nhastings Loc: Telluride, CO

Just got back from Lake Tahoe. Was there all last week on business but brought my camera equipment. It's a hard place to photograph if you are looking for that perfect shot. As always, get up early for sunrise light and be ready for sunset light, especially if there are clouds. Without clouds it can be pretty boring. Also, while in South Lake Tahoe, especially around State Line go into some of the photo gallery's and check out what some of the locals are doing. Some very good work. However, when you live in a beautiful environment like Lake Tahoe, you know the light, the locations and the overall mood of the area. You can wait for that perfect combination of light, clouds, location. On the North shore there are lots of locations with cool rocks along the shore with that juxtaposition of beautiful blue and green water. You need to get out of the car and hike a bit but it's worth it. A tour boat trip at sunset might be a great bet, especially if the clouds are present. Good luck and have fun.

Harvey Loc: Pioneer, CA

As I lived at So. Lake Tahoe for 15 yrs I can tell you that you are going to e there in the "off" season - after the snow bunnies and before the campers - Be prepared to drive long distances between shots as they are scattered around the area.
Take the tram to the top of Heavenly Valley
Take a drive up to the top of Echo summit and come back down stopping to shoot at the pullouts.
Take drive to Emerald bay with a side trip to Fallen Leaf Lake as for Angora Lake forget it as they will still be snowed in and the road will be closed - back to hwy 89 and on to Emerald Bay- be prepared to stop at the first over look which sneaks up on you as you get to the top of a VERY steep windy section just past the Cascade Lake view on your left
The parking lot at Eagle Falls with the view of Emerald bay has many photo ops. You may want to walk down to the bay and shoot the Castle/Vikings home.
If time is of no limit the full drive around the lake is suggested but photo ops a far between - the Boat trip is highly recomended as well as the drive up to the top of Kingsbury Grade as the view coming back down is fantastic.
I hope you enjoy your time there as much as I did.
Harvey in the Sierras

jccash Loc: Longwood, Florida

Fallen Leaf Lake (someone already mentioned that), Logan Shoal's Vista on the east side. Definitely Sand Harbor (where all those exposed rocks were at the water's edge). Squaw Valley, the Olympic Village. Don't miss Emerald Bay, Camp Richardson...

brobill Loc: Fort Worth, Texas ( Haslet)

Thanks for all the fine input

Bill Munny Loc: Aurora, Colorado

On the south west end of the lake, take the easy hike to Eagle Falls. Very pleasant walk with great views. Just an addition to the other responses.

Bhbaldeagle1

It's a bit of hike (3 miles round trip) but Skunk Harbor is a gorgeous hidden beach with large boulders just offshore.

Harvey Loc: Pioneer, CA

As I said there are many great photo ops around the lake
90 mi and about 3 hr direct drive - days if one hits just 75% of them - one can get quite a few if they stay between Cave Rock and Emerald Bay but those No west side and East Side do take some time to find and quite a bit of walking. Side trips like Squaw, Valley, Mnt Rose hwy,( from which the Carson Valley is unbeatable) eat up lots of time.

Jfendley

Southwest end of the lake is Beautiful. Never leave home without your camera. Squaw Valley 4 miles north west is a must.

hannaco Loc: People's Republic of California

After a long day of shooting, consider Lucky Beaver, Bar & Burger for something to eat. Just inside Navada next to the CVS.

GRAYMOND1947 Loc: Huntington Beach CA

Lots of opportunities in that area, any where around the lake, boat trips on the lake, the lifts at the ski resort, and North Donner Lake and the structures to protect the trains from avalanches. If you are lucky a train may come through. And East to Virginia City and Carson City.

Harvey Loc: Pioneer, CA

ROTFLMAO - Squaw Valley is a long 25+ mile drive from this view of Emerald Bay Lake Tahoe.

therwol Loc: USA

There is a tram near the Heavenly parking lot and a gondola just a block or two from the state line on HWY 50, California side. Both take up you high for a nice view of the lake.

