Watson Creek at 16N49.jpg
Dicklyon · CC BY-SA 4.0

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

  1. Start on Watson Creek Road, heading SW.
  2. 0.2 miSharp left onto Watson Creek Trail, heading E.
  3. 1 miSharp right onto Sawmill Flat, heading S.
  4. 0.1 miBear right onto Watson Creek Road, heading S.
  5. 100 ftContinue straight onto Sawmill Flat, heading SE.
  6. 0.3 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  7. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Watson Creek Road, heading NW.
  8. 50 ftBear left onto Sawmill Flat, heading NW.
  9. 0.1 miSharp left onto Watson Creek Trail, heading N.
  10. 1 miSharp right onto Watson Creek Road, heading W.
  11. 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°

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