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
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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 Aug 3: Clear, high 80°F / low 53° · precip 0% · wind 8 mph · sunrise 6:03 AM · sunset 8:12 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 80°F53°
Precip0%Wind8 mphUV8Humidity23%
Hourly temperature
80°50°
Sunrise 6:03 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:12 PM
Tue
81°59°
Wed
79°52°
Thu
78°52°
Fri
77°52°
Sat
78°53°
Sun
78°51°
Other ways to reach this destination
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