AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
Lake Tahoe meadow 2018-08.jpg
Lasthib · CC BY-SA 3.0
Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

Pacific Crest Trail

15.7 mi · ▲ 2,974 ft · 6 hr 43 min

Pacific Crest Trail is a 15.7-mile out-and-back in Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit near Twin Peaks Estates, CA. It climbs 2,974 ft, with sections as steep as 28% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 83/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi6,867 – 8,422 ft · steepest grade: 28%16.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.14774, -120.17354
Nearest town Twin Peaks Estates, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Pacific Crest Trail

15.7 mi · ▲ 2,974 ft · 6 hr 43 min

Elevation 6,866–8,424 ft

Out & Back · Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

Trailhead: 39.14774, -120.17354

Weather Sep 6: sunrise 6:35 AM · sunset 7:25 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 100 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  3. 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
  4. 350 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  5. 0.4 miTurn left, heading W.
  6. 0.4 miTurn left onto Tahoe Rim Trail, heading NW.
  7. 0.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
  8. 0.1 miBear left, heading W.
  9. 0.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
  10. 100 ftTurn left, heading W.
  11. 1.7 miTurn left, heading NW.
  12. 0.3 miBear right, heading NW.
  13. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  14. 0.2 miTurn left, heading N.
  15. 0.5 miTurn right, heading NE.
  16. 250 ftBear right, heading NE.
  17. 50 ftSharp left, heading NE.
  18. 0.3 miSharp left, heading SW.
  19. 0.6 miSharp left, heading N.
  20. 50 ftBear left, heading N.
  21. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SW.
  22. 300 ftContinue straight onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading W.
  23. 2.6 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  24. 2.6 miTurn right, heading S.
  25. 0.2 miBear right, heading SE.
  26. 50 ftSharp right, heading SE.
  27. 0.6 miSharp right, heading NE.
  28. 0.3 miSharp right, heading NE.
  29. 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
  30. 250 ftTurn left, heading N.
  31. 0.5 miTurn right, heading SE.
  32. 0.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
  33. 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
  34. 0.3 miTurn right, heading NE.
  35. 1.7 miTurn right, heading E.
  36. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  37. 0.2 miBear right, heading E.
  38. 0.1 miTurn left onto Tahoe Rim Trail, heading E.
  39. 0.2 miTurn right, heading SE.
  40. 0.4 miTurn right, heading E.
  41. 0.4 miTurn right, heading E.
  42. 350 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  43. 0.3 miTurn right, heading E.
  44. 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/ward-peak-out-back-22-km-5db3

Trail surface

60% dirt8% gravel32% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:35 AMSunset 7:25 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 5.5 mi in (~179 min). Leave by 4:06 PM for the 7:25 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:03 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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