Pacific Crest Trail: CA Section 25
US 50 to I-80: Visit two scenic wilderness areas, swim in countless lakes, and traverse above Lake Tahoe’s rim on this 56-mile section.
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Trail Facts
- Distance: 90.0
Waypoints
Rounding Lake Aloha
Location: 38.8772239685059, -120.146858215332
Hikers navigating the trail around Lake Aloha. ©Jack Haskel
Lake Aloha and the Crystal Divide
Location: 38.8695602416992, -120.139839172363
The rippled waters of Lake Aloha stand in front of the stunning Crystal Divide. ©Jack Haskel
Dick’s Pass
Location: 38.9055633544922, -120.135314941406
Heading down the north side of the pass. ©Jack Haskel
PCT620
Location: 38.8227653503418, -120.039764404297
Head N from CA 50
PCT621
Location: 38.825065612793, -120.038848876953
Cross road to Echo Lake and hike among housing complex
PCT622
Location: 38.8353843688965, -120.04467010498
Echo Lake Resort located @ S end of Echo Lakes; resort marina has well-stocked store and ice cream parlor; doesn’t have lodging. It does, however, run ferry boats across the lake. During the winter, this large lake freezes and becomes a very popular cross-country ski and snowshoe destination.
PCT623
Location: 38.8473663330078, -120.07878112793
Spur trail (L) leading down to lake where you’ll find a dock for the ferry and a telephone to call the resort to be picked up. This spot is public access, so it’s a good place to visit if you want to swim in Echo Lake.
PCT624
Location: 38.8473815917969, -120.087280273438
L @ junction with Triangle Lake trail
PCT625
Location: 38.8488349914551, -120.095199584961
R @ junction with Tamarack Creek trail
PCT626
Location: 38.8529319763184, -120.102867126465
Straight @ Lily Lake trail
PCT627
Location: 38.8549652099609, -120.108467102051
Straight @ Lake of the Woods trail
PCT628
Location: 38.8565673828125, -120.112785339355
Straight @ Lucille Lake trail
PCT629
Location: 38.8576316833496, -120.118347167969
Straight @ intersection with trail down to Lake Aloha
PCT630
Location: 38.8596496582031, -120.120918273926
Straight @ Lake Lucille trail junction
PCT631
Location: 38.8644676208496, -120.128448486328
Lake Aloha: backed by the impressive Crystal Divide, this lake is deservedly popular. Its shallow, granite bottom equals warm waters, making a swim out to one of the islands a pleasure. Don’t miss exploring the old snags still standing in the southern part of the lake. Late in the season, the lake level drops precipitously, allowing you to walk right out into the middle of the lake.
PCT632
Location: 38.8763008117676, -120.14616394043
R turn @ junction with Mosquito Pass trail
PCT633
Location: 38.8782501220703, -120.139915466309
N shore of Heather Llake
PCT634
Location: 38.8790817260742, -120.123931884766
Susie Lake outlet; excellent camping around this red volcanic-rimmed lake
PCT635
Location: 38.8844337463379, -120.120964050293
Stay on L @ Glen Alpine trail junction
PCT636
Location: 38.8859825134277, -120.11710357666
Straight @ Glen Alpine trail and Half Moon Lake trail
PCT637
Location: 38.8906669616699, -120.11351776123
Go L @ Gilmore Lake trail
PCT638
Location: 38.9056510925293, -120.134963989258
Dick’s Pass: in 2006, N side of pass harbored slickest ice-and-snow field of the whole thru-hike; very dangerous.
