Showers Lake via Pacific Crest Trail is a 15.6-mile out-and-back in Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit near Nebelhorn, CA. The route reaches Showers Lake at the turnaround, 7.8 miles in. It climbs 2,797 ft, with sections as steep as 20% grade. It scores 76/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
0 mi7,386 – 8,993 ft · steepest grade: 20%15.9 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Pony Express Connector Trail 38.81470, -120.03404
Nearest town Nebelhorn, CA
Directions
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Showers Lake via Pacific Crest Trail
15.6 mi · ▲ 2,797 ft · 6 hr 36 min
Elevation 7,387–8,992 ft
Out & Back · Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
Trailhead: Pony Express Connector Trail · 38.81470, -120.03404
Weather Aug 4: Clear, high 80°F / low 54° · precip 0% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 6:05 AM · sunset 8:09 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Pony Express Connector Trail, heading S.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Echo Summit Trailhead Access Spur, heading S.
- 0.3 miBear left, heading SE.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading S.
- 3 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 4 miReach Showers Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 4 miBear left, heading N.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading NE.
- 2.9 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 0.3 miBear right onto Echo Summit Trailhead Access Spur, heading N.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Pony Express Connector Trail, heading NW.
- 0.1 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
9% dirt91% unspecified
Weather
ClearTemperature 80°F54°
Precip0%Wind5 mphUV8Humidity24%
Hourly temperature
80°50°
Sunrise 6:05 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:09 PM
Wed
80°58°
Thu
86°59°
Fri
86°60°
Sat
86°61°
Sun
85°60°
Mon
84°58°
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.8 mi in (~133 min). Leave by 5:36 PM for the 8:09 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:02 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Pony Express Connector Trail Trailhead
- Echo Summit Trailhead Access Spur & Pony Express Trail Loop via Pacific Crest Trail 2.2 mi · ▲ 311 ft
- Lake Audrian & Pony Express Trail 2.9 mi · ▲ 454 ft
- Benwood Residential Spur via Pacific Crest Trail 2.9 mi · ▲ 200 ft
- Pacific Crest Trail 7.4 mi · ▲ 1,652 ft
- Little Round Top Trail via Pacific Crest Trail 12.2 mi · ▲ 2,294 ft
- Lover's Leap–Lovers Leap, 4 cliffs 14.5 mi · ▲ 2,324 ft
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Hikes near Nebelhorn, California