How To Kayak To The Fannette Island Tea House in Emerald Bay
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Recently, during a visit to Emerald Bay State Park, I made the last minute decision to rent a kayak and explore Fannette Island and its famed tea house.
I’ve never kayaked before, but I really wanted to check out the island and have always thought about giving kayaking a try, so I pulled the trigger.
After experiencing it, I wanted to put this post together to hopefully encourage others who haven’t kayaked, but have always wanted to.
In this post, l’ll cover topics such as how get to Emerald Bay, where to find the rental place, a little information about Fannette Island and more!
Let’s get into it!
Emerald Bay State Park
In order to kayak to Fannette Island, you’ll first need to access Emerald Bay. There’s only two ways to do this - you either hike or boat in.
I’m going to assume you’re like most people and don’t own or know how to operate a boat. So in this guide, we’ll cover the later.
To start, you’ll begin at the parking lot and trailhead for Vikingsholm Castle. From here, it’s a one-mile trek down to the beach.
You’ll need to pay a $10 fee to park in this lot and you’ll also need to arrive early. The lot fills very quickly.
The trail is a breeze going in, but it will be all uphill on the way out. In my opinion, it wasn’t difficult, but it could be for some. So be honest with yourself.
When you get to the end of the trail and facing Vikingsholm Castle, look to your right and you’ll see a pier leading from the beach into the water.
Just beyond that you’ll see the rental stand for, Kayak Tahoe. They’re the exclusive vendor for kayak and SUP rentals in Emerald Bay.
Kayak Tahoe Rentals
Kayak Tahoe is open during the typical tourist season in Emerald Bay. That usually means June through September.
They open at 10am and close at 5pm, with the final rental leaving the beach at 4pm. No additional rentals can be booked beyond that.
Prices are typical for what you’d find at most beaches in Tahoe. They are:
Single Kayak: $35 one hour, $45 two hours, or $100 full day
Double Kayak: $45 one hour, $65 two hours, or $120 full day
SUP (Paddleboard): $35 one hour, $45 two hours, or $100 full day
These prices are current as of the 2022 season. We always do our best to keep information like this up-to-date, but just in case, here’s their official website.
*Tip: You’ll want to bring a dry bag with you. (tap the link to see our recommendation). These bags will keep your cell phone, camera, wallet and other valuables dry if they were to fall into the water or get splashed.
Once you’ve made your selection, paid the fee and filled out the waiver, you’ll be given a life vest and instructions on how to operate your kayak.
If you’re like me and have never kayaked before, don’t fret, you’ll be ok. Listen to and follow their instructions and you’ll catch on quickly.
*Here’s a few tips they gave me that’ll help you
Stabilize half of the kayak on shore and when getting in, sit down onto that side of the kayak.
Never step in. That’ll cause your kayak to tip.
Always wear a life jacket.
Keep your hips loose and in movement with the kayak.
Always give motorized vessels the right of way.
I went with the one-hour rental and that was more than enough time for me to get to the island, explore the Tea House and kayak back to the beach.
If you feel like it’ll take you longer, be on the safe side and go with the two-hour rental so you won’t feel rushed.
Fannette Island
The island’s now permanent name is Fannette. In the last 100 years, however, it has also gone by Baranoff, Emerald Isle, Dead Man’s, Coquette and Hermit’s.
The shoreline of the island is rocky with little to no beach to speak of. As you approach it, you’ll need to find a spot to park and secure your kayak.
*Tip: The front-facing shoreline has a lot of space to park your kayak and provides the easiest access to the tea house. The rear of the island (the side facing the mouth of Emerald Bay) has very limited access.
As you can see in the photo above, I found the perfect spot in a set of rocks to cradle the kayak while I was gone. This spot was along the shoreline facing the beach.
Once you’re actually on the island, you’ll find the path up to the Tea House through thick brush. You’ll then get to a point where you’re scrambling up some boulders (nothing complicated).
At around the halfway mark, you’ll start getting great views of the bay and a sneak peak of the Tea House over some boulders.
After a short while, you’ll arrive at the Tea House on top of the island. You’ll enter it through the doorless entryway on the side.
The Tea House
The biggest draw to visiting Fannette Island is the old Tea House. All that remains is an empty shell, but it’s still worth to checking out.
The 16 by 16-foot structure was built between 1928-1929, the same timeframe as Vikingsholm Castle and owned by Mrs. Knight (who also owned the castle).
It was used for the purpose in which it’s named; a literal tea house. Mrs. Knight and her guests would be transported to the island by motorboat and be served tea there.
There was a fireplace in the corner and a large oak table with four oak chairs in the center, giving the Tea House a rustic appearance.
From both inside and outside the Tea House, you’ll get fantastic views of Emerald Bay and the Lake Tahoe mountains on each side.
When you’re done checking out the Tea House, simply head back down the same way you came. Hopefully, your kayak will still be there.
I still had around 20-minutes left on my rental time, so I decided to circle the island before heading back. I recommend doing the same if you have the time.
From here, simply head back to the beach to drop off your kayak and life vest. If you’re up for more activities, check out the posts of other things you do in the area below!
“How To Visit Vikingsholm Castle In Emerald Bay”
Your Thoughts…
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