Watson Peak Viewpoint–Dollar Reservoir, 4 sights is a 7.9-mile out-and-back in Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit near Carnelian Heights, CA. The route passes Dollar Reservoir before reaching Watson Peak Viewpoint at the turnaround, 4 miles in. It climbs 1,758 ft, with sections as steep as 22% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 67/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
0 mi6,519 – 8,298 ft · steepest grade: 22%8.3 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Unnamed 39.19842, -120.10575
Nearest town Carnelian Heights, CA
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Watson Peak Viewpoint–Dollar Reservoir, 4 sights
7.9 mi · ▲ 1,758 ft · 3 hr 31 min
Elevation 6,520–8,297 ft
Out & Back · Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
Trailhead: 39.19842, -120.10575
Weather Aug 4: Clear, high 85°F / low 60° · precip 0% · wind 3 mph · sunrise 6:04 AM · sunset 8:10 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading N.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 50 ftPass Dollar Reservoir.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Dollar Reservoir, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Dollar Reservoir Trail, heading NW.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading NW.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 0.3 miBear left, heading N.
- 0.2 miSharp right, heading NW.
- 0.8 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.4 miTurn left onto Tahoe Rim Trail, heading N.
- 0.6 miTurn left onto Watson Peak Trail, heading SW.
- 1.2 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 100 ftReach Watson Peak Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1.2 miTurn right onto Tahoe Rim Trail, heading E.
- 0.6 miTurn right, heading E.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading E.
- 0.8 miSharp left, heading W.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading SW.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading S.
- 450 ftBear left onto Dollar Reservoir Trail, heading SE.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Dollar Reservoir, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 450 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 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
87% dirt13% unspecified
Weather
ClearTemperature 85°F60°
Precip0%Wind3 mphUV8Humidity21%
Hourly temperature
85°60°
Sunrise 6:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:10 PM
Wed
84°55°
Thu
82°55°
Fri
82°55°
Sat
81°56°
Sun
80°55°
Mon
79°54°
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from this trailhead
- Tahoe Cross Country Green Trail 2.5 mi · ▲ 135 ft
- Tahoe Cross Country Green Trail 2.5 mi · ▲ 140 ft
- Lakeview Ridge Trail 3.5 mi · ▲ 408 ft
- Burton Creek Singletrack Loop 3.6 mi · ▲ 251 ft
- Dollar Reservoir–Dollar Reservoir Trail Loop, 3 sights 3.9 mi · ▲ 478 ft
- Tahoe Cross Country Green Trail 4 mi · ▲ 545 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near Carnelian Heights, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Carnelian Heights, California