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Tahoe lakes and trails

By David H Bailey, on August 16th, 2019

Updated: 24 September 2025

The South Lake Tahoe area is blessed with numerous hiking trails, many of them to gorgeous lakes and scenic vistas in the the El Dorado National Forest and the Desolation Wilderness. Below is a catalogue of many of these trails. How many more beautiful lakes and gorgeous scenic spots are there in the area that we have not yet seen?

Each of the 20 links below (listed in order of driving distance from the Hwy50/Hwy89 intersection in South Lake Tahoe) includes: (a) trailhead location and parking; (b) list of hikes available from the trailhead; (c) maps with actual hiking tracks; and (d) several photos. In total, 51 individual hikes are catalogued here. In the second list below, individual hikes are listed in order of round-trip hiking distance. In the third list below, individual hikes are listed in order of total elevation gain.

In selecting these hikes, preference is given to moderate difficulty treks that most reasonably fit hikers could complete. Some other harder, more treacherous hikes (e.g., hikes that require off-trail scrambling) are not listed. If you know of other good, moderate difficulty hikes that should be included here, please let us know.

Hikes listed by trailhead, in order of driving distance from South Lake Tahoe

  1. Angora Ridge trail: South Lake Tahoe overlook (2.2 miles from SLT)
    1. Angora Ridge trail (4.2 miles round trip, 679 feet elevation gain)
  2. Angora Lakes trail: (3.2 miles from SLT)
    1. Angora Lakes trail (5.9 miles round trip, 1214 feet elevation gain)
  3. Mt. Tallac trail: Fallen Leaf Lake overlook and Tallac summit (5.0 miles from SLT)
    1. Ridge overlooking Fallen Leaf Lake (2.5 miles round trip, 350 feet elevation gain)
    2. Cathedral Lake (5.3 miles round trip, 1263 feet elevation gain)
    3. Mount Tallac summit (10.0 miles round trip, 3245 feet elevation gain)
  4. Bayview trail: Cascade Lake/Falls, Emerald Bay overlook, Granite Lake, Maggie’s Peak and the “String of Pearls” (7.6 miles from SLT)
    1. Cascade Lake and then to Cascade Falls (1.5 miles round trip, 300 feet elevation gain)
    2. Emerald Bay overlook (1.5 miles round trip, 480 feet elevation gain)
    3. Granite Lake (2.4 miles round trip, 833 feet elevation gain.
    4. Maggie’s Peak (5.0 miles round trip, 1759 feet elevation gain)
    5. Azure Lake (7.4 miles round trip, 2264 feet elevation gain)
    6. Desolation Wilderness and the “String of Pearls” — Granite Lake, Dick’s Lake, Fontanillis Lake, Upper Velma Lake and Middle Velma Lake (12.0 miles round trip, 2710 feet elevation gain)
  5. Glen Alpine trail: Glen Alpine, Grass Lake, Susie Lake, Half Moon Lake, Gilmore Lake and the Tallac summit (7.8 miles from SLT)
    1. Grass Lake (5.8 miles round trip, 728 feet elevation gain)
    2. Susie Lake (9.2 miles round trip, 2113 feet elevation gain)
    3. Susie Lake, Heather Lake and Aloha Lake (12.8 miles round trip, 2183 feet elevation gain)
    4. Half Moon Lake (9.9 miles round trip, 1739 feet elevation gain)
    5. Gilmore Lake and the Mount Tallac summit (12.6 miles round trip, 2989 feet elevation gain)
  6. Lily Lake Trail: Fallen Leaf Lake overlook (7.8 miles from SLT)
    1. Lily Lake Trail (3.8 miles round trip, 750 feet elevation gain)
  7. Tamarack Trail: Triangle Lake and Lost Lake (7.8 miles from SLT)
    1. Tamarack trail (6.8 miles round trip, 2041 feet elevation gain)
  8. Eagle Falls trail: Eagle Lake and Desolation Wilderness lakes (8.6 miles from SLT)
    1. Eagle Falls and Eagle Lake (2.5 miles round trip, 400 feet elevation gain)
