-deep snow (possibly hip-deep if you hit an air pocket). The trail was too icy to walk on, so we were forced to keep to the banks. In retrospect, some crampons would have REALLY been helpful here. My boyfriend and I were hiking together, and while we're not ritual hikers, we're both young and in pretty good shape. It took us about 2hrs to go from the base to the peak, which was around 3 miles away. an hour of that (easily) must've been the last portion of this hike. Each step was taken carefully after testing our footing, and when we finally reached the top, the whole thing was worth it. The views were breathtaking!!! I'll add some pictures later, as I know that I have some... but wow - just truly unbelievable 360-degree views of the mountains and lake. It took us about an hour to get back down (sitting and sliding on the ice a lot), making our entire 5.5-6mi endeavor about 3hrs long. On a normal day, I'm sure this would be doable in 1.5-2hrs, depending on how long you choose to linger at the overlooks. I wish the weather had been better, but as wonderful as the view was, I would definitely go again!

What a gorgeous place. Great view of Emerald Bay at the start of the hike (check out the waterfall across the street). The hike itself is great - if you want something easy and on the shorter side choose the loop. If you want a little bit more of a challenge (and I mean little - there were people of all ages walking the trail) make your way up to the lake. Great views and photo ops. Do yourself a favor and get there early (like 8-9am) since parking is limited and fills up fast.

This location is wonderful. Beautiful scenery. For those with difficulties walking and don't hike I wouldn't consider the hike to the first swimming hole a real hike. It was easy and one that I could handle and am physically challenged with a bad back and bone on bone in the right knee. I took it easy and let others pass that wanted to go faster but I loved it and my son and I will be back! Drawback: We went on a Saturday and it was extremely busy. The traffic and lack of parking was difficult to maneuver. The Highway Patrol was there and when we finally were able to get a parking spot we started walking to the entrance to the eagle lake area and as we were walking they were towing cars that were parked on the side of the road, where the sign clearly stated "No stopping at any time. Tow away zone". They weren't joking. The cop was very curt and not kind to violators and even ticketing people as they came back to their cars before he could get them towed. The tow truck was gone and all the cars that were in the tow away zone were gone (7-10) when we walked back. All in all it was a great day and one I will enjoy memories of for a long time to come!

This is a great day hike. It's a beautiful hike in and don't worry about getting lost. There are plenty of people on the trail. Go early to avoid the crowds, bring water, of course don't forget your camera. About half way, there is a beautiful view of Emerald Bay.

wow this was the highlight of this Tahoe trip. the brief perhaps one mile walk up to the lake was not too rigorous, but was enjoyable with gorgeous views the whole way. when we got up to the lake, to our surprise, it was completely frozen and people were up there ice-skating! Located in the Desolation Wilderness Area, the forest service was not enforcing it, though the wilderness permits were not available on site. I cannot wait to go there in another season to check it out again!