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

0 mi6,605 – 8,422 ft · steepest grade: 32%15.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Tahoe Rim Trail 39.14111, -120.18874
Nearest town Twin Peaks Estates, CA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

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

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

57% dirt8% gravel35% unspecified

Weather

Partly cloudyTemperature 84°F47°
Precip0%Wind10 mphUV8Humidity23%
Hourly temperature
85°45°
Sunrise 6:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:12 PM
Tue 85°60°
Wed 84°57°
Thu 87°57°
Fri 87°58°
Sat 88°58°
Sun 88°56°

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.

More sunset hikes nearby

Other ways to reach this destination

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