Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
Richardson Lake–Buck Lake Loop, 4 sights
12.7 mi · ▲ 1,977 ft · 5 hr 13 min
Richardson Lake–Buck Lake Loop, 4 sights is a 12.7-mile loop in Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit near Tahoma Meadows, CA. The route reaches Richardson Lake. It climbs 1,977 ft, with sections as steep as 24% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 95/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Richardson Lake–Buck Lake Loop, 4 sights
12.7 mi · ▲ 1,977 ft · 5 hr 13 min
Elevation 6,678–8,056 ft
Loop · Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
Trailhead: Rubicon Trail · 39.04599, -120.16828
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:47 AM · sunset 7:03 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Rubicon Trail, heading W.
- 2.4 miTurn left onto Richardson Lake Road, heading S.
- 0.9 miPass Richardson Lake.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 50 ftReach Richardson Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1 miTurn right onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading NW.
- 2.2 miTurn right onto Rubicon Trail, heading NW.
- 1.2 miSharp left onto North Miller Creek East, heading E.
- 1.7 miBear right onto Miller Meadow, heading NE.
- 0.7 miContinue straight onto Buck Lake, heading N.
- 2.3 miTurn left onto Rubicon Trail, heading S.
- 0.2 miThe loop closes 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 2.8 mi in (~108 min). Leave by 4:55 PM for the 7:03 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:30 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Rubicon Trail Trailhead
- Rubicon Trail 13.1 mi · ▲ 969 ft
- Rubicon Trail 12.3 mi · ▲ 881 ft
- Rubicon Trail 10.8 mi · ▲ 761 ft
- Hidden Lake–Shadow Lake, 4 lakes 16.1 mi · ▲ 1,834 ft
- Rubicon Trail 13.1 mi · ▲ 1,062 ft
- Rubicon Trail 4.8 mi · ▲ 453 ft
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Hikes near Tahoma Meadows, California