Mount Tallac–Fallen Leaf Lake, 3 summits is a 14.1-mile out-and-back in Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit near Tallac Village, CA. The route passes Fallen Leaf Lake before reaching Mount Tallac at the turnaround, 7 miles in. It climbs 3,534 ft, with sections as steep as 25% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 62/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
0 mi6,250 – 9,722 ft · steepest grade: 25%14.6 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Truckee Marsh 38.92356, -120.02660
Nearest town Tallac Village, CA
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Mount Tallac–Fallen Leaf Lake, 3 summits
14.1 mi · ▲ 3,534 ft · 6 hr 28 min
Elevation 6,249–9,722 ft
Out & Back · Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
Trailhead: Truckee Marsh · 38.92356, -120.02660
Weather Aug 4: sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 8:09 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Truckee Marsh, heading S.
- 50 ftBear right onto Truckee Marsh Cutoff, heading SW.
- 0.2 miBear right onto Sand Harbor, heading W.
- 0.5 miBear right onto Fallen Leaf Campground, heading W.
- 0.7 miBear left, heading W.
- 0.1 miPass Fallen Leaf Lake.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 0.6 miBear left, heading W.
- 350 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading SW.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Floating Island / Mount Tallac Trail, heading W.
- 4 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Mount Tallac Trail, heading N.
- 0.2 miReach Mount Tallac, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.5 miTurn left onto Floating Island / Mount Tallac Trail, heading S.
- 4 miTurn right, heading N.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading N.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
- 350 ftBear right, heading S.
- 0.6 miTurn left, heading E.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading E.
- 0.7 miBear left onto Sand Harbor, heading NE.
- 0.5 miBear left onto Truckee Marsh Cutoff, heading SE.
- 0.2 miBear left onto Truckee Marsh, heading S.
- 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
100% dirt
Weather
Sunrise 6:04 AMSunset 8:09 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 7.0 mi in (~274 min). Leave by 3:15 PM for the 8:09 PM sunset. Back at your car by 11:23 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Truckee Marsh Trailhead
- Panther–Sand Harbor Loop, 3 sights 2.6 mi · ▲ 162 ft
- Fallen Leaf Lake & Truckee Marsh via Sand Harbor 3.3 mi · ▲ 139 ft
- 15th Street Bike 3.3 mi · ▲ 27 ft
- Kiva Beach & Truckee Marsh via 15th Street Bike 3.8 mi · ▲ 111 ft
- Fallen Leaf Path via 15th Street Bike 4 mi · ▲ 56 ft
- 15th Street Bike 4.5 mi · ▲ 54 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near Tallac Village, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Tallac Village, California