Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
Ellis Peak–Bear Lake, 3 sights
14.7 mi · ▲ 2,235 ft · 6 hr 1 min
Ellis Peak–Bear Lake, 3 sights is a 14.7-mile out-and-back in Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit near Homewood, CA. The route reaches Ellis Peak at the turnaround, 7.3 miles in. It climbs 2,235 ft, with sections as steep as 22% grade. It scores 95/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Ellis Peak–Bear Lake, 3 sights
14.7 mi · ▲ 2,235 ft · 6 hr 1 min
Elevation 7,085–8,718 ft
Out & Back · Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
Trailhead: Pacific Crest Trail · 39.07676, -120.23515
Weather Aug 4: Clear, high 77°F / low 48° · precip 0% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 6:05 AM · sunset 8:11 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Pacific Crest Trail, heading SE.
- 2.2 miBear left onto Bear Lake, heading SE.
- 2.3 miTurn left onto West Miller Creek, heading S.
- 2.1 miTurn left onto Ellis Lake, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Ellis Peak, heading NE.
- 0.7 miReach Ellis Peak, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.7 miTurn left onto Ellis Lake, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn right onto West Miller Creek, heading W.
- 2.1 miTurn right onto Bear Lake, heading W.
- 2.3 miBear right onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading W.
- 2.2 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.7 mi in (~107 min). Leave by 6:04 PM for the 8:11 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:14 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Pacific Crest Trail 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