Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
Rubicon Trail
13.1 mi · ▲ 1,062 ft · 4 hr 54 min
Rubicon Trail is a 13.1-mile out-and-back in Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit near Tahoma Meadows, CA. It climbs 1,062 ft, with sections as steep as 16% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 95/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Rubicon Trail
13.1 mi · ▲ 1,062 ft · 4 hr 54 min
Elevation 6,678–7,140 ft
Out & Back · 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.
- 4.2 miTurn right onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading NW.
- 1.9 miContinue straight onto Bear Lake, heading NW.
- 400 ftSharp left onto Barker Creek, heading NW.
- 0.4 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
- 0.4 miSharp right onto Bear Lake, heading N.
- 400 ftContinue straight onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading SE.
- 1.9 miTurn left onto Rubicon Trail, heading S.
- 4.1 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 3.8 mi in (~106 min). Leave by 4:56 PM for the 7:03 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:52 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 4.8 mi · ▲ 453 ft
- Rubicon Trail 5.3 mi · ▲ 453 ft
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Hikes near Tahoma Meadows, California