Hiking the Vikingsholm Trail: Hike to a Viking Castle

Hiking the Vikingsholm trail is short and steep, but the Viking Castle at the end of the trail makes the hike worth every second. This trail is a stunning display of Lake Tahoe’s beauty!

Hiking Vikingsholm trail is a short and fairly quick hike, but absolutely worth the steep climb back up.  We parked at the Emerald Bay Overlook and hiked down the Vikingsholm trail.  This 2-ish miles round trip is short and steep but is very beautiful!

But I’m getting ahead of myself.  Let’s start with everything you need to know before the hike!

The Overlook

Before you start your hike, or do anything else, you should stop at the Emerald Bay Overlook Area.  This emerald green pool of water is attached to Lake Tahoe by a narrow waterway and is stunningly beautiful.  The island in the middle of it appears to be floating in this amazingly clear water.  

I was stunned instantly by Emerald Bay’s beauty and knew I had to see more!

Throughout the week, I came back here several times to see the sunrise and holy cow was it worth it!  It was worth every minute of that drive from Reno.   Each day the sky was painted in a new display of colors and shades that I can only show you through photos.  If you are a morning person, this is a great place to start your mornings!

But what about hiking down to the bay via the Vikingsholm trail?  Is it any good or not worth it?

I am here to answer that very question, so let’s dive in!

Important Links

Emerald Bay State Park website

State Park Brochure

Best Trails in Emerald Bay State Park – AllTrails

Hiking Backpack Checklist FREEBIE

Location/Map

Emerald Bay is located on the California side of Lake Tahoe and is nearly the southernmost tip of the lake.  Emerald Bay State Park is actually a fairly big state park.  If has hiking trails, camping, beaches, fishing, and it even has a Viking castle! (more on that later)

Unfortunately, if you visit in February or March like I did, most of this park is closed.  Even the main entrance will be closed.  You may be asking yourself, what’s the point of coming here in late Winter or early Spring?

Despite the cold and the snow that is most-likely still laying around, this area is still worth visiting this time of year.  While you may not have as easy access to the bay, you will still be able to hike down to the bay via the Vikingsholm Trail.

This is exactly what my husband and I did.  

But before we get into the hike, let’s talk about the history of Emerald Bay.  

History of Emerald Bay State Park

Just like most places in the United States, Native Americans lived around Lake Tahoe.  Specifically in the Lake Tahoe area, the Washoe tribe resided and lived off the land.  

In 1844 Lake Tahoe was discovered and quickly became a tourist attraction.  In fact, this area became home to the first resort around Lake Tahoe in 1881.  People frequented this area and arrived by various watercrafts to enjoy the resort and the beauty of the lake.

In 1929 the famous “Viking Castle” was built, so let’s jump into the history.  

History of Vikingsholm Castle

The Vikingsholm castle used to be a home that someone actually lived in for many years.  Can you imagine living in this beautiful castle?  

The story goes, a woman named Lora Knight bought this piece of property in 1928 for a summer home.  She commissioned a Swedish architect to design the summer home.  

She chose the Scandinavian style because Emerald Bay reminded her of the fjords she had seen while traveling in Scandinavia.  The summer home was completed in 1929 and she was able to spend the remainder of her summers in this beautiful summer home. 

The style of this house is still revered today! It is still considered one of the best examples of Scandinavian architecture in the United States of America.  

After Mrs. Knight’s death, the stunning summer home and land changed hands a few times. Ultimately this beautiful land ended up in the hands of the state of California in 1953.  Emerald Bay and the 232 acres around Emerald Bay is now a State Park of California and a national landmark.

A State Park Brings Changes

Once this area became a state park, the resort was torn down and the watercrafts sunk to the bottom of the bay.  These barges and watercrafts are actually still at the bottom of the lake as the cold water preserved them.  Starting in 2018, people began scuba diving in this area to look through the remains.  

In the summer months (June – September) visitors can take a tour of the famous home or visit the visitor’s center next door for further information.  

