Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
Ward Peak via Tahoe Rim Trail
10.1 mi · ▲ 2,475 ft · 4 hr 36 min
Ward Peak via Tahoe Rim Trail is a 10.1-mile out-and-back in Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit near Twin Peaks Estates, CA. The route reaches Ward Peak at the turnaround, 5.1 miles in. It climbs 2,475 ft, with sections as steep as 26% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 78/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Ward Peak via Tahoe Rim Trail
10.1 mi · ▲ 2,475 ft · 4 hr 36 min
Elevation 6,537–8,618 ft
Out & Back · Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
Trailhead: 39.13962, -120.18689
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 NW.
- 0.6 miContinue straight onto Tahoe Rim Trail, heading N.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading W.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading SW.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 1.7 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 NE.
- 250 ftBear right, heading SW.
- 50 ftSharp left, heading SW.
- 0.3 miSharp left, heading SW.
- 0.6 miSharp left, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 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 SE.
- 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading N.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading N.
- 0.6 miSharp right, heading E.
- 0.3 miSharp right, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
- 200 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading E.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 1.7 miTurn right, heading E.
- 100 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading E.
- 0.6 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 4.8 mi in (~160 min). Leave by 5:12 PM for the 8:12 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:25 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Other ways to reach this destination
More from this trailhead
- Tahoe Rim Trail 5.7 mi · ▲ 650 ft
- Bear Creek Trail 10.7 mi · ▲ 1,475 ft
- Pacific Crest Trail 14.6 mi · ▲ 3,154 ft
- Pacific Crest Trail 14.6 mi · ▲ 3,154 ft
- Pacific Crest Trail 14.8 mi · ▲ 3,243 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near Twin Peaks Estates, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Twin Peaks Estates, California