Emerald Bay State Park is adjacent to D.L. Bliss State Park. With its rugged shoreline and blue-green water, Emerald Bay is one of the most photographed places in the world. Vikingsholm, a replica of a Scandinavian castle (800 A.D.), is part of the park. The building is considered one of the finest examples of Scandinavian architecture in the Western Hemisphere. Tours are available of this 38-room mansion. Emerald Bay offers a panoramic view of the lake from Eagle Falls. Hikers can head into nearby Desolation Wilderness or walk the rugged lakeshore to D.L. Bliss along the Rubicon Trail.
Emerald Bay is known for it’s glittering green, turquoise and indigo waters lap and white sand beaches. A tiny stone tea house perches atop Lake Tahoe’s sole island, which has, throughout the years had many names: Dead Man's, Coquette, Baranoff, Hermit's, Emerald Isle and today, Fannette Island.
In 1969, the federal government agreed and designated Emerald Bay a National Natural Landmark for its brilliant panorama of mountain-building processes and glacier carved granite. Today, the park is extremely popular in the summer months. Visitors come to enjoy the campgrounds, Vikingsholm and Underwater Park.