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 Sep 20: sunrise 6:48 AM · sunset 7:03 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 3.9 mi in (~113 min). Leave by 4:50 PM for the 7:03 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:10 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 Road, 5 sights 15.9 mi · ▲ 3,506 ft
- Pacific Crest Trail 10.5 mi · ▲ 939 ft
- Sourdough Hill–Richardson Lake, 3 summits 14.3 mi · ▲ 1,825 ft
- Buck Island Lake–Barker Pass, 3 saddles 15.3 mi · ▲ 2,464 ft
- Barker Pass Road & Powderhorn Ridge Road 7 mi · ▲ 698 ft
- West Meadow Creek via Pacific Crest Trail 9.3 mi · ▲ 1,053 ft
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