Emerald Bay Guide

Emerald Bay is one of the most visited locations in all of Lake Tahoe. Emerald Bay is a National Natural Landmark and just off the shore contains the lake’s only island formation. Whenever you see pictures online of Lake Tahoe, odds are they are shots taken from Emerald Bay. There’s no doubt that this is the most photographed shore on Lake Tahoe. Take a look at this picture and you’ll see why.

Flickr photo provided by the_tahoe_guy

One thing that makes Emerald Bay unique (and I’m not talking about the beauty) is the way it is protected. Emerald Bay is a California State Park and not only is the land protected, but so is the surrounding water and everything beneath it – rock formations, ship wrecks, etc. You can’t disturb any of it.

The bay is about 1.7 miles in length, and about two-thirds of a mile wide at its widest point. In extremely harsh winters, it’s not uncommon for parts of the bay to freeze. You can get to Emerald Bay by State Route 89. It’s near the southwest shore of the lake, on the California side.

How Deep Is Lake Tahoe?

The Lake Tahoe water is so crystal clear that you might not realize just how far down it goes. On a clear day you can see anywhere from 10-30 feet in depth along the shorelines. But just how deep is it at the deepest point? Lake Tahoe measures in at a depth of 1,645 ft, making it America’s second deepest lake.

To give you a better picture of how deep Lake Tahoe is, here are a few things that would fit inside the lake and still not reach the top:

Willis Tower – 1,451 ft
Empire State Building – 1,250 ft
Eiffle Tower – 1,066 ft

Those are some tall buildings! Needless to say, I don’t think you can strap on a scuba pack and swim to the bottom of this lake. I wonder if anything cool lies at the bottom of Lake Tahoe? Acient treasures perhaps? Post a comment and let me know what you think might be down there at the deepest parts of the lake.