American River Headwaters

French Meadows Road via Tevis Cup Trail

14.1 mi · ▲ 2,776 ft · 6 hr 5 min

French Meadows Road via Tevis Cup Trail is a 14.1-mile out-and-back in American River Headwaters near The Cedars, CA. It climbs 2,776 ft, with sections as steep as 20% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 94/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi6,122 – 7,372 ft · steepest grade: 20%14.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: French Meadows Road 39.24068, -120.35973
Nearest town The Cedars, CA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

French Meadows Road via Tevis Cup Trail

14.1 mi · ▲ 2,776 ft · 6 hr 5 min

Elevation 6,123–7,373 ft

Out & Back · American River Headwaters

Trailhead: French Meadows Road · 39.24068, -120.35973

Weather Aug 4: Clear, high 85°F / low 65° · precip 0% · wind 8 mph · sunrise 6:05 AM · sunset 8:12 PM

  1. Start on French Meadows Road, heading S.
  2. 2.1 miBear right onto Tevis Cup Trail, heading W.
  3. 4.8 miSharp right onto Soda Springs Riverton Spur, heading N.
  4. 0.2 miReach French Meadows Road, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  5. 0.2 miSharp left onto Tevis Cup Trail, heading NE.
  6. 4.8 miBear left onto French Meadows Road, heading E.
  7. 2.1 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

97% dirt3% unspecified

Weather

ClearTemperature 85°F65°
Precip0%Wind8 mphUV8Humidity23%
Hourly temperature
85°65°
Sunrise 6:05 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:12 PM
Wed 84°61°
Thu 88°59°
Fri 90°61°
Sat 90°61°
Sun 88°60°
Mon 87°58°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 5.7 mi in (~186 min). Leave by 4:46 PM for the 8:12 PM sunset. Back at your car by 11:06 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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