    2. Desolation Wilderness lakes — Dick’s Lake, Fontanillis Lake, Upper Velma Lake and Middle Velma Lake (13.5 miles round trip, 2900 feet elevation gain).
  9. Echo Summit trail: Upper Truckee valley overlook (8.7 miles from SLT)
    1. Hike to an overlook of South Lake Tahoe and Lake Tahoe (4.0 miles round trip, 1200 feet elevation gain)
    2. Hike to an overlook of the Upper Truckee valley (14.8 miles round trip, 3133 feet elevation gain)
    3. Hike to Showers Lake (16.0 miles round trip, 3500 feet elevation gain)
  10. Echo Lakes trail: Echo Lakes, Lake of the Woods and Aloha Lake (9.6 miles from SLT)
    1. Lake of the Woods from the Echo Chalet (11.3 miles round trip, 1788 feet elevation gain)
    2. Lake of the Woods, using the Echo Lake taxi (6.0 miles round trip, 1300 feet elevation gain)
    3. Aloha Lake (13.0 miles round trip, 1900 feet elevation gain)
  11. Big Meadow trail: Scott’s Lake, Dardanelles Lake and Round Lake (10.3 miles from SLT)
    1. Hike to Big Meadow (1.5 miles round trip, 250 feet elevation gain)
    2. Hike to Scott’s Lake (7.0 miles round trip, 1000 feet elevation gain)
    3. Hike to Dardanelles Lake (8.6 miles round trip, 1496 feet elevation gain)
    4. Hike to Dardanelles Lake and Round Lake (9.6 miles round trip, 1693 feet elevation gain)
    5. Hike to Showers Lake (19.0 miles round trip, 2900 feet elevation gain)
    6. Hike northeast from the Big Meadow trailhead to a scenic overlook (8.0 miles round trip, 1200 feet elevation gain)
  12. Rubicon trail: D.L. Bliss State Park to Emerald Bay (11.8 miles from SLT)
    1. Lester Beach via the Lighthouse trail (3.0 miles round trip, 500 feet elevation gain)
    2. Lester Beach via the Rubicon trail (3.2 miles round trip, 400 feet elevation gain)
    3. Emerald Bay via the Rubicon trail (5.0 miles round trip, 800 feet elevation gain)
    4. Vikingsholm mansion via the Rubicon trail (6.7 miles round trip, 800 feet elevation gain)
  13. Freel Peak trail: Freel Peak and Star Lake (14.8 miles from SLT)
    1. Freel Peak summit (9.5 miles round trip, 2650 feet elevation gain)
    2. Star Lake (10.5 miles round trip, 2400 feet elevation gain)
  14. Twin Bridges trail: Horsetail Falls (15.7 miles from SLT)
    1. Horsetail falls (3.3 miles round trip, 600 feet elevation gain)
  15. Meeks Bay trail: Lake Genevieve, Crag Lake, Shadow Lake and Stony Ridge Lake (16.2 miles from SLT)
    1. Lake Genevieve (10.0 miles round trip, 1350 feet elevation gain)
    2. Stony Ridge Lake (12.7 miles round trip, 1663 feet elevation gain)
    3. Rubicon Lake (16.4 miles round trip, 2172 feet elevation gain)
  16. Pyramid Peak trail: (16.4 miles from SLT)
    1. Pyramid peak (7.0 miles round trip, 4030 feet elevation gain)
  17. Meiss Lake trail: Meiss Lake, Showers Lake and Showers Ridge (25.0 miles from SLT)
    1. Pacific Crest trail to Showers Lake (9.2 miles round trip, 1600 feet elevation gain)
    2. Skyline Ridge to Showers Lake, then return via Meiss Meadows (10.4 miles round trip, 1916 feet elevation gain)
    3. Meiss Lake (10.4 miles round trip, 1200 feet elevation gain)
  18. Woods Lake trail: Round Top, Round Top Lake and Winnemucca Lake (27.6 miles from SLT)
    1. Round Top Lake and Winnemucca Lake (8.9 miles round trip, 1946 feet elevation gain)
    2. Round Top summit (8.5 miles round trip, 2700 feet elevation gain)
  19. Lake Margaret trail: (29.9 miles from SLT)
    1. Lake Margaret trail (4.8 miles round trip, 550 feet elevation gain)
  20. Wright’s Lake trail: Wright’s Lake, Grouse Lake and Smith Lake (30.4 miles from SLT)
    1. Grouse Lake and Smith Lake (5.6 miles round trip, 1700 feet elevation gain)
    2. Twin Lakes (5.8 miles round trip, 1300 feet elevation gain)

