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Jonathan Cook-Fisher · CC BY 2.0

Old Grist Mill Road is a 10.4-mile out-and-back in Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit near Wood Vista, CA. It climbs 2,341 ft, with sections as steep as 17% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 56/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi6,418 – 8,714 ft · steepest grade: 17%10.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Old Grist Mill Road 39.24690, -120.02505
Nearest town Wood Vista, CA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Old Grist Mill Road

10.4 mi · ▲ 2,341 ft · 4 hr 38 min

Elevation 6,417–8,713 ft

Out & Back · Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

Trailhead: Old Grist Mill Road · 39.24690, -120.02505

Weather Sep 4: sunrise 6:32 AM · sunset 7:28 PM

  1. Start on Old Grist Mill Road, heading NE.
  2. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
  3. 300 ftBear left onto Beaver Tail Trail, heading W.
  4. 50 ftSharp right, heading NE.
  5. 0.3 miSharp right, heading NE.
  6. 0.3 miTurn left, heading NE.
  7. 0.3 miTurn left, heading NW.
  8. 0.3 miSharp left, heading N.
  9. 0.1 miBear left onto Lake Vista Road, heading S.
  10. 50 ftBear right, heading S.
  11. 150 ftTurn right onto Kings Beach Trail, heading S.
  12. 50 ftBear right, heading S.
  13. 1 miTurn right, heading N.
  14. 0.3 miSharp left, heading NE.
  15. 0.8 miBear right, heading W.
  16. 0.4 miTurn right onto Tahoe Rim Trail, heading NW.
  17. 0.2 miSharp left, heading NE.
  18. 200 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  19. 300 ftBear left, heading NE.
  20. 0.4 miSharp left, heading NW.
  21. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Martis Peak Summit Path, heading S.
  22. 250 ftTurn right onto Martis Peak Road, heading SW.
  23. 50 ftReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  24. 50 ftTurn left onto Martis Peak Summit Path, heading SW.
  25. 0.4 miSharp right, heading NE.
  26. 0.4 miBear right, heading SE.
  27. 300 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  28. 150 ftSharp right onto Tahoe Rim Trail, heading SE.
  29. 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
  30. 0.4 miBear left, heading S.
  31. 0.8 miSharp right, heading SW.
  32. 0.3 miTurn left, heading W.
  33. 1 miBear left onto Kings Beach Trail, heading SW.
  34. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  35. 150 ftBear left onto Lake Vista Road, heading SW.
  36. 50 ftBear right, heading SW.
  37. 0.1 miSharp right, heading S.
  38. 0.3 miTurn right, heading S.
  39. 0.3 miTurn right, heading SE.
  40. 0.3 miSharp left, heading SW.
  41. 0.3 miSharp left onto Beaver Tail Trail, heading SE.
  42. 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
  43. 300 ftTurn right onto Old Grist Mill Road, heading SW.
  44. 0.1 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

100% dirt

Weather

Sunrise 6:32 AMSunset 7:28 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 4.8 mi in (~178 min). Leave by 4:10 PM for the 7:28 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:39 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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