SUNDAY DRIVE

Lake Tahoe’s Emerald Bay

What you see: Emerald Bay at Lake Tahoe is one of the prettiest places on the planet — a giant cove with cobalt-blue water, surrounded by a mountain rim crowned by Maggie’s Peak, and dotted with Fannette Island. How do you improve on perfection? Perhaps by camping at the Emerald Bay Boat-in Camp, which opened Thursday for the season, or at Eagle Point, which is scheduled to open Thursday.

Location: Emerald Bay is along Highway 89 north of South Lake Tahoe.

A moment in time: On a calm morning, paddling a kayak in Lake Tahoe around Eagle Point and into Emerald Bay is ecstasy. Ahead is a mile of water, enclosed by mountain slopes, backed by a full view of Eagle Falls.

Six recreation options: 1. At Baldwin Beach, rent a kayak (or launch your own) to paddle into Emerald Bay; 2. From Inspiration Point, take a photo of Emerald Bay; 3. From Bayview Campground, hike 1 mile to the brink of 200-foot Cascade Falls and the view of Cascade Lake; 4. At Emerald Bay State Park, hike to Eagle Falls; 5. At Emerald Bay, walk the gated road, 1 mile with a 400-foot descent, to the Vikingsholm castle and to the beach at the foot of the bay; 6. From Vikingsholm, hike the Rubicon Trail along the western shore of Emerald Bay into D.L. Bliss State Park, or rent a kayak at the beach and paddle to Fannette Island and hike to the “Tea House” at the summit.

Camping: Emerald Bay Boat-In, Lower and Upper Eagle Point at Emerald Bay State Park; Beach, Lower Pine, Upper Pine, Ridge at D.L. Bliss State Park, $35 per night, reserve at www.reserve california.com; Bayview Campground and trailhead (open), first-come, first-served.

Kayak rentals: Kayak Tahoe, five locations, 530-544-2011, www.kayaktahoe.com

Dogs: No dogs on trails or roads into Emerald Bay. Leashed dogs under supervision at all times permitted in campgrounds. Dogs permitted in adjacent national forest.

Contacts: Emerald Bay State Park, 530-541-3030, D.L. Bliss State Park, 530-525-7177, both at www.parks.ca.gov; Taylor Creek Visitor Center, 530-5432674; Bayview Campground, Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, National Forest Service, 530-543-2600, www.fs.usda. gov/ltbmu.