Ward Peak via Tahoe Rim Trail is a 12.9-mile out-and-back in Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit near Tahoe Woods, CA. The route reaches Ward Peak at the turnaround, 6.5 miles in. It climbs 2,498 ft, with sections as steep as 25% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 73/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
0 mi6,578 – 8,619 ft · steepest grade: 25%14.3 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Unnamed 39.14981, -120.15509
Nearest town Tahoe Woods, CA
Directions
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Ward Peak via Tahoe Rim Trail
12.9 mi · ▲ 2,498 ft · 5 hr 33 min
Elevation 6,577–8,618 ft
Out & Back · Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
Trailhead: 39.14981, -120.15509
Weather Aug 3: Partly cloudy, high 84°F / low 47° · precip 0% · wind 10 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 8:12 PM
- Start at the trailhead, heading W.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading NW.
- 1 miBear left, heading W.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading W.
- 0.4 miTurn left onto Tahoe Rim Trail, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading SW.
- 1.9 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 200 ftBear right, heading SW.
- 50 ftSharp left, heading W.
- 0.3 miSharp left, heading N.
- 0.6 miSharp left, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 50 ftPass Ward Peak.
- 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 0.2 miReach Ward Peak, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
- 50 ftBear right, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading S.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading S.
- 0.6 miSharp right, heading SE.
- 0.3 miSharp right, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 250 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 1.9 miBear right, heading E.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 0.5 miBear right, heading E.
- 1 miBear left, heading NE.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 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 surface
90% dirt10% gravel
Weather
Partly cloudyTemperature 84°F47°
Precip0%Wind10 mphUV8Humidity23%
Hourly temperature
85°45°
Sunrise 6:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:12 PM
Tue
84°60°
Wed
84°55°
Thu
81°55°
Fri
80°55°
Sat
81°56°
Sun
81°54°
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 6.2 mi in (~192 min). Leave by 4:39 PM for the 8:12 PM sunset. Back at your car by 11:00 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Other ways to reach this destination
More from this trailhead
- Tahoe Rim Trail 4.1 mi · ▲ 412 ft
- Tahoe Rim Trail 4.3 mi · ▲ 520 ft
- Tahoe Rim Trail 4.3 mi · ▲ 452 ft
- Tahoe Rim Trail 5.3 mi · ▲ 729 ft
- Tahoe Rim Trail Loop 5.5 mi · ▲ 812 ft
- Tahoe Rim Trail 5.5 mi · ▲ 769 ft
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