These buildings are unfortunately closed during the off season due to the snow and weather, so we were not able to take a tour. But we were still able to enjoy its beauty and unique architecture.  

The roads can also be closed due to the weather, so let’s talk about the various closures that can happen.  

Beware of Closures

The road to Emerald Bay is extremely windy.  Sharp switchbacks are the name of the game to get here, so drive slowly!

As you may have guessed, this road may close if the weather turns ugly.  Fortunately, the status of these roads is updated frequently here. Check the site ahead of time so you don’t drive all the way to this area just to turn around.  

But even if the weather is good enough for the roads to be open, sometimes the trails are still closed.  

If the roads are clear and the weather is good, the Overlook will always be open to view Emerald Bay. But you might be out of luck with hiking depending on the weather.  The closures of these trails will be posted on the information board at the trailhead/overlook area.  Be on the look out!

Closures will also be updated on this website, so be sure to check out the California Dept. of Parks and Recreation for updates before traveling here.  

Parking 

Parking for Emerald Bay State Park, regardless of the trail you intend to hike, can be limited mid-day.  Make sure to get there early!

If you are visiting in the summer, parking can be found at the entrance of Emerald Bay State Park, the overlook area, or a small parking lot near the overlook.  

However, these areas can quickly fill up so you should plan to get here early. The other option is later in the day if you want to avoid the crowds.  

If you are visiting in the off season, parking is even more limited.  At this time of year you will be left with the overlook area parking lot or the small parking area around the bend.  If you get there and all the spots are full, I do highly recommend coming back, it’s definitely worth it!

We were lucky enough to park in the Overlook Area parking lot which gave us direct access to the Vikingsholm trail.  If you are visiting in the off season, this is what I would recommend doing as well. 

My husband and I paid the $5 fee and parked at the overlook area. We enjoyed the beauty of the area while Hiking the Vikingsholm Trail and walking along the beaches of Emerald Bay.  Sure, it was lightly snowing while we did this, but regardless of the weather, this area is stunning.  

So let’s talk about the hike!

Our Hike

Now that you know a little bit about the state park, the castle and the parking situation, lets discuss the actual hike.

After parking, my husband and I headed down to the left of the viewing area towards the Vikingholm Trail.  There is also an information board here where you can see the map of the trails and any other information you may be looking for.  Including closures!  So I suggest a quick stop before you continue.  

As you begin Hiking the Vikingsholm Trail, the trail is fairly steep.  Nothing crazy like some hikes in that area, but the type of steep that you know you will be out of breath on your way back up the hill.  

Anyway, down you go until you reach your first switchback.  This will take you further down towards the Viking Castle and Emerald Bay.  The further down you hike, the higher the rocky cliff edges grow above you.  

With every break in the trees you will see a different view of Emerald Bay and the island in the middle of it.  The John Muir quote popped into my head as we descended towards the lakes edge.

“Between every two pines is a doorway to a new world.”

-John Muir

I will also add, the further down we went the deeper the snow.  The week were there had been uncharacteristically warm and nearly all the snow was melted in the overlook area.  But there was still a good amount of snow down below.

Just look at how deep it was!

My husband and I fell through the snow a few times on our hike down, so just because and proceed with caution if you think you will fall through.  As someone creatively put it, we were post-holing our way along the trail where the sun had been working to melt the snow.  

Reaching the Castle

Once you hike to the end of the Vikingsholm trail you will be greeted by huge trees, a visitor’s center, a restroom, and at last, the Viking Castle you’ve been reading about!

The intricate details on the Viking Castle are extraordinary and regardless of how much or how little you know about Vikings, you can appreciate these details.

From the carved dragons’ heads about the roof, to the stained glass, to the carvings next to the door, this castle is beautiful.

While it is small for what I would call as castle, the stonework and turret are incredible.  So incredible it might make you wonder why we stopped building things this way.  

We were there in the off season, so repairs were being made to the stonework and all doors were locked, but we had the place to ourselves!

We were able to walk around and enjoy the beauty instead of being surrounded by tourists.  March is not particularly crowded anyway, but we definitely enjoyed being able to walk around the castle without another soul in sight.

