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

Mount Watson Boulevard Viewpoint–Cinder Cone Spur, 7 sights

11.9 mi · ▲ 2,345 ft · 5 hr 8 min

Mount Watson Boulevard Viewpoint–Cinder Cone Spur, 7 sights is an 11.9-mile out-and-back in Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit near Rampart, CA. The route reaches Mount Watson Boulevard Viewpoint at the turnaround, 6 miles in. It climbs 2,345 ft, with sections as steep as 22% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 55/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi6,155 – 7,796 ft · steepest grade: 22%12.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Truckee River Bike Trail 39.18360, -120.19566
Nearest town Rampart, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Mount Watson Boulevard Viewpoint–Cinder Cone Spur, 7 sights

11.9 mi · ▲ 2,345 ft · 5 hr 8 min

Elevation 6,154–7,796 ft

Out & Back · Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

Trailhead: Truckee River Bike Trail · 39.18360, -120.19566

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:47 AM · sunset 7:03 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
  2. 50 ftBear right, heading NE.
  3. 50 ftContinue straight onto Truckee River Bike Trail, heading NE.
  4. 0.1 miTurn left, heading N.
  5. 350 ftBear right, heading N.
  6. 0.7 miContinue straight onto Western States, heading NW.
  7. 0.1 miTurn left, heading SE.
  8. 0.1 miSharp right, heading NW.
  9. 0.2 miTurn right, heading NE.
  10. 0.4 miSharp left onto Cinder Cone Spur, heading E.
  11. 0.2 miBear left onto Cinder Cone, heading SE.
  12. 0.3 miTurn right onto Deer Creek Road, heading NW.
  13. 0.4 miTurn left, heading NE.
  14. 150 ftBear left onto Tahoe Rim Trail (Alternate), heading NE.
  15. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Tahoe Rim Trail (Painted Rock South), heading E.
  16. 1.5 miBear right onto Tahoe Rim Trail, heading E.
  17. 0.9 miBear right onto Mount Watson Boulevard, heading S.
  18. 300 ftTurn right, heading S.
  19. 0.2 miSharp left onto Watson Peak Road, heading N.
  20. 0.3 miSharp left onto Mount Watson Boulevard, heading N.
  21. 350 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  22. 200 ftReach Mount Watson Boulevard Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  23. 0.1 miSharp right onto Watson Peak Road, heading NE.
  24. 0.3 miSharp right, heading NE.
  25. 0.2 miTurn left onto Mount Watson Boulevard, heading SW.
  26. 300 ftBear left, heading SW.
  27. 300 ftContinue straight onto Tahoe Rim Trail, heading S.
  28. 0.8 miBear left onto Tahoe Rim Trail (Painted Rock North), heading SW.
  29. 1.5 miContinue straight onto Tahoe Rim Trail (Alternate), heading E.
  30. 0.4 miBear right, heading SW.
  31. 150 ftTurn right onto Deer Creek Road, heading SW.
  32. 0.4 miTurn left onto Cinder Cone, heading SE.
  33. 0.3 miBear right onto Cinder Cone Spur, heading SW.
  34. 0.2 miSharp right, heading SE.
  35. 0.4 miTurn left, heading NW.
  36. 0.2 miSharp left, heading SW.
  37. 0.1 miTurn right onto Western States, heading W.
  38. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Truckee River Bike Trail, heading S.
  39. 0.7 miBear right, heading SE.
  40. 350 ftTurn left, heading S.
  41. 0.1 miBear left, heading SW.
  42. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/mount-watson-boulevard-viewpoint-out-back-16-km-6745

Trail surface

81% dirt19% paved

Weather

Sunrise 6:47 AMSunset 7:03 PM

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Truckee River Bike Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Rampart, California