AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

Rifle Peak via Tahoe Rim Trail

14.9 mi · ▲ 2,825 ft · 6 hr 23 min

Rifle Peak via Tahoe Rim Trail is a 14.9-mile out-and-back in Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit near Kingswood Estates, CA. The route reaches Rifle Peak at the turnaround, 7.5 miles in. It climbs 2,825 ft, with sections as steep as 16% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 71/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi7,021 – 9,423 ft · steepest grade: 16%15.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Tahoe Rim Trail 39.25856, -120.06450
Nearest town Kingswood Estates, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Rifle Peak via Tahoe Rim Trail

14.9 mi · ▲ 2,825 ft · 6 hr 23 min

Elevation 7,022–9,422 ft

Out & Back · Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

Trailhead: Tahoe Rim Trail · 39.25856, -120.06450

Weather Aug 3: Overcast, high 83°F / low 46° · precip 0% · wind 7 mph · sunrise 6:03 AM · sunset 8:11 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
  2. 50 ftSharp left, heading W.
  3. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Tahoe Rim Trail, heading W.
  4. 1.1 miBear left, heading NE.
  5. 2.6 miTurn right, heading N.
  6. 1.3 miTurn left, heading SE.
  7. 0.5 miTurn left, heading S.
  8. 350 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  9. 0.1 miBear left, heading S.
  10. 1.6 miReach Rifle Peak, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  11. 1.6 miBear right, heading W.
  12. 0.1 miTurn left, heading N.
  13. 350 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  14. 1.8 miBear right, heading SW.
  15. 3.9 miSharp right, heading SW.
  16. 50 ftArrive 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/rifle-peak-out-back-24-km-7c66

Trail surface

90% dirt10% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 83°F46°
Precip0%Wind7 mphUV8Humidity18%
Hourly temperature
85°45°
Sunrise 6:03 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:11 PM
Tue 84°61°
Wed 85°56°
Thu 88°56°
Fri 88°57°
Sat 88°57°
Sun 89°55°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 6.4 mi in (~216 min). Leave by 4:15 PM for the 8:11 PM sunset. Back at your car by 11:09 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Tahoe Rim Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Kingswood Estates, California