Showers Lake & Showers Lake Trail via Pacific Crest Trail is a 13.6-mile out-and-back in Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit near Kirkwood, CA. The route reaches Showers Lake. It climbs 2,656 ft, with sections as steep as 22% grade. It scores 58/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
0 mi8,514 – 9,413 ft · steepest grade: 22%13.8 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Pacific Crest Trail 38.69484, -119.98928
Nearest town Kirkwood, CA
Directions
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Showers Lake & Showers Lake Trail via Pacific Crest Trail
13.6 mi · ▲ 2,656 ft · 5 hr 52 min
Elevation 8,513–9,413 ft
Out & Back · Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
Trailhead: Pacific Crest Trail · 38.69484, -119.98928
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:47 AM · sunset 7:02 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading N.
- 1.4 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 2.6 miContinue straight onto Schneider Camp Trail, heading N.
- 200 ftContinue straight onto Showers Lake Trail, heading N.
- 0.8 miPass Showers Lake.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading N.
- 2 miReach Showers Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 2 miContinue straight onto Showers Lake Trail, heading SE.
- 0.8 miContinue straight onto Schneider Camp Trail, heading S.
- 2.7 miTurn right onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading SE.
- 1.4 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
50% dirt50% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:47 AMSunset 7:02 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.7 mi in (~55 min). Leave by 5:47 PM for the 7:02 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:59 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Pacific Crest Trail Trailhead
- Round Lake–Dardanelles Lake, 5 sights 14.3 mi · ▲ 1,722 ft
- Pacific Crest Trail 7.4 mi · ▲ 819 ft
- Pacific Crest Trail 5.9 mi · ▲ 791 ft
- Pacific Crest Trail 5.9 mi · ▲ 791 ft
- Strawberry Pass–Buck Pasture Trail, 5 sights 16.1 mi · ▲ 3,580 ft
- The Nipple–Lost Lake (west), 3 lakes 15 mi · ▲ 2,964 ft
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