Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
Pacific Crest Trail
14.6 mi · ▲ 3,154 ft · 6 hr 27 min
Pacific Crest Trail is a 14.6-mile out-and-back in Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit near Twin Peaks Estates, CA. It climbs 3,154 ft, with sections as steep as 32% grade. It scores 83/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Pacific Crest Trail
14.6 mi · ▲ 3,154 ft · 6 hr 27 min
Elevation 6,604–8,424 ft
Out & Back · Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
Trailhead: Tahoe Rim Trail · 39.14111, -120.18874
Weather Aug 4: Partly cloudy, high 84°F / low 47° · precip 0% · wind 10 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 8:12 PM
- Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
- 0.4 miContinue straight onto Tahoe Rim Trail, heading N.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading W.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading SW.
- 1.9 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 SW.
- 250 ftBear right, heading SW.
- 50 ftSharp left, heading SW.
- 0.3 miSharp left, heading W.
- 0.6 miSharp left, heading W.
- 50 ftBear left, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 300 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 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 E.
- 1.9 miBear right, heading E.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Tahoe Rim Trail, heading E.
- 0.4 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 4.9 mi in (~176 min). Leave by 4:56 PM for the 8:12 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:30 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Tahoe Rim Trail Trailhead
- Tahoe Rim Trail 5.7 mi · ▲ 650 ft
- Ward Peak via Tahoe Rim Trail 10.1 mi · ▲ 2,475 ft
- Bear Creek Trail 10.7 mi · ▲ 1,475 ft
- Pacific Crest Trail 14.6 mi · ▲ 3,154 ft
- Pacific Crest Trail 14.8 mi · ▲ 3,243 ft
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Hikes near Twin Peaks Estates, California