PCT639
Location: 38.9184150695801, -120.144119262695
Straight @ Dick’s Lake trail
PCT640
Location: 38.9263648986816, -120.137153625488
L @ Bayview trail
PCT641
Location: 38.932918548584, -120.146598815918
Cross outlet of Upper Velma Lake
PCT642
Location: 38.9331169128418, -120.147552490234
Straight @ spur to Upper Velma Lake
PCT643
Location: 38.9334487915039, -120.149269104004
R @ Fontanillis Trail
PCT644
Location: 38.9340171813965, -120.154029846191
Straight @ Camper Flat Trail
PCT645
Location: 38.9447326660156, -120.159034729004
Straight @ Meeks Bay Trail
PCT646
Location: 38.9917182922363, -120.191284179688
Straight @ General Creek junction
PCT647
Location: 39.019115447998, -120.215896606445
Cross jeep road
PCT648
Location: 39.0243339538574, -120.211952209473
Richardson Lake, good campsite in trees
PCT649
Location: 39.0323829650879, -120.230247497559
Cross dirt road
PCT650
Location: 39.0332336425781, -120.232917785645
Cross a very popular off-roading road
PCT651
Location: 39.0536346435547, -120.246063232422
Cross dirt road
PCT652
Location: 39.0625839233398, -120.249069213867
Barker Meadow Creek
PCT653
Location: 39.0644149780273, -120.245834350586
Cross dirt road
PCT654
Location: 39.0765342712402, -120.235015869141
Reach trailhead parking @ Barker Pass (Forest Route 3); while this road will take you down toward Lake Tahoe and Tahoe City, hitchhiking on it would be difficult as it isn’t a well-traveled route. Great views of nearby Lake Tahoe.
PCT655
Location: 39.0817489624023, -120.245384216309
Dirt road; great views through trees of Blackwood Canyon and Lake Tahoe
PCT656
Location: 39.1091003417969, -120.236846923828
Stay L @ Tahoe Rim Trail and PCT split for some fantastic ridge walking
PCT657
Location: 39.1533317565918, -120.249183654785
Saddle @ Alpine Meadows Ski Resort
PCT658
Location: 39.1722679138184, -120.258682250977
Cross Five Lakes Creek and go L @ Five Lakes trail junction
PCT659
Location: 39.1670684814453, -120.26798248291
R @ Whisky Creek trail junction
PCT660
Location: 39.1848831176758, -120.288696289062
R @ Tevis trail junction
PCT661
Location: 39.1896820068359, -120.285598754883
Cross headwaters of Middle Fork of the American River
PCT662
Location: 39.1939010620117, -120.283317565918
L @ trail to Squaw Valley
PCT663
Location: 39.19580078125, -120.282218933105
L @ trail to Squaw Valley on the shoulder of Granite Chief
PCT664
Location: 39.1973838806152, -120.281585693359
Walk under a chair lift @ Squaw Valley Ski Area.
PCT665
Location: 39.1994323730469, -120.28092956543
Pleasant Squaw Creek where it waterfalls below a pocket meadow
PCT666
Location: 39.2106170654297, -120.276481628418
Flat camping opportunities on decomposed granite
PCT667
Location: 39.2251815795898, -120.27661895752
Stay to R @ Painted Rock trail junction and crossing of outlet creek of Mountain Meadow Lake
PCT668
Location: 39.2304992675781, -120.276664733887
Creek
PCT669
Location: 39.244701385498, -120.280487060547
Stay L @ Coldstream trail traversing just below summit of Tinker Knob, a worthy peak-bagging goal because you’re so close
PCT670
Location: 39.2612838745117, -120.297897338867
After looping around Anderson Peak, reach spur to Benson Hut located uphill and to R in trees off trail; this backcountry ski hut is well worth the visit
PCT671
Location: 39.2886505126953, -120.323532104492
Creeklet just below summit of Mount Lincoln, Sugar Bowl Ski Resort’s most important mountain
PCT672
Location: 39.2937507629394, -120.32039642334
Roller Pass
PCT673
Location: 39.2944183349609, -120.321029663086
Mt. Judah loop trail
PCT674
Location: 39.30419921875, -120.322334289551
Cross dirt ski resort service road, traversing the ski slopes at this point
PCT675
Location: 39.3060989379883, -120.322868347168
Mt. Judah Loop trail
PCT676
Location: 39.3148002624512, -120.326881408691
Paved road
PCT677
Location: 39.3168487548828, -120.325965881348
Old Highway 40
PCT678
Location: 39.339485168457, -120.334182739258
Straight @ trail junction
PCT679
Location: 39.3421325683594, -120.335830688477
Tunnel under I-80;
More PCT: Next Section | Previous Section
Wildlflowers
Location: 39.0502052307129, -120.234939575195
©Jack Haskel
Ski Lifts near Tahoe
Location: 39.288444519043, -120.312019348145
©Jack Haskel