AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
Watson Creek headwaters meadow and Tahoe Rim Trail.jpg
Dicklyon · CC BY-SA 4.0
Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

Northstar Service Road 703 & Watson Lake Trail via Tahoe Rim Trail

14.3 mi · ▲ 2,342 ft · 5 hr 56 min

Northstar Service Road 703 & Watson Lake Trail via Tahoe Rim Trail is a 14.3-mile out-and-back in Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit near Carnelian Bay, CA. It climbs 2,342 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 66/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi6,322 – 7,865 ft14.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.23364, -120.07887
Nearest town Carnelian Bay, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Northstar Service Road 703 & Watson Lake Trail via Tahoe Rim Trail

14.3 mi · ▲ 2,342 ft · 5 hr 56 min

Elevation 6,323–7,865 ft

Out & Back · Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

Trailhead: 39.23364, -120.07887

Weather Sep 20: Overcast, high 71°F / low 47° · precip 2% · wind 3 mph · sunrise 6:47 AM · sunset 7:02 PM

Transit-accessible: stop 763 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 0.4 miTurn left onto BP, heading NW.
  3. 0.3 miSharp right, heading NW.
  4. 1.4 miSharp left onto Tahoe Rim Trail, heading W.
  5. 2.9 miContinue straight onto Big Chief Trail (Upper), heading W.
  6. 1 miContinue straight onto 116 Road, heading NW.
  7. 50 ftContinue straight onto Big Chief Trail (Upper), heading NW.
  8. 0.4 miBear right onto Sawtooth Spur, heading NW.
  9. 250 ftContinue straight onto Northstar Service Road 700, heading NW.
  10. 0.3 miTurn left onto Northstar Service Road 703, heading NE.
  11. 0.5 miReach Watson Lake Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  12. 0.5 miTurn right onto Northstar Service Road 700, heading E.
  13. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Sawtooth Spur, heading W.
  14. 250 ftBear left onto Big Chief Trail (Upper), heading NW.
  15. 0.4 miContinue straight onto 116 Road, heading SE.
  16. 50 ftContinue straight onto Big Chief Trail (Upper), heading SE.
  17. 1 miContinue straight onto Tahoe Rim Trail, heading E.
  18. 2.9 miSharp right, heading NE.
  19. 1.4 miSharp left onto BP, heading S.
  20. 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
  21. 0.3 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/northstar-service-road-703-watson-lake-trail-out-back

Trail surface

100% dirt

Weather

OvercastTemperature 71°F47°
Precip2%Wind3 mphUV6Humidity25%
Hourly temperature
75°45°
Sunrise 6:47 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM9 PMSunset 7:02 PM
Mon 72°55°
Tue 68°50°
Wed 71°49°
Thu 68°49°
Fri 67°47°
Sat 68°47°

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: stop 763 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Carnelian Bay, California