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

0 mi6,867 – 8,422 ft · steepest grade: 34%13.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.14716, -120.20006
Nearest town Twin Peaks Estates, CA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

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

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
  2. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  3. 100 ftTurn left, heading W.
  4. 1.7 miTurn left, heading W.
  5. 0.3 miBear right, heading N.
  6. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  7. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  8. 0.5 miTurn right, heading SW.
  9. 250 ftBear right, heading NW.
  10. 50 ftSharp left, heading NW.
  11. 0.3 miSharp left, heading NW.
  12. 0.6 miSharp left, heading SW.
  13. 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
  14. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SW.
  15. 250 ftContinue straight onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading S.
  16. 2.6 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  17. 2.6 miTurn right, heading SE.
  18. 0.2 miBear right, heading SE.
  19. 50 ftSharp right, heading SE.
  20. 0.6 miSharp right, heading S.
  21. 0.3 miSharp right, heading NW.
  22. 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
  23. 250 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  24. 0.5 miTurn right, heading S.
  25. 0.2 miTurn right, heading NE.
  26. 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
  27. 0.3 miTurn right, heading SE.
  28. 1.7 miTurn right, heading E.
  29. 100 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  30. 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

49% dirt10% gravel41% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:05 AMSunset 8:11 PM

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.

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