The Beach

Once you have finished hiking down the Vikingsholm trail, you can’t help but want to explore the gorgeous beach area.  It was overcast the day we hiked it, but still!

The way the emerald shade of water ripples out in front of you and the trees and mountains tower above you is not a sight you will soon forget!  

In the summer cruises come through here and the beach area can become quite crowded from what I have been told.  People are also allowed to kayak in this area.  Rentals are available for a fee if you wish to boat around the bay. 

The island floats temptingly out in the middle of the bay but you are not allowed to swim to this island, even in the heat of summer.  Cruise ships and swimmers just don’t mix, so for your safety, stay out of the water.  

Once you’ve had your fill of the beach and the castle, it is time to go back the way you came, only this time up hill.  The angle of the trail seems to increase when you are going up, but with a slower pace or a few quick breaks, the mile back is very doable.  

While we were only here for a short period of time in the winter of 2022, you may be asking yourself, what other trails are there to hike.  Emerald Bay State Park is full of  other trails that can be accessed and hiked in the summer.  So let’s look at the trails!

The Trails 

There are a series of trails that run throughout Emerald Bay State Park and while I did not personally hike them, I can only imagine they are worth hiking.  Emerald Bay is so beautiful and the mountains in this area are simply stunning.  

Had we had more time I would have explored this are more.  But here is some basic information to get your started!  

The trails are as follows in Emerald Bay State Park

• Rubicon Trail – 10.2 miles out and back, 1050 feet of elevation gain
• Vikingsholm Trail – 2 miles out and back, 400 feet of elevation gain
• Lower Eagle Falls Trail – 1 mile out and back, 150 feet of elevation gain
• Cascade Trail – 1.4 miles out and back, 255 feet of elevation gain

Like I said, I have only done the Vikingsholm Trail and I was only there in the winter, but if you are here in the summer, these trails will all be open and easily accessible via the camping area or the parking area.  

If you visit in the off season, make sure to check on trail closures and even road closures.  Lake Tahoe can be covered in snow for a long section of the year.  Be sure to check for any closures.

But the summer is an optimal time to visit and hike these trails, trails that I can only imagine are as gorgeous as this entire area is!

You have finished hiking the Vikingsholm trail, now what?  What else is there to do in this area?

There is one other spot that you can make a quick stop at that still falls within Emerald Bay State Park.

Inspiration Point

Inspiration Point is a quick stop where you can view Emerald Bay.  This area is in Emerald Bay State Park and through the trees you can see not only the beautiful mountains that surround you, but also the island in the center of Emerald Bay. 

This too has limited parking, so you might need to pull off on the side of the road to park here and view this area.  

This point is named Inspiration Point undoubtedly because of its awe-inspiring natural views of Emerald Bay.  

South Lake Tahoe

After you have finished your hike, you might want to stop for some food or a quick shopping break in South Lake Tahoe, which is the closest town.

This area is known for its skiing in the winter so when we were there it was packed!  Snowboarders and skiiers filled the sidewalks, but it didn’t stop us from having a good time shop-hopping.  

My husband and I spent an evening here taking a break from hiking.  The shops are touristy, yet adorable and there are plenty of restaurants to choose from!  Regardless of what you’re in the mood to eat, or if you have a picky eater with you, there will definitely be something you can find.

We stopped at Stateline Restaurant and Brewery and it had delicious food and some creative drinks if you are over 21.  

Conclusion

Hiking the Vikingsholm Trail in Emerald Bay State Park is a must-do if the weather cooperates.  We loved the Viking castle at the end of the trail and the beach along Emerald Bay was also quite beautiful.  

Emerald Bay State Park holds a special place in my heart and it always will.  I got up early several days in a row to see the sunrise here, and I hiked down to the Viking castle in the snow.  This special and stunning place should definitely be on your bucket list of places to visit around Lake Tahoe!

If you are in the Lake Tahoe area and looking for yet another state park to explore, be sure to check out my other post on Cave Rock State Park!