An easy way to stand by the lake and walk around is to visit Nevada Beach, 2.5 miles from State Line. You drive out on HWY 50 going east, and in no time there is a sign to turn left to the beach. There are picnic areas, and it's dog friendly. Open 24 hours.

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Photocraig

Tahoe @ 6,000+ feet elevation suffers from the same highway syndrome as the mid west. Two seasons, Winter and Road Repair.

However as a former resident of the area, there are a great number of photo opportunities just off the road that encircles the Lake. However, since the area is heavily treed, they aren't obviously apparent to the driver negotiating the narrow road.

I suggest getting a guide book and a map and plotting some stops. From State Line take the Tram up Heavenly Mountain and you've got the World Class Panorama--hard to beat. Be SURE to take your tripod. Then travel North to Zephyr Cove NV where you might catch the Tahoe Belle Paddle Wheel boat at anchor. Also there is a park with beach access, meaning unobstructed views. Further North you'll go through a tunnel and on the shore there are beaches and large boulders in the lake at Sand Harbor near Incline Village NV. These are iconic foreground elements showing off the clarity and color and the majestic south facing views of the West Shore and the Lake. Just up the Mount rose Hwy a mile (toward Reno) is an overlook that will give a different elevated perspective of the similar south facing views of the lake. There are several views available (just off the road) in Incline. Hungry?? About now, go for a drink and lunch at the Incline Hilton's Lakeside restaurant, beach and pier. Unobstructed and unfettered access. Budget alternative. Drink there and find TJ's Grill for the BEST Tri Tip or Chicken sandwich, Tostada etc. Walk to the end of their street and voila, the Lake again. Drive up any street to your right and you will get more elevated views. And I've just covered 1/2 of the Lake.

More opportunities, unfortunately or FORTUNATELY requiring getting off the road, out of the car and walking a bit, in Crystal Bay NV, King's Beach,CA (Gar Wood's Restaurant with their own pier and "Wet Woody" cocktail) with public beaches and Piers, Tahoe City (Sunnyside) Tahoma, and around to Emerald Bay and then back to South Lake Tahoe. In the middle of Emerald Bay is Vikingsholm which is a replica of a Nordic castle. The Camp Richardson Park on the SW corner of the lake is near Fallen Leaf Lake, Angora lake and there's a lakeside restaurant with a HUGE deck easy to take many photos including boats.

The theme here is that this is one of the most photographed natural beauties in the World. AND the most photographed and painted. There are many Public beaches and lakeside restaurants with obstructed Lake views. Orient yourself, leave the driving to someone else or delegate the navigation because it is a 2 lane local road. And perhaps designate a driver since the stops may be a little heavy of drinking--or not.

Also, in South Lake Hornblower Cruises has cruises to Emerald Bay. A MUST do. And you'll get the up close view of Vikingsholm and the spectacularly clear water and beaches of Emerald bay (guess what color it is?)

Have fun and if you're before Memorial Day, check to be sure the road around Emerald Bay is open and clear of snow. We're having some late weather this year, so be sure to check. There is a steep portion with switchbacks that Mother Nature refuses to recognize and fills them in every year, just like she built that hill in the first place.

There are a few pull outs and view overlooks, that some folks miss. But the Lake shore is largely privately owned and the Environmental Establishment (Google TARPA) makes improvements, especially to the road, impossible. The clarity of the Lake is the beneficiary. If you take your time this could well be the best vacation you ever took.

PM me for any details,
C

therwol Loc: USA

Just a technical note for anyone interested. The 4 pictures I posted were jpegs SOOC taken with a 28-105 AF D zoom on my Nikon D810 camera. An old lens, yes. It seems sharper to me than the 24-120 VR that I later bought, and it has zero distortion. If you zoom in on the Heavenly ski lift in the first picture, the fine details of the pylons are visible. Remember that Heavenly is over 2 miles away from where I was standing. Faces are quite clear in the pictures. I never pass up an opportunity to plug this lens. Sharpness does fall off at the far edges, but that't the only fault of the lens that I can find. If it only had VR, which is the reason I replaced it.