Sawmill Flat is a 3.3-mile out-and-back in Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit near Carnelian Heights, CA. It climbs 644 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 75/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
0 mi6,762 – 7,441 ft · steepest grade: 18%3.4 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Tahoe Rim Trail 39.23104, -120.11982
Nearest town Carnelian Heights, CA
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Sawmill Flat
3.3 mi · ▲ 644 ft · 1 hr 25 min
Elevation 6,763–7,441 ft
Out & Back · Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
Trailhead: Tahoe Rim Trail · 39.23104, -120.11982
Weather Sep 5: Clear, high 56°F / low 39° · precip 3% · wind 14 mph · sunrise 6:33 AM · sunset 7:28 PM
- Start on Watson Creek Road, heading SW.
- 0.2 miSharp left onto Watson Creek Trail, heading E.
- 1 miSharp right onto Sawmill Flat, heading S.
- 0.1 miBear right onto Watson Creek Road, heading S.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Sawmill Flat, heading SE.
- 0.3 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Watson Creek Road, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear left onto Sawmill Flat, heading NW.
- 0.1 miSharp left onto Watson Creek Trail, heading N.
- 1 miSharp right onto Watson Creek Road, heading W.
- 0.2 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
95% dirt5% paved
Weather
ClearTemperature 56°F39°
Feels like31°Precip3%Wind14 mphUV7Humidity74%
Hourly temperature
60°35°
Sunrise 6:33 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:28 PM
Sun
54°37°
Mon
61°36°
Tue
66°42°
Wed
67°47°
18%
Thu
68°50°
Fri
66°46°
Other ways to reach this destination
- 3.9 mi · out & back · via Sawmill Flat
- 4.4 mi · out & back · via Sawmill Flat
- 4.5 mi · out & back · via Sawmill Flat
- 4.6 mi · out & back · via Sawmill Flat
- 5.9 mi · out & back · via Sawmill Flat
- 6.2 mi · out & back · via Sawmill Flat
- 6.3 mi · out & back · via Sawmill Flat
- 6.4 mi · out & back · via Sawmill Flat
More from Tahoe Rim Trail Trailhead
- Sawmill Flat 2.6 mi · ▲ 577 ft
- Watson Lake–Tahoe Rim Trail (Watson Lake) Loop, 3 sights 2.7 mi · ▲ 391 ft
- Tahoe Rim Trail 2.8 mi · ▲ 604 ft
- Tahoe Rim Trail Loop 2.9 mi · ▲ 530 ft
- Tahoe Rim Trail Loop 3.1 mi · ▲ 559 ft
- Tahoe Rim Trail 3.5 mi · ▲ 673 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near Carnelian Heights, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Carnelian Heights, California