Hikes listed in order of round-trip hiking distance:

  1. Hike 04a ( 1.5 miles, 300 feet elev)
  2. Hike 04b ( 1.5 miles, 480 feet elev)
  3. Hike 11a ( 1.5 miles, 250 feet elev)
  4. Hike 04c ( 2.4 miles, 833 feet elev)
  5. Hike 03a ( 2.5 miles, 350 feet elev)
  6. Hike 08a ( 2.5 miles, 400 feet elev)
  7. Hike 12a ( 3.0 miles, 500 feet elev)
  8. Hike 12b ( 3.2 miles, 400 feet elev)
  9. Hike 14a ( 3.3 miles, 600 feet elev)
  10. Hike 06a ( 3.8 miles, 750 feet elev)
  11. Hike 09a ( 4.0 miles, 1200 feet elev)
  12. Hike 01a ( 4.2 miles, 679 feet elev)
  13. Hike 19a ( 4.8 miles, 550 feet elev)
  14. Hike 04d ( 5.0 miles, 1759 feet elev)
  15. Hike 12c ( 5.0 miles, 800 feet elev)
  16. Hike 03b ( 5.3 miles, 1263 feet elev)
  17. Hike 20a ( 5.6 miles, 1700 feet elev)
  18. Hike 05a ( 5.8 miles, 728 feet elev)
  19. Hike 20b ( 5.8 miles, 1300 feet elev)
  20. Hike 02a ( 5.9 miles, 1214 feet elev)
  21. Hike 10b ( 6.0 miles, 1300 feet elev)
  22. Hike 12d ( 6.7 miles, 800 feet elev)
  23. Hike 07a ( 6.8 miles, 2041 feet elev)
  24. Hike 16a ( 7.0 miles, 4030 feet elev)
  25. Hike 11b ( 7.0 miles, 1000 feet elev)
  26. Hike 04e ( 7.4 miles, 2264 feet elev)
  27. Hike 11f ( 8.0 miles, 1200 feet elev)
  28. Hike 18b ( 8.5 miles, 2700 feet elev)
  29. Hike 11c ( 8.6 miles, 1496 feet elev)
  30. Hike 18a ( 8.9 miles, 1946 feet elev)
  31. Hike 05b ( 9.2 miles, 2113 feet elev)
  32. Hike 17a ( 9.2 miles, 1600 feet elev)
  33. Hike 13a ( 9.5 miles, 2650 feet elev)
  34. Hike 11d ( 9.6 miles, 1693 feet elev)
  35. Hike 05d ( 9.9 miles, 1739 feet elev)
  36. Hike 03c (10.0 miles, 3245 feet elev)
  37. Hike 15a (10.0 miles, 1350 feet elev)
  38. Hike 17b (10.4 miles, 1916 feet elev)
  39. Hike 17c (10.4 miles, 1200 feet elev)
  40. Hike 13b (10.5 miles, 2400 feet elev)
  41. Hike 10a (11.3 miles, 1788 feet elev)
  42. Hike 04f (12.0 miles, 2710 feet elev)
  43. Hike 05e (12.6 miles, 2989 feet elev)
  44. Hike 15b (12.7 miles, 1663 feet elev)
  45. Hike 05c (12.8 miles, 2183 feet elev)
  46. Hike 10c (13.0 miles, 1900 feet elev)
  47. Hike 08b (13.5 miles, 2900 feet elev)
  48. Hike 09b (14.8 miles, 3133 feet elev)
  49. Hike 09c (16.0 miles, 3500 feet elev)
  50. Hike 15c (16.4 miles, 2172 feet elev)
  51. Hike 11e (19.0 miles, 2900 feet elev)

