Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

Ellis Lake & Ellis Peak Trail

5.4 mi · ▲ 1,197 ft · 2 hr 24 min

Ellis Lake & Ellis Peak Trail is a 5.4-mile out-and-back in Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit near Homewood, CA. The route reaches Ellis Lake at the turnaround, 2.7 miles in. It climbs 1,197 ft, with sections as steep as 24% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 90/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi7,779 – 8,472 ft · steepest grade: 24%5.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Ellis Peak Trailhead 39.07187, -120.23106
Nearest town Homewood, CA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Ellis Lake & Ellis Peak Trail

5.4 mi · ▲ 1,197 ft · 2 hr 24 min

Elevation 7,779–8,473 ft

Out & Back · Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

Trailhead: Ellis Peak Trailhead · 39.07187, -120.23106

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:48 AM · sunset 7:03 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Ellis Peak Trail, heading SW.
  2. 2.4 miTurn left onto Ellis Lake, heading N.
  3. 0.3 miReach Ellis Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  4. 0.3 miTurn right onto Ellis Peak Trail, heading W.
  5. 2.4 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

88% dirt12% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:48 AMSunset 7:03 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.3 mi in (~14 min). Leave by 6:29 PM for the 7:03 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:24 PM — 5 min before dark. Car visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Ellis Peak Trailhead Trailhead