Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
Richardson Lake–Cothrin Cove, 7 sights
15 mi · ▲ 2,710 ft · 6 hr 21 min
Richardson Lake–Cothrin Cove, 7 sights is a 15-mile out-and-back in Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit near Homewood, CA. The route reaches Richardson Lake. It climbs 2,710 ft, with sections as steep as 24% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 96/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Richardson Lake–Cothrin Cove, 7 sights
15 mi · ▲ 2,710 ft · 6 hr 21 min
Elevation 7,011–8,473 ft
Out & Back · Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
Trailhead: Ellis Peak Trailhead · 39.07187, -120.23106
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:48 AM · sunset 7:03 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Ellis Peak Trail, heading SW.
- 2.4 miTurn right onto Ellis Lake, heading S.
- 0.4 miTurn right onto Miller Meadow, heading SW.
- 0.7 miBear left onto North Miller Creek East, heading SW.
- 1.7 miBear left onto Rubicon Trail, heading E.
- 0.6 miTurn right onto Richardson Lake Road, heading SE.
- 0.9 miPass Richardson Lake.
- 250 ftBear right, heading SW.
- 150 ftBear right, heading W.
- 200 ftBear right onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading W.
- 1.8 miTurn right onto Rubicon Trail, heading NW.
- 0.8 miSharp left onto Niehaus Road, heading E.
- 1.3 miContinue straight onto West Miller Creek, heading NE.
- 2.1 miTurn left onto Ellis Lake, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Ellis Peak Trail, heading NE.
- 2.3 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 0.3 mi in (~13 min). Leave by 6:29 PM for the 7:03 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:24 PM — 6 min before dark. Car visible from the viewpoint
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Ellis Peak Trailhead Trailhead
- Bear Lake–Ellis Peak Trail, 3 sights 14.6 mi · ▲ 2,625 ft
- Sourdough Hill–Richardson Lake, 6 sights 15.9 mi · ▲ 3,122 ft
- Upper Mountain Viewpoint–Quail Lake, 6 sights 14.2 mi · ▲ 3,535 ft
- Ellis Peak Trail 4.8 mi · ▲ 1,167 ft
- Buck Lake–Ellis Lake, 3 sights 7.9 mi · ▲ 1,933 ft
- Ellis Peak & Ellis Peak Trail 6.2 mi · ▲ 1,657 ft
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