Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
Star Lake & Freel Pass via Tahoe Rim Trail
7.9 mi · ▲ 2,633 ft · 3 hr 57 min
Star Lake & Freel Pass via Tahoe Rim Trail is a 7.9-mile out-and-back in Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit near Fountain Place, CA. The route passes Freel Pass before reaching Star Lake at the turnaround, 3.9 miles in. It climbs 2,633 ft, with sections as steep as 37% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 92/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Star Lake & Freel Pass via Tahoe Rim Trail
7.9 mi · ▲ 2,633 ft · 3 hr 57 min
Elevation 7,679–9,723 ft
Out & Back · Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
Trailhead: Armstrong Pass Trail · 38.85632, -119.94054
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:46 AM · sunset 7:02 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
- 2.1 miPass Freel Pass.
- 50 ftBear left onto Tahoe Rim Trail, heading N.
- 1.8 miReach Star Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1.8 miBear right, heading S.
- 2.1 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.2 mi in (~43 min). Leave by 5:59 PM for the 7:02 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:45 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Armstrong Pass Trail Trailhead
- Armstrong Connector Trail–Incense Cedar, 3 sights 9 mi · ▲ 1,276 ft
- Armstrong Pass–Armstrong Pass Trail, 4 sights 14 mi · ▲ 1,908 ft
- Jobs Peak–Freel Peak, 5 summits 11.7 mi · ▲ 5,807 ft
- Freel Pass via Tahoe Rim Trail 4.3 mi · ▲ 2,030 ft
- Freel Peak–Freel Pass Loop, 7 sights 13.7 mi · ▲ 4,480 ft
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Hikes near Fountain Place, California