Vikingsholm Trail to Vikingsholm Castle
Easy. 1.7 miles out and back
Located in the heart of Emerald Bay is a 1860s unique castle that overlooks the blue waters of Lake Tahoe. That castle is Vikingsholm castle. The castle sits on the banks of Emerald Bay with a beautiful tranquil view of Fannette Island.
Fannette Island is the only island in all of Lake Tahoe. It is extremely popular in the summer months where you will see mounds of beachgoers kayak, boat, maybe even swim to take a claim of reaching the island.
Parking
There is paid parking at the trailhead and street-side parking. The trailhead parking is part of Emerald Bay State Park and offers several parking slots, however these fill up really fast during the peak months. If you are parking on the road, be sure to pay attention to where you can legally park to avoid being ticketed or even towed. The parking around Emerald Bay is very popular. It is shared for the multiple amazing hiking trails available in the area. The road is narrow so parking on the side of the road is limited, and where it is legal to park, be sure to park appropriately.
Trail
The trail to the castle would then be called the Vikingsholm trail. The trail is an incredibly short 1.7 miles on a well-maintained and partially paved road. The trail has a little bit of elevation, but I still rank it as a fairly easy trail. We have taken the kids on the trail during both the wintery season and warmer season and although it is a bit snowy and slippery during Winter; with proper gear, they did perfectly fine.
Other Activities To Do
The castle is opened seasonally for guided tours. You can pay and enjoy a tour of the inside of the castle. The surrounding premises are always open for walking around.
During the warmer months, bring a SUP board, a kayak, and beach gears to settle along the shoreline for an afternoon of beautiful scenery. Kayaking to Fannette Island is very popular. The area is also popular for boaters. The shoreline does get quite crowded in the peak of Summer so arrive early. Lots of families come to sunbathe and enjoy Emerald Bay.
Watch this video capturing Vikingsholm Castle and trail during one of our adventures.
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