Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
Ellis Peak–Lake Louise, 3 summits
15.5 mi · ▲ 2,876 ft · 6 hr 36 min
Ellis Peak–Lake Louise, 3 summits is a 15.5-mile out-and-back in Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit near Pomins, CA. The route passes Lake Louise before reaching Ellis Peak at the turnaround, 7.8 miles in. It climbs 2,876 ft, with sections as steep as 22% grade. It scores 60/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Ellis Peak–Lake Louise, 3 summits
15.5 mi · ▲ 2,876 ft · 6 hr 36 min
Elevation 6,340–8,718 ft
Out & Back · Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
Trailhead: 39.05702, -120.12224
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:47 AM · sunset 7:02 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
- 300 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading SW.
- 150 ftSharp left, heading SW.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading SW.
- 1.1 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 0.8 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 2 miBear right, heading N.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Noonchester Mine Road, heading N.
- 1.2 miSharp left, heading NW.
- 450 ftBear left onto Quail Peak, heading SW.
- 0.9 miPass Lake Louise.
- 500 ftSharp left onto Lake Louise, heading NW.
- 1.3 miSharp right, heading SW.
- 0.4 miReach Ellis Peak, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1.7 miSharp right onto Quail Peak, heading N.
- 1 miBear right, heading E.
- 450 ftSharp right onto Noonchester Mine Road, heading E.
- 3.2 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 0.8 miTurn left onto North Fire Road, heading NE.
- 1.1 miSharp left, heading NE.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading NE.
- 100 ftSharp left, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 50 ftArrive 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 7.4 mi in (~247 min). Leave by 2:35 PM for the 7:02 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:24 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 this trailhead
- Richardson Lake–General Creek Trail, 4 sights 13.6 mi · ▲ 1,400 ft
- Upper Mountain Viewpoint–Lake Louise, 5 sights 14.5 mi · ▲ 2,617 ft
- Homeward Bound–Homeward Connector, 3 sights 10.9 mi · ▲ 1,597 ft
- Lost Lake–General Creek Trail, 5 sights 13.1 mi · ▲ 1,516 ft
- Lake Louise–Lake Tahoe, 6 sights 16 mi · ▲ 3,578 ft
- Lily Pond–Lily Pond Trail, 3 sights 6.2 mi · ▲ 304 ft
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