AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
Watson Creek headwaters meadow and Tahoe Rim Trail.jpg
Dicklyon · CC BY-SA 4.0
Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

Tahoe Rim Trail & Watson Lake Trail

16.1 mi · ▲ 2,589 ft · 6 hr 40 min

Tahoe Rim Trail & Watson Lake Trail is a 16.1-mile out-and-back in Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit near Carnelian Heights, CA. It climbs 2,589 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 52/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi6,936 – 7,865 ft16.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: 116 Road 39.23675, -120.15206
Nearest town Carnelian Heights, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Tahoe Rim Trail & Watson Lake Trail

16.1 mi · ▲ 2,589 ft · 6 hr 40 min

Elevation 6,936–7,865 ft

Out & Back · Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

Trailhead: 116 Road · 39.23675, -120.15206

Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 80°F / low 54° · precip 0% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 6:03 AM · sunset 8:12 PM

  1. Start on 116 Road, heading SE.
  2. 50 ftContinue straight onto Big Chief Trail (Upper), heading SE.
  3. 1 miContinue straight onto Tahoe Rim Trail, heading E.
  4. 6 miSharp left, heading NE.
  5. 1 miContinue straight onto Martis Peak Road, heading NE.
  6. 0.2 miReach Watson Lake Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  7. 0.9 miContinue straight onto Tahoe Rim Trail, heading SE.
  8. 0.2 miSharp right, heading SE.
  9. 6 miContinue straight onto Big Chief Trail (Upper), heading N.
  10. 1 miContinue straight onto 116 Road, heading NW.
  11. 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/watson-lake-watson-lake-out-back-25-km-9fd0

Trail surface

98% dirt2% paved

Weather

ClearTemperature 80°F54°
Precip0%Wind5 mphUV8Humidity22%
Hourly temperature
80°50°
Sunrise 6:03 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:12 PM
Tue 80°59°
Wed 79°52°
Thu 77°51°
Fri 77°52°
Sat 77°52°
Sun 77°50°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 8.0 mi in (~225 min). Leave by 4:07 PM for the 8:12 PM sunset. Back at your car by 12:29 AM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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Other ways to reach this destination

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