Hikes listed in order of total elevation gain:

  1. Hike 11a ( 1.5 miles, 250 feet elev)
  2. Hike 04a ( 1.5 miles, 300 feet elev)
  3. Hike 03a ( 2.5 miles, 350 feet elev)
  4. Hike 12b ( 3.2 miles, 400 feet elev)
  5. Hike 08a ( 2.5 miles, 400 feet elev)
  6. Hike 04b ( 1.5 miles, 480 feet elev)
  7. Hike 12a ( 3.0 miles, 500 feet elev)
  8. Hike 19a ( 4.8 miles, 550 feet elev)
  9. Hike 14a ( 3.3 miles, 600 feet elev)
  10. Hike 01a ( 4.2 miles, 679 feet elev)
  11. Hike 05a ( 5.8 miles, 728 feet elev)
  12. Hike 06a ( 3.8 miles, 750 feet elev)
  13. Hike 12d ( 6.7 miles, 800 feet elev)
  14. Hike 12c ( 5.0 miles, 800 feet elev)
  15. Hike 04c ( 2.4 miles, 833 feet elev)
  16. Hike 11b ( 7.0 miles, 1000 feet elev)
  17. Hike 11f ( 8.0 miles, 1200 feet elev)
  18. Hike 09a ( 4.0 miles, 1200 feet elev)
  19. Hike 17c (10.4 miles, 1200 feet elev)
  20. Hike 02a ( 5.9 miles, 1214 feet elev)
  21. Hike 03b ( 5.3 miles, 1263 feet elev)
  22. Hike 20b ( 5.8 miles, 1300 feet elev)
  23. Hike 10b ( 6.0 miles, 1300 feet elev)
  24. Hike 15a (10.0 miles, 1350 feet elev)
  25. Hike 11c ( 8.6 miles, 1496 feet elev)
  26. Hike 17a ( 9.2 miles, 1600 feet elev)
  27. Hike 15b (12.7 miles, 1663 feet elev)
  28. Hike 11d ( 9.6 miles, 1693 feet elev)
  29. Hike 20a ( 5.6 miles, 1700 feet elev)
  30. Hike 05d ( 9.9 miles, 1739 feet elev)
  31. Hike 04d ( 5.0 miles, 1759 feet elev)
  32. Hike 10a (11.3 miles, 1788 feet elev)
  33. Hike 10c (13.0 miles, 1900 feet elev)
  34. Hike 17b (10.4 miles, 1916 feet elev)
  35. Hike 18a ( 8.9 miles, 1946 feet elev)
  36. Hike 07a ( 6.8 miles, 2041 feet elev)
  37. Hike 05b ( 9.2 miles, 2113 feet elev)
  38. Hike 15c (16.4 miles, 2172 feet elev)
  39. Hike 05c (12.8 miles, 2183 feet elev)
  40. Hike 04e ( 7.4 miles, 2264 feet elev)
  41. Hike 13b (10.5 miles, 2400 feet elev)
  42. Hike 13a ( 9.5 miles, 2650 feet elev)
  43. Hike 18b ( 8.5 miles, 2700 feet elev)
  44. Hike 04f (12.0 miles, 2710 feet elev)
  45. Hike 08b (13.5 miles, 2900 feet elev)
  46. Hike 11e (19.0 miles, 2900 feet elev)
  47. Hike 05e (12.6 miles, 2989 feet elev)
  48. Hike 09b (14.8 miles, 3133 feet elev)
  49. Hike 03c (10.0 miles, 3245 feet elev)
  50. Hike 09c (16.0 miles, 3500 feet elev)
  51. Hike 16a ( 7.0 miles, 4030 feet elev)
August 16th, 2019 | Category: News and photos, Tahoe lakes and trails
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