AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

Pickupsticks & Watson Creek East Trail via Tahoe Rim Trail

4.9 mi · ▲ 628 ft · 1 hr 57 min

Pickupsticks & Watson Creek East Trail via Tahoe Rim Trail is a 4.9-mile out-and-back in Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit near Carnelian Bay, CA. It climbs 628 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 62/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi6,513 – 7,116 ft5.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.23235, -120.08576
Nearest town Carnelian Bay, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Pickupsticks & Watson Creek East Trail via Tahoe Rim Trail

4.9 mi · ▲ 628 ft · 1 hr 57 min

Elevation 6,511–7,117 ft

Out & Back · Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

Trailhead: 39.23235, -120.08576

Weather Aug 4: Partly cloudy, high 84°F / low 48° · precip 0% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 8:10 PM

Transit-accessible: stop 706 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 0.4 miBear left, heading N.
  3. 1 miSharp left onto Tahoe Rim Trail, heading S.
  4. 0.7 miTurn left, heading SW.
  5. 150 ftSharp left onto Hanes Flat, heading S.
  6. 50 ftTurn right onto Watson Creek East Trail, heading NE.
  7. 0.1 miTurn left onto Pickupsticks, heading SE.
  8. 0.2 miReach Watson Creek East Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  9. 0.2 miTurn right onto Watson Creek East Trail, heading W.
  10. 500 ftTurn left onto Hanes Flat, heading N.
  11. 100 ftSharp right, heading NW.
  12. 150 ftTurn right onto Tahoe Rim Trail, heading SW.
  13. 0.7 miSharp right, heading NW.
  14. 1 miBear right, heading SE.
  15. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/pickupsticks-watson-creek-east-trail-out-back-8-km

Trail surface

100% dirt

Weather

Partly cloudyTemperature 84°F48°
Precip0%Wind5 mphUV8Humidity19%
Hourly temperature
85°45°
Sunrise 6:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:10 PM
Tue 86°63°
Wed 85°56°
Thu 82°55°
Fri 83°56°
Sat 82°57°
Sun 81°56°

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: stop 706 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Carnelian Bay, California