AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
Watson Creek and Trail California.jpg
Dicklyon · CC BY-SA 4.0
Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

Pickupsticks–Watson Creek East Trail Loop, 3 sights

4.6 mi · ▲ 783 ft · 1 hr 55 min

Pickupsticks–Watson Creek East Trail Loop, 3 sights is a 4.6-mile loop in Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit near Carnelian Heights, CA. It climbs 783 ft, with sections as steep as 19% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 68/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi6,621 – 7,461 ft · steepest grade: 19%4.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Tahoe Rim Trail 39.23104, -120.11982
Nearest town Carnelian Heights, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Pickupsticks–Watson Creek East Trail Loop, 3 sights

4.6 mi · ▲ 783 ft · 1 hr 55 min

Elevation 6,620–7,460 ft

Loop · Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

Trailhead: Tahoe Rim Trail · 39.23104, -120.11982

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:48 AM · sunset 7:01 PM

  1. Start on Tahoe Rim Trail, heading E.
  2. 1.1 miSharp right, heading S.
  3. 150 ftSharp left onto Hanes Flat, heading NE.
  4. 50 ftTurn right onto Watson Creek East Trail, heading SE.
  5. 500 ftTurn left onto Pickupsticks, heading E.
  6. 1.2 miBear right, heading SE.
  7. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Shivagiri Extension, heading S.
  8. 350 ftTurn right onto Watson Creek Trail, heading SW.
  9. 1.6 miSharp right onto Watson Creek Road, heading W.
  10. 0.2 miThe loop closes back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/pickupsticks-loop

Trail surface

100% dirt

Weather

Sunrise 6:48 AMSunset 7:01 PM

Other ways to reach this destination

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Hikes near Carnelian Heights, California