ActivitiesHikingMount Tallac Trailhead
Mount Tallac Trailhead
South Shore, hiking, strenuous
Tahoe's most iconic summit hike. The cross-shaped snowfield on the face is visible from South Lake Tahoe. Views from the top stretch 100+ miles.
In short: Mount Tallac Trailhead is a strenuous hike on Lake Tahoe's South Shore: 9.4 mi round trip, 3,295 ft of elevation gain, a high point of 9,735 ft. The season is Jul – Oct, no permit is needed, dogs are allowed.
- Distance, round trip
- 9.4 mi
- Elevation gain
- 3,295 ft
- High point
- 9,735 ft
- Difficulty
- Strenuous
Where it is
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Trail details
- Summit views of entire Tahoe basin
- Cross-shaped snowfield visible spring
- Most prominent peak above Tahoe
- Trail
- Mount Tallac Summit Trail
- Season
- Jul – Oct
- Permit
- None needed
- Parking
- Free, Spring/Cathedral Rd
- Dogs
- Allowed
Go with a guide. Walk the basin with a local guide, on a trail matched to your group and the season.
Guided hikeConditions today
- Right now
- 72°F, Sunny
- Today
- High 72°, low 48°
- Wind
- 8 mph
- Campfires
- Metal rings only
- TomorrowPartly Cloudy, 10% chance of rain68° 45°
- ThuMostly Clear, 5% chance of rain74° 50°
- FriPM Storms, 75% chance of rain61° 44°
Know before you go
- Permits
- Desolation Wilderness needs a permit for both day hikes and overnight trips. Most other trails in the basin need none.
- Parking
- Lots at Eagle Falls, D.L. Bliss and other popular trailheads fill by 9am on summer weekends. Start early or go midweek.
- Altitude
- Trailheads start around 6,300 feet and the highest summits top 10,000. Carry more water than you would at sea level and take the first day easy.
- Weather
- Summer afternoons can bring thunderstorms. Plan to be off exposed ridges and summits by early afternoon.
More hiking within 5 miles
- Cascade Falls Trailhead1.4 mi, easy
- Glen Alpine Trailhead1.5 mi, moderate
- Dick's Peak Trailhead1.7 mi, expert
- Fallen Leaf Lake Moraine Trail2.1 mi, easy
- Bayview Campground Trailhead2.2 mi, strenuous
- Taylor Creek Rainbow Trail2.3 mi, easy
Nearest campgrounds
- Fallen Leaf Lake Campground2.0 mi, 206 sites
- Camp Richardson — RV Village2.5 mi, 98 sites
- Emerald Bay — Eagle Point3.1 mi, 97 sites