How To Visit Vikingsholm Castle In Emerald Bay State Park
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Located along the beach and at the head of Emerald Bay State Park, Vikingsholm Castle is a fine example of Scandinavian architecture right here in Lake Tahoe.
This Nordic estate sits on 232-acres of pristine beach line, beautiful turquoise water, Fannette Island (the only island in Tahoe) and the only waterfall in Tahoe that flows directly into the lake.
Unlike most state parks and attractions like Vikingsholm, you cannot drive up to it. A visit to Emerald Bay and Vikingsholm requires you to either hike or boat in.
In this guide, we’ll cover all the necessary information you’ll need to plan a visit for yourself. Topics such as the hiking trail, parking, when to go and more will be covered.
Let’s get into it!
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Quick Stats
Location: Emerald Bay State Park, Lake Tahoe
Fee: $10 parking fee
Permit: None
Open: Year round, but road is sometimes closed in winter
For: Hikers, beach-goers, swimmers, kayakers, etc
Restroom: At the trailhead and at the beach
Parking: Medium-sized lot
EV Stations: None
Difficulty: Moderate
Popularity: High
Mileage: Two-miles, round trip
Time: A couple hours to a full day
Elevation Gain: 377-feet
Condition: Well-maintained and signed
Features: Vikingsholm Castle, waterfall and beach
Pets: Not allowed
Drones: Not allowed
Hazards: None other than usual wilderness dangers
Our Visit(s): August 2022
Parking and Location
Vikingsholm Castle is located in Emerald Bay, the crown jewel of Lake Tahoe. It’s one of the most popular destinations along the lake and thus, gets crowded quickly.
The key to a successful visit is to arrive early. Emerald Bay does have it’s own parking lot but for the crowds it sees, it’s inadequate at best.
We arrived just after 8am to a near empty lot. By 8:30am, while we were still gathering our things, the lot was nearly full. So arrive early. Earlier if you’re here on a holiday.
If you see this sign, you’ve arrived too late. It won’t re-open until enough space has been made and you’re not allowed to park on the side of the road.
You’ll either need to circle around a few times until spaces become available or try back again later in the day.
If you find space near the Eagle Falls trailhead, you can park there and walk to it but keep in mind, the road is very narrow and borderline hazardous for pedestrians.
The fee to use this lot is $10 for the day. This fee covers other California state parks in Tahoe during the same day (D.L. Bliss State Park is just down the road).
The pay stations accept cash or credit/debit cards. After paying, you’ll be given a receipt. You’ll need to display this receipt on your dashboard.
*Note: If you’re paying with cash, have the exact amount. The pay stations do not give change.
Just to the right of the pay stations is a booth. Head past this to access both the trail and the viewing deck for Emerald Bay.
Soon after passing the booth you’ll see a viewing deck on your right. This platform provides a commanding view of Emerald Bay and Fannette Island.
A lot of people simply get to this point, take their pictures and leave. If your intention is to visit the castle, then rejoin the trail and continue forward.
The Trail to Vikingsholm Castle
We’ll first address the difficulty of this trail. At more than a few spots, trail signage indicates how steep and borderline difficult the way back up can be.
From my perspective, the hike back up wasn’t bad. It was a constant incline and a little steep in some spots, but overall I didn’t have a problem with it.
That being said, if you have certain physical limitations, be honest with yourself. The way in is a breeze, but the way out can be difficult if you’re not acclimated to trails like this.
As stated above, the way in is a breeze. If you’re here early, the majority of the trail will have a plethora of shade and you’ll have sporadic views of Fannette Island.
As you near the end of the trail, you’ll reach a junction. If you go left, you’ll be on the Rubicon Trail. To continue to Vikingsholm Castle, go right.
Soon after this juncture, you’ll see the public restrooms for Emerald Bay on your right. Soon after that, you’ll see the back side of Vikingsholm Castle on your left.
Vikingsholm Castle
Vikingsholm Castle is sight to behold and one you’ll have to see for yourself to truly appreciate. How well it blends in with its natural surroundings is a wonderful example of how construction can compliment nature.
Vikingsholm Castle was designed by Swedish architect, Lennart Palme, in 1928. Palme was the nephew of the property owner, Lora Josephine Knight.
Construction of the castle was completed in 1929 and was used my Mrs. Knight and her family as a summer home (one of the first of which in Lake Tahoe).
The castle was owned by Mrs. Knight until her death in 1945. The castle traded hands a couple more times until the State of California acquired it in 1953.
Considering the jaw-dropping beauty of Emerald Bay, it’s crazy to imagine that someone once lived here. I know we would love to have Emerald Bay all to ourselves for the summer.
Tours of Vikingsholm Castle
Unfortunately, we didn’t partake in the tour of the castle as by the time the first one embarked, it was time for us to get going.
Tours of the castle are offered daily and take you through the interior. You’ll follow a knowledgable guide who’ll detail the history of the castle, its development and impact on the area.
Tour information is as follows:
Tours are guided
They are 30-minutes in length
They’re offered daily, early June - late September
Tour times are between 11am - 4pm
$15 per adult, $12 per child 7-17, free for under 7
Tickets can be purchased at the Emerald Bay Visitor Center
For more information on the guided tours, you can check out the Sierra State Parks Foundation.
Also, if you want further details of the history of Emerald Bay, Vikingsholm Castle and the people involved, we highly recommend checking out their official website.
Additional Activities in Emerald Bay
There’s more to do in Emerald Bay than just touring the castle. Many people make the trek down here to hang out on the beach and recreate on the lake.
There’s a dedicated (but small) swimming area near the center of the beach. There’s no swimming allowed outside this border due to the amount of vessels going through the bay.
Paddle boarding and kayaking are also popular activities. There’s a dedicated rental stand (Kayak Tahoe) where you can rent either one for an hour or for the day.
While I was here, I took the opportunity to try kayaking for the first time. It didn’t take me long to get it down so if you’ve never done it, don’t let that stop you.
If you’re interested in reading about my kayaking experience to Fannette Island and the Tea House, check out our article about it here.
Your Thoughts…
Have you visited Emerald Bay, Vikingsholm Castle or Fannette Island before? Do you have any additional tips about visiting this park? Let us know in the comments below. We love hearing from our readers!
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