Lower Eagle Falls drops roughly 140 feet down granite cliffs into Emerald Bay just east of Highway 89 in Emerald Bay State Park. A short stairstep spur off the Rubicon Trail leads to a viewing platform at the base of the falls.
Its 140 ft drop is taller than about 82% of the 775 waterfalls we track.
Its water comes from Eagle Creek. It lies in El Dorado, California. The site is on public land managed by Emerald Bay State Park / Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit.
This is a short hike waterfall: reached by a short trail, generally under about a mile each way. The walk in is brief — comfortable shoes are usually all you need. The walk to the main viewpoint runs about 1.9 miles round trip. The nearest town is South Lake Tahoe.
When to go: Late spring to early summer (snowmelt). Water volume swings with the seasons here, strongest after snowmelt or rain and lowest in late summer, so check recent streamflow before you go.
