Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
Rifle Peak via Tahoe Rim Trail
7.8 mi · ▲ 1,390 ft · 3 hr 18 min
Rifle Peak via Tahoe Rim Trail is a 7.8-mile out-and-back in Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit near Kingswood Estates, CA. The route reaches Rifle Peak at the turnaround, 3.9 miles in. It climbs 1,390 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 87/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Rifle Peak via Tahoe Rim Trail
7.8 mi · ▲ 1,390 ft · 3 hr 18 min
Elevation 8,280–9,422 ft
Out & Back · Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
Trailhead: Martis Peak Road · 39.28668, -120.03317
Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 76°F / low 50° · precip 0% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 6:03 AM · sunset 8:11 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Martis Peak Road, heading S.
- 0.2 miSharp left, heading E.
- 300 ftBear right, heading E.
- 100 ftBear left onto Tahoe Rim Trail, heading NE.
- 1.3 miTurn left, heading SE.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading SE.
- 350 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading E.
- 1.6 miReach Rifle Peak, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1.6 miBear right, heading W.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading W.
- 350 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 1.8 miBear right, heading SW.
- 100 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 300 ftSharp right onto Martis Peak Road, heading S.
- 0.1 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 2.8 mi in (~85 min). Leave by 6:26 PM for the 8:11 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:41 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Martis Peak Road Trailhead
- 16N92B Loop via Martis Peak Road 1.9 mi · ▲ 387 ft
- Martis Peak Road Loop 2 mi · ▲ 405 ft
- Tahoe Rim Trail Loop 3.4 mi · ▲ 829 ft
- Tahoe Rim Trail Loop 3.7 mi · ▲ 831 ft
- Tahoe Rim Trail Loop 3.7 mi · ▲ 831 ft
- 16N54 Loop via Tahoe Rim Trail 4.3 mi · ▲ 884 ft
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Hikes near Kingswood Estates, California