Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
Pacific Crest Trail
14.9 mi · ▲ 3,220 ft · 6 hr 35 min
Pacific Crest Trail is a 14.9-mile out-and-back in Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit near Twin Peaks Estates, CA. It climbs 3,220 ft, with sections as steep as 27% grade. It scores 83/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Pacific Crest Trail
14.9 mi · ▲ 3,220 ft · 6 hr 35 min
Elevation 6,537–8,424 ft
Out & Back · Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
Trailhead: Tahoe Rim Trail · 39.14047, -120.19165
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:47 AM · sunset 7:03 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Tahoe Rim Trail, heading E.
- 0.2 miSharp left, heading NW.
- 0.8 miTurn left, heading W.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading SW.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
- 100 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 1.7 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 250 ftBear right, heading SW.
- 50 ftSharp left, heading SW.
- 0.3 miSharp left, heading SW.
- 0.6 miSharp left, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading SW.
- 2.6 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
- 2.6 miTurn right, heading S.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading SE.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading SE.
- 0.6 miSharp right, heading E.
- 0.3 miSharp right, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
- 200 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading E.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 1.7 miTurn right, heading E.
- 100 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading E.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Tahoe Rim Trail, heading E.
- 0.6 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 5.1 mi in (~182 min). Leave by 3:41 PM for the 7:03 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:26 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
- 1.9 mi · out & back · via Pacific Crest Trail
- 1.9 mi · out & back · via Pacific Crest Trail
- 1.9 mi · out & back · via Pacific Crest Trail
- 2.1 mi · out & back · via Pacific Crest Trail
- 2.3 mi · out & back · via Pacific Crest Trail
- 2.6 mi · out & back · via Pacific Crest Trail
- 2.8 mi · out & back · via Pacific Crest Trail
- 2.9 mi · out & back · via Pacific Crest Trail
More from Tahoe Rim Trail Trailhead
- Tahoe Rim Trail (Ward Creek) & Tahoe Rim Trail 3.9 mi · ▲ 224 ft
- Bear Creek Trail 11 mi · ▲ 1,541 ft
- Pacific Crest Trail 14.9 mi · ▲ 3,220 ft
- Tahoe Rim Trail 6 mi · ▲ 716 ft
- Alpine Crags Road via Tahoe Rim Trail 10 mi · ▲ 1,487 ft
- Bear Creek Trail 11 mi · ▲ 1,610 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near Twin Peaks Estates, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Twin Peaks Estates, California