Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
Pacific Crest Trail
12.4 mi · ▲ 2,926 ft · 5 hr 36 min
Pacific Crest Trail is a 12.4-mile out-and-back in Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit near Twin Peaks Estates, CA. It climbs 2,926 ft, with sections as steep as 34% grade. It scores 84/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Pacific Crest Trail
12.4 mi · ▲ 2,926 ft · 5 hr 36 min
Elevation 6,866–8,424 ft
Out & Back · Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
Trailhead: 39.14716, -120.20006
Weather Aug 4: sunrise 6:05 AM · sunset 8:11 PM
- Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 100 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 1.7 miTurn left, heading W.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 250 ftBear right, heading NW.
- 50 ftSharp left, heading NW.
- 0.3 miSharp left, heading NW.
- 0.6 miSharp left, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading S.
- 2.6 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
- 2.6 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading SE.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading SE.
- 0.6 miSharp right, heading S.
- 0.3 miSharp right, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
- 250 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 1.7 miTurn right, heading E.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.8 mi in (~142 min). Leave by 5:29 PM for the 8:11 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:02 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Other ways to reach this destination
More from this trailhead
- Tahoe Rim Trail 2.5 mi · ▲ 364 ft
- Tahoe Rim Trail 3.3 mi · ▲ 192 ft
- Tahoe Rim Trail 3.3 mi · ▲ 192 ft
- Tahoe Rim Trail Loop 3.9 mi · ▲ 224 ft
- Bear Creek Trail 9.3 mi · ▲ 1,216 ft
- Pacific Crest Trail 14.3 mi · ▲ 2,475 ft
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Hikes near Twin Peaks Estates, California