ActivitiesHikingBayview Campground Trailhead
Bayview Campground Trailhead
West Shore, hiking, strenuous
Short but steep trail to Granite Lake with stunning views over Emerald Bay. One of the best bang-for-effort hikes on the west shore.
In short: Bayview Campground Trailhead is a strenuous hike on Lake Tahoe's West Shore: 4 mi round trip, 900 ft of elevation gain, a high point of 7,740 ft. The season is Jun – Oct, no permit is needed, dogs are allowed.
- Distance, round trip
- 4 mi
- Elevation gain
- 900 ft
- High point
- 7,740 ft
- Difficulty
- Strenuous
Where it is
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Trail details
- Granite Lake above Emerald Bay
- Quick alpine access
- Eagle Falls nearby
- Trail
- Granite Lake / Desolation
- Season
- Jun – Oct
- Permit
- None needed
- Parking
- Free, Bayview Campground
- Dogs
- Allowed
Go with a guide. Walk the basin with a local guide, on a trail matched to your group and the season.
Guided hikeConditions today
- Right now
- 72°F, Sunny
- Today
- High 72°, low 48°
- Wind
- 8 mph
- Campfires
- Metal rings only
- TomorrowPartly Cloudy, 10% chance of rain68° 45°
- ThuMostly Clear, 5% chance of rain74° 50°
- FriPM Storms, 75% chance of rain61° 44°
Know before you go
- Permits
- Desolation Wilderness needs a permit for both day hikes and overnight trips. Most other trails in the basin need none.
- Parking
- Lots at Eagle Falls, D.L. Bliss and other popular trailheads fill by 9am on summer weekends. Start early or go midweek.
- Altitude
- Trailheads start around 6,300 feet and the highest summits top 10,000. Carry more water than you would at sea level and take the first day easy.
- Weather
- Summer afternoons can bring thunderstorms. Plan to be off exposed ridges and summits by early afternoon.
More hiking within 5 miles
- Dick's Peak Trailhead0.7 mi, expert
- Eagle Falls Trailhead0.9 mi, moderate
- Vikingsholm Trailhead0.9 mi, easy
- Cascade Falls Trailhead1.1 mi, easy
- Mount Tallac Trailhead2.2 mi, strenuous
- D.L. Bliss Rubicon Trailhead2.3 mi, moderate
Nearest campgrounds
- Emerald Bay — Eagle Point0.9 mi, 97 sites
- D.L. Bliss State Park2.0 mi, 168 sites
- Camp Richardson — RV Village3.1 mi, 98 sites