Watson Lake & Tahoe Rim Trail (Watson Lake) is an 8.2-mile out-and-back in Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit near Lake Forest, CA. The route reaches Watson Lake. It climbs 1,489 ft, with sections as steep as 26% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 66/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
0 mi6,569 – 7,881 ft · steepest grade: 26%8.7 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Unnamed 39.19369, -120.12098
Nearest town Lake Forest, CA
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Watson Lake & Tahoe Rim Trail (Watson Lake)
8.2 mi · ▲ 1,489 ft · 3 hr 29 min
Elevation 6,569–7,881 ft
Out & Back · Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
Trailhead: 39.19369, -120.12098
Weather Aug 3: Overcast, high 84°F / low 46° · precip 0% · wind 9 mph · sunrise 6:03 AM · sunset 8:12 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading W.
- 0.1 miSharp right, heading N.
- 0.4 miTurn left onto Mill's Hill, heading NW.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading E.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading N.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading NE.
- 0.4 miBear right, heading NW.
- 0.1 miSharp left, heading E.
- 0.5 miTurn right onto Cedar Flat Trail, heading N.
- 450 ftSharp left, heading E.
- 0.4 miTurn left onto Tahoe Rim Trail, heading NW.
- 0.6 miContinue straight onto Tahoe Rim Trail (Watson Lake), heading W.
- 0.6 miBear right, heading SW.
- 0.1 miPass Watson Lake.
- 250 ftBear left onto Watson Lake Road, heading W.
- 500 ftBear right, heading W.
- 0.3 miReach Watson Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.4 miBear right, heading SE.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading SE.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Tahoe Rim Trail (Watson Lake), heading E.
- 0.6 miContinue straight onto Tahoe Rim Trail, heading S.
- 0.6 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 0.4 miSharp right onto Cedar Flat Trail, heading SE.
- 500 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 0.5 miSharp right, heading S.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading SW.
- 0.4 miBear right, heading SE.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading SE.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Mill's Hill, heading S.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading S.
- 0.4 miSharp left, heading S.
- 200 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
69% dirt31% unspecified
Weather
OvercastTemperature 84°F46°
Precip0%Wind9 mphUV8Humidity19%
Hourly temperature
85°45°
Sunrise 6:03 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:12 PM
Tue
85°62°
Wed
84°55°
Thu
81°55°
Fri
80°55°
Sat
81°56°
Sun
81°54°
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from this trailhead
- Burton Creek Singletrack Loop 2.5 mi · ▲ 215 ft
- Dollar Reservoir 2.8 mi · ▲ 196 ft
- Tahoe Cross Country Silver Trail Loop via Antone Meadows Trail 4.7 mi · ▲ 482 ft
- Rocky Ridge Road & Tahoe Cross Country Silver Trail Loop via Antone Meadows Trail 4.7 mi · ▲ 487 ft
- Cedar Flat Trail 4.9 mi · ▲ 877 ft
- Rocky Ridge Road & Tahoe Cross Country Silver Trail Loop via Antone Meadows Trail 5 mi · ▲ 514 ft
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