AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
Wetlands and forests along the Truckee River, near Tahoe City, 2011.jpg
DimiTalen · CC0
Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

Lake Cushing–Thunder Mountain Trail, 4 sights

16 mi · ▲ 2,195 ft · 6 hr 26 min

Lake Cushing–Thunder Mountain Trail, 4 sights is a 16-mile out-and-back in Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit near Comstock Acres, CA. The route reaches Lake Cushing. It climbs 2,195 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade. It scores 18/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi6,152 – 6,870 ft · steepest grade: 18%17.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Truckee River Bike Trail 39.16595, -120.14709
Nearest town Comstock Acres, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Lake Cushing–Thunder Mountain Trail, 4 sights

16 mi · ▲ 2,195 ft · 6 hr 26 min

Elevation 6,152–6,872 ft

Out & Back · Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

Trailhead: Truckee River Bike Trail · 39.16595, -120.14709

Weather Aug 4: Overcast, high 85°F / low 47° · precip 0% · wind 7 mph · sunrise 6:03 AM · sunset 8:12 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Truckee River Bike Trail, heading SW.
  2. 2.6 miBear right, heading NW.
  3. 150 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  4. 150 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  5. 50 ftBear right, heading SW.
  6. 0.3 miTurn right onto Fir Crags Road, heading NW.
  7. 250 ftTurn left onto Truckee River Bike Trail, heading N.
  8. 0.4 miBear right, heading N.
  9. 0.1 miTurn left, heading NE.
  10. 350 ftBear right, heading N.
  11. 0.7 miContinue straight onto Western States Trail, heading N.
  12. 0.7 miBear left, heading SW.
  13. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  14. 200 ftBear right, heading W.
  15. 0.3 miTurn left, heading W.
  16. 0.3 miBear left, heading NW.
  17. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  18. 0.6 miSharp right onto World Cup Trail, heading NW.
  19. 0.7 miPass Lake Cushing.
  20. 400 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  21. 250 ftBear right, heading W.
  22. 150 ftTurn left, heading W.
  23. 300 ftTurn left, heading E.
  24. 300 ftTurn right, heading E.
  25. 150 ftTurn left, heading E.
  26. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Thunder Mountain Trail, heading S.
  27. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
  28. 150 ftTurn right, heading W.
  29. 0.2 miReach Lake Cushing, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  30. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  31. 0.4 miTurn right, heading NE.
  32. 200 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  33. 250 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  34. 300 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  35. 150 ftBear left, heading NW.
  36. 250 ftTurn right onto World Cup Trail, heading NE.
  37. 0.7 miSharp left onto Western States Trail, heading N.
  38. 0.4 miBear left, heading SE.
  39. 450 ftBear right, heading SW.
  40. 0.1 miTurn left, heading SW.
  41. 0.3 miTurn right, heading E.
  42. 0.3 miBear left, heading E.
  43. 150 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  44. 0.2 miBear right, heading NE.
  45. 0.7 miContinue straight onto Truckee River Bike Trail, heading NE.
  46. 0.7 miBear right, heading NE.
  47. 350 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  48. 0.1 miBear left, heading E.
  49. 0.4 miTurn right onto Fir Crags Road, heading S.
  50. 250 ftTurn left, heading S.
  51. 0.3 miBear left, heading S.
  52. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  53. 150 ftTurn right onto Truckee River Bike Trail, heading S.
  54. 50 ftBear right, heading S.
  55. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/lake-cushing-lake-cushing-out-back-5-sights

Trail surface

49% paved26% dirt1% gravel24% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 85°F47°
Precip0%Wind7 mphUV8Humidity23%
Hourly temperature
85°45°
Sunrise 6:03 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:12 PM
Tue 86°63°
Wed 85°57°
Thu 82°56°
Fri 82°57°
Sat 82°57°
Sun 83°55°

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Drinking water at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Truckee River Bike Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Comstock Acres, California