A girl wearing a t-shirt and shorts with her back to the camera as she poses with her arms out stretched, with a mountain in front of her
2 girls wearing t-shirts and shorts standing on a large flat rock, with a view out onto lake tahoe behind them
the eagle falls bridge in the distance with a stream frunning beneath it and trees in the forground
Eagle lake withseveral people swimming in it and a hill in the background
An up close shot of the crystal clear water in Eagle lake
a photo of Lake tahoe with trees and bonsai rock

During summer break, I went to Lake Tahoe, located between California and Nevada, with my friend. We took a three-day trip, and it was one of the best lakes I have ever visited! I highly recommend visiting Lake Tahoe if you love being surrounded by nature. So, I’d like to share what my day in Lake Tahoe looked like!

Lake Tahoe is a large lake with different areas to explore. During my trip, we stayed in South Lake Tahoe, located on the southern shore of the lake.

 A Day in Lake Tahoe

Morning: We went to Eagle Falls and Eagle Lake. This trail is beginner-friendly, with about 0.5 miles (0.8km) for the Lower Falls viewpoint loop, and about 2.5 miles (4km) round-trip to Eagle Lake. We started hiking around 9 a.m., so there weren't many people yet, and the weather was perfect for hiking! On the way to Eagle Lake, the trail was surrounded by trees and rocks, and we enjoyed the beautiful views. When we reached Eagle Lake, we were amazed by how clear and beautiful the water was. If you visit here, I recommend you hike in the morning because when we returned to the starting point around 11 a.m., there were already so many people. 

Afternoon: In the afternoon, we went to Heavenly Village, a popular shopping area in South Lake Tahoe. There are over 40 shops and eateries to explore. We had lunch and bought some souvenirs. After shopping, we went to Bonsai Rock to enjoy the lake. We went swimming in the lake, and although the water was cold, it felt refreshing on a warm summer day! This spot was surrounded by mountains, and that made my experience more memorable. In the evening, we went to a hamburger restaurant for dinner and ended our day with a great meal.

 Tips for Visiting South Lake Tahoe in Summer

  • A car is highly recommended! If you don’t drive, you should expect to use Uber frequently to get around.
  • Start your hike early. There are fewer people in the morning, and the temperatures are cooler, so more comfortable to hike.
  • Wear comfortable shoes for hiking. Even though some trails are beginner-friendly, you may still need to walk a lot.
  • Bring plenty of water! You will need water when you’re hiking or swimming. Unfortunately, most places don’t have water refill stations, so whenever you find one, I highly recommend refilling your bottle, even if it isn’t empty yet.

My trip to Lake Tahoe was a memorable experience because I was able to enjoy nature throughout the day by hiking and swimming in the lake. If you love nature, I highly recommend adding Lake Tahoe to your travel list. I hope this blog post gave you some ideas for your next trip. Thank you for reading to the end!


Contact International Programs

The office is open for students and visitors Monday - Thursday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm and Fridays 9:00 am - 4:00 pm. Office hours during the breaks may differ, and the campus is closed on Fridays during the Summer session. We are in Pacific Daylight Time (UTC-7) from March through November, and Pacific Standard Time (UTC-8) from December through February.

International Programs Office

  Alan Thompson Library (LIB) 110
  (360) 442-2310
  international@lowercolumbia.edu

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