Vikingsholm Trail – Lake Tahoe Hiking Trails

The Vikingsholm trail takes you from the parking lot down a pretty steep 1 mile long trail to Vikingsholm. The way down is very manageable by small children, but they may have trouble on the way back up, as it’s entirely uphill. Scenic views of Emerald Bay and Fannette Island line the trail, and there are many resting places along the way to catch your breath or enjoy the picture before you. Vikingsholm is a special attraction of Emerald Bay, and a popular tourist destination for good reason.

Vikingsholm was built in 1929 as the summer home of millionaire heiress Lora Knight. Knight was inspired by Scandinavian architecture and the scenery around Emerald Bay reminded her of the fjords in Norway, so she chose a Scandinavian design for the house. The architecture is unusual – a sod roof seeded with wildflowers, dragon heads at the peak of the roof, stained paneling, a folk art clock, and an intriguing and interesting collection of Scandinavian antiques and museum reproductions. The 38 room mansion was home to a staff of about 15 every summer upon Mrs. Knight’s arrival. An enthusiastic entertainer, Knight also had guests often in the summer months; at times as many as twelve people would be staying at once. On occasion, even some well-known figures, such as Will Rogers, visited. The beauty and splendor of Vikingsholm combined with the gorgeous scenery of Emerald Bay to create a quiet subdued way of life and a rare sort of elegance that all who’ve visited the historic “castle” – whether a tourist stopping by for a tour or one of Mrs. Knight’s cherished guests – can pay testament to.

Tours of Vikingsholm Castle are available seven days a week beginning Memorial Day weekend until the end of September. 30 minute guided tours start daily at 10:30 am and go until 4:30 pm every hour on the half hour. The tour is $5 for adults, $3 for children 6-17, and free for children under 6. Allow 1 to 3 hours to hike down, take the tour, and then hike back to your car. To get to the parking lot, take Highway 89 north from South Lake Tahoe approximately 9 miles to the parking lot on the right. If the parking lot is full, there is additional parking at the day use area at Eagle Point State Park where there is a less steep 1.5 mile trail down. For further information on Vikingsholm and info on wheelchair access, call (530) 525-9530.