Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

Pacific Crest Trail

15.9 mi · ▲ 3,151 ft · 6 hr 53 min

Pacific Crest Trail is a 15.9-mile out-and-back in Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit near Twin Peaks Estates, CA. It climbs 3,151 ft, with sections as steep as 30% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 83/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi6,844 – 8,422 ft · steepest grade: 30%16.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Paige Meadows 39.14627, -120.17320
Nearest town Twin Peaks Estates, CA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Pacific Crest Trail

15.9 mi · ▲ 3,151 ft · 6 hr 53 min

Elevation 6,843–8,424 ft

Out & Back · Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

Trailhead: Paige Meadows · 39.14627, -120.17320

Weather Sep 5: Drizzle, high 51°F / low 40° · precip 47% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 6:34 AM · sunset 7:27 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
  2. 0.3 miTurn left, heading S.
  3. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  4. 0.8 miSharp right onto Tahoe Rim Trail, heading W.
  5. 0.4 miTurn left, heading NW.
  6. 0.1 miBear left, heading W.
  7. 1.9 miTurn left, heading NW.
  8. 0.3 miBear right, heading NW.
  9. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  10. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
  11. 0.5 miTurn right, heading NE.
  12. 250 ftBear right, heading W.
  13. 50 ftSharp left, heading W.
  14. 0.3 miSharp left, heading W.
  15. 0.6 miSharp left, heading N.
  16. 50 ftBear left, heading N.
  17. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SW.
  18. 300 ftContinue straight onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading NW.
  19. 2.6 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  20. 2.6 miTurn right, heading S.
  21. 0.2 miBear right, heading SE.
  22. 50 ftSharp right, heading SE.
  23. 0.6 miSharp right, heading E.
  24. 0.3 miSharp right, heading N.
  25. 50 ftBear left, heading N.
  26. 250 ftTurn left, heading N.
  27. 0.5 miTurn right, heading NE.
  28. 0.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
  29. 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
  30. 0.3 miTurn right, heading NE.
  31. 1.9 miBear right, heading E.
  32. 0.1 miTurn right onto Tahoe Rim Trail, heading E.
  33. 0.4 miSharp left, heading N.
  34. 0.8 miTurn left, heading NE.
  35. 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  36. 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

60% dirt8% gravel32% unspecified

Weather

DrizzleTemperature 51°F40°
Feels like36°Precip47%Wind6 mphUV4Humidity69%
Rained 0.1″ 7 days ago
Hourly temperatureRain chance
55°40° 12 AM: 29% rain1 AM: 26% rain2 AM: 29% rain3 AM: 29% rain4 AM: 33% rain5 AM: 33% rain6 AM: 31% rain7 AM: 47% rain8 AM: 43% rain9 AM: 32% rain10 AM: 28% rain11 AM: 23% rain12 PM: 19% rain1 PM: 11% rain2 PM: 8% rain3 PM: 6% rain4 PM: 7% rain5 PM: 6% rain6 PM: 3% rain7 PM: 3% rain8 PM: 2% rain9 PM: 2% rain10 PM: 2% rain11 PM: 2% rain
Sunrise 6:34 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:27 PM
Sat 59°39°
Sun 57°39°
Mon 63°38°
Tue 67°43°
Wed 69°49° 20%
Thu 70°51°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 5.6 mi in (~185 min). Leave by 4:02 PM for the 7:27 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:08 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Other ways to reach this destination

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