ActivitiesHikingStateline Lookout Trailhead
Stateline Lookout Trailhead
North Shore, hiking, easy
Best panoramic views for least effort at Tahoe. 1.5 miles round-trip to a ridgeline overlook spanning the entire north basin. Dog-friendly.
In short: Stateline Lookout Trailhead is an easy hike on Lake Tahoe's North Shore: 1.5 mi round trip, 180 ft of elevation gain, a high point of 6,920 ft. The season is Apr – Nov, no permit is needed, dogs are allowed.
- Distance, round trip
- 1.5 mi
- Elevation gain
- 180 ft
- High point
- 6,920 ft
- Difficulty
- Easy
Where it is
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Trail details
- 360° basin views
- Nevada/California border
- Short family hike
- Trail
- Stateline Lookout Trail
- Season
- Apr – Nov
- Permit
- None needed
- Parking
- Free
- 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
- Diamond Peak MTB / Tahoe Meadows Connector2.6 mi, strenuous
- Monkey Rock Trailhead2.7 mi, moderate
- Brockway Summit TRT Trailhead3.4 mi, moderate
- Sand Harbor Lakeside Trail3.5 mi, easy
Nearest campgrounds
- Lake Forest Campground9.5 mi, 20 sites
- Spooner Backcountry Campgrounds10.0 mi, 15 sites
- Tahoe State Recreation Area10.2 mi, 23 sites