Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
Buck Island Lake–Barker Pass, 3 saddles
15.3 mi · ▲ 2,464 ft · 6 hr 20 min
Buck Island Lake–Barker Pass, 3 saddles is a 15.3-mile out-and-back in Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit near Homewood, CA. The route passes Barker Pass before reaching Buck Island Lake at the turnaround, 7.7 miles in. It climbs 2,464 ft, with sections as steep as 19% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 92/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Buck Island Lake–Barker Pass, 3 saddles
15.3 mi · ▲ 2,464 ft · 6 hr 20 min
Elevation 6,011–7,708 ft
Out & Back · Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
Trailhead: Blackwood Creek Middle Fork Road · 39.07651, -120.23312
Weather Sep 4: Light rain, high 43°F / low 38° · precip 50% · wind 16 mph · sunrise 6:33 AM · sunset 7:29 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading W.
- 0.1 miPass Barker Pass.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading S.
- 2.2 miSharp right onto Bear Lake, heading NW.
- 400 ftSharp left onto Barker Creek, heading S.
- 1.4 miTurn right onto Rubicon Trail, heading S.
- 4 miBear left, heading W.
- 50 ftReach Buck Island Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 4 miTurn left onto Barker Creek, heading E.
- 1.4 miSharp right onto Bear Lake, heading N.
- 350 ftSharp left onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading N.
- 2.2 miTurn right, heading N.
- 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.1 mi in (~52 min). Leave by 6:16 PM for the 7:29 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:53 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Blackwood Creek Middle Fork Road Trailhead
- Barker Pass & Barker Pass Spur via Pacific Crest Trail 2.7 mi · ▲ 427 ft
- Barker Meadow & Barker Pass Road 3.6 mi · ▲ 141 ft
- Barker Meadow Loop via Pacific Crest Trail 4.4 mi · ▲ 580 ft
- Barker Meadow Loop via Pacific Crest Trail 5.2 mi · ▲ 735 ft
- Barker Meadow & Barker Pass Road Loop 5.3 mi · ▲ 567 ft
- Pacific Crest Trail 5.6 mi · ▲ 677 ft
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Hikes near Homewood, California