AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

Tahoe Rim Trail (Ward Creek) & Tahoe Rim Trail

12.3 mi · ▲ 1,825 ft · 5 hr 1 min

Tahoe Rim Trail (Ward Creek) & Tahoe Rim Trail is a 12.3-mile out-and-back in Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit near Alpine Meadows, CA. It climbs 1,825 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 74/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi6,526 – 7,523 ft · steepest grade: 18%13.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.16418, -120.23940
Nearest town Alpine Meadows, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Tahoe Rim Trail (Ward Creek) & Tahoe Rim Trail

12.3 mi · ▲ 1,825 ft · 5 hr 1 min

Elevation 6,527–7,524 ft

Out & Back · Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

Trailhead: 39.16418, -120.23940

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

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 100 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  3. 450 ftBear right, heading SE.
  4. 0.7 miTurn left, heading S.
  5. 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
  6. 50 ftBear left, heading S.
  7. 0.3 miTurn right, heading SE.
  8. 1.7 miTurn right, heading E.
  9. 100 ftTurn left, heading E.
  10. 0.2 miBear right, heading NE.
  11. 0.1 miTurn right onto Tahoe Rim Trail, heading NE.
  12. 1.3 miBear right onto Tahoe Rim Trail (Ward Creek), heading NW.
  13. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Tahoe Rim Trail, heading W.
  14. 1.6 miReach Tahoe Rim Trail (Ward Creek), then turn around and head back the way you came.
  15. 1.6 miContinue straight onto Tahoe Rim Trail (Ward Creek), heading SE.
  16. 0.1 miBear left, heading E.
  17. 0.4 miSharp left, heading SE.
  18. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Tahoe Rim Trail, heading NW.
  19. 0.4 miTurn left, heading NW.
  20. 0.1 miBear left, heading NW.
  21. 0.2 miTurn right, heading NW.
  22. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  23. 1.7 miTurn left, heading W.
  24. 0.3 miBear right, heading NW.
  25. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  26. 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
  27. 0.7 miBear left, heading N.
  28. 450 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  29. 50 ftArrive 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/tahoe-rim-trail-ward-creek-tahoe-rim-trail-out-back-20-km

Trail surface

86% dirt14% gravel

Weather

Sunrise 6:48 AMSunset 7:01 PM

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Alpine Meadows, California