AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
Watson Creek headwaters meadow and Tahoe Rim Trail.jpg
Dicklyon · CC BY-SA 4.0
Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

Cena Lar Trail & Watson Lake Trail via Tahoe Rim Trail

11.6 mi · ▲ 1,643 ft · 4 hr 41 min

Cena Lar Trail & Watson Lake Trail via Tahoe Rim Trail is an 11.6-mile out-and-back in Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit near Carnelian Bay, CA. It climbs 1,643 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 68/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi6,513 – 7,865 ft12.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.23235, -120.08576
Nearest town Carnelian Bay, CA
Google Maps Apple Maps

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Cena Lar Trail & Watson Lake Trail via Tahoe Rim Trail

11.6 mi · ▲ 1,643 ft · 4 hr 41 min

Elevation 6,511–7,865 ft

Out & Back · Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

Trailhead: 39.23235, -120.08576

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:47 AM · sunset 7:02 PM

Transit-accessible: stop 706 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 0.4 miBear left, heading N.
  3. 1 miSharp left onto Tahoe Rim Trail, heading S.
  4. 2.9 miContinue straight onto Big Chief Trail (Upper), heading W.
  5. 1.4 miBear right, heading NW.
  6. 250 ftSharp right onto Cena Lar Trail, heading W.
  7. 50 ftReach Watson Lake Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  8. 50 ftSharp left, heading W.
  9. 250 ftBear left onto Big Chief Trail (Upper), heading NW.
  10. 1.4 miContinue straight onto Tahoe Rim Trail, heading E.
  11. 2.9 miSharp right, heading NE.
  12. 1 miBear right, heading SE.
  13. 0.3 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/cena-lar-trail-watson-lake-trail-out-back-19-km

Trail surface

100% dirt

Weather

Sunrise 6:47 AMSunset 7:02 PM

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: stop 706 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Carnelian Bay, California