Carson Pass & Schneider Camp Trail via Pacific Crest Trail is a 10.3-mile out-and-back in Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit near Kirkwood, CA. The route reaches Carson Pass at the turnaround, 5.1 miles in. It climbs 2,332 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 43/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
0 mi8,353 – 9,413 ft · steepest grade: 18%10.5 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Schneider Camp 4WD Trail 38.72601, -120.04790
Nearest town Kirkwood, CA
Directions
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Carson Pass & Schneider Camp Trail via Pacific Crest Trail
10.3 mi · ▲ 2,332 ft · 4 hr 36 min
Elevation 8,354–9,413 ft
Out & Back · Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
Trailhead: Schneider Camp 4WD Trail · 38.72601, -120.04790
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:47 AM · sunset 7:02 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Schneider Camp Trail, heading NE.
- 1.1 miSharp right, heading S.
- 2.6 miTurn right onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading S.
- 1.5 miReach Carson Pass, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1.5 miTurn left, heading N.
- 2.6 miSharp left onto Schneider Camp Trail, heading N.
- 1.1 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
72% dirt28% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:47 AMSunset 7:02 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.8 mi in (~33 min). Leave by 6:09 PM for the 7:02 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:35 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Car visible from the viewpoint
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Schneider Camp 4WD Trail Trailhead
- Strawberry Pass–Buck Pasture Trail, 5 sights 13.3 mi · ▲ 2,883 ft
- Round Lake–Dardanelles Lake, 6 sights 14 mi · ▲ 2,538 ft
- 10N01 & Schneider Camp Trail via Pacific Crest Trail 10.6 mi · ▲ 2,588 ft
- ALP122 & Schneider Camp Trail via Pacific Crest Trail 9.8 mi · ▲ 2,535 ft
- Winnemucca Lake–Frog Lake, 4 sights 14.8 mi · ▲ 2,973 ft
- Schneider Camp 4WD Trail & Strawberry 4WD Trail 2.9 mi · ▲ 424 ft
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