Bliss State Park

D. L. Bliss State Park is near Lake Tahoe, in the Sierra Nevada region of California.

Understand

Lake Tahoe

Notable features include Rubicon Point Light, the highest-elevation lighthouse in the United States. A popular trail in the lakeside forest features a large balancing rock.

History

The park is named in honor of timber and railroad magnate Duane Leroy Bliss, whose heirs donated 744 acres (301 ha) of land to the state in 1929. It has since grown to 2,149 acres (870 ha).

Climate

• Summer: 75–80 °F (24–27 °C) during the day to the low 40s at night
• Winter: high of 40 °F (4 °C) to lows in the teens and 20s, and may dip 0 °F (−18 °C).

Get in

It is 17 mi (27 km) south of Tahoe City on Highway 89, a couple of miles north of Emerald Bay.

Do

• swimming
• scuba diving
• go to the beach at Lester Beach or Calawee Cove
• hike the Rubicon Trail, Lighthouse Trail, and Balancing Rock Trail
• kayak, paddleboard, or canoe

Sleep

There is a historic campground. It has small roads, small campsites and small parking pads. This campground does not have hook-ups. There is a dump station available for registered campers. The campsite fee for one vehicle is $45 for Beach Camp and $35 for others (Sep 2021). The maximum trailer length is 15 ft. The maximum motorhome length is 18 ft.

Lake Tahoe is a popular destination and reservations are required. Reservations are available from late May to the first weekend of September online or at ☏ +1-800-444-7275. Reservations may be made 6 months in advance.