AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

Upper Mountain Viewpoint–Lake Louise, 7 sights

16.1 mi · ▲ 3,563 ft · 7 hr 9 min

Upper Mountain Viewpoint–Lake Louise, 7 sights is a 16.1-mile out-and-back in Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit near Homewood, CA. The route passes Upper Mountain Viewpoint and Lake Louise. It climbs 3,563 ft, with sections as steep as 20% grade. It scores 74/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi6,286 – 8,511 ft · steepest grade: 20%16.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Homeward Bound 39.07806, -120.15928
Nearest town Homewood, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Upper Mountain Viewpoint–Lake Louise, 7 sights

16.1 mi · ▲ 3,563 ft · 7 hr 9 min

Elevation 6,287–8,512 ft

Out & Back · Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

Trailhead: Homeward Bound · 39.07806, -120.15928

Weather Aug 3: Mostly clear, high 85°F / low 50° · precip 0% · wind 11 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 8:11 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Homeward Bound, heading SE.
  2. 0.8 miContinue straight onto Cedar Ridge Trail, heading W.
  3. 0.4 miTurn left onto Upper Mountain Road, heading W.
  4. 0.2 miBear right, heading NW.
  5. 0.4 miPass Upper Mountain Viewpoint.
  6. 0.9 miContinue straight onto Quail Peak, heading SW.
  7. 0.2 miPass Lake Louise.
  8. 100 ftBear right onto Lake Louise, heading SE.
  9. 1.3 miBear left onto Ellis Peak, heading NW.
  10. 0.3 miTurn left onto Ellis Lake, heading W.
  11. 50 ftTurn right onto West Miller Creek, heading W.
  12. 2.1 miContinue straight onto Niehaus Road, heading SW.
  13. 1.3 miReach Upper Mountain Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  14. 1.3 miContinue straight onto West Miller Creek, heading E.
  15. 2.1 miTurn left onto Ellis Lake, heading NE.
  16. 50 ftTurn right onto Ellis Peak, heading NE.
  17. 0.4 miBear right onto Lake Louise, heading N.
  18. 1.3 miBear left onto Quail Peak, heading N.
  19. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Upper Mountain Road, heading N.
  20. 1.5 miTurn right onto Cedar Ridge Trail, heading S.
  21. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Homeward Bound, heading SW.
  22. 0.7 miArrive 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/upper-mountain-viewpoint-lake-louise-out-back-8-sights

Trail surface

53% dirt47% unspecified

Weather

Mostly clearTemperature 85°F50°
Precip0%Wind11 mphUV8Humidity18%
Hourly temperature
85°50°
Sunrise 6:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:11 PM
Tue 86°62°
Wed 85°59°
Thu 82°58°
Fri 82°59°
Sat 82°60°
Sun 82°58°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 4.3 mi in (~172 min). Leave by 5:00 PM for the 8:11 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:10 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Homeward Bound Trailhead

Hikes near Homewood, California