Mt. Tallac – Lake Tahoe Hiking Trails

For serious hikers, Mt. Tallac is a formidable and adventurous trek up 3,200 feet to the summit. For a shorter day, you can shorten the hike to Floating Island Lake 1.6 miles along, or Cathedral Lake 2.3 miles up. Trails are forested up until the tree line cuts away, dispersed with meadows of wildflowers, abundantly flowing creeks, pristine lakes and incomparable views. The summit is a full five miles up the rugged mountain terrain. The trail to Floating Island Lake is well-used and well-marked. It climbs up a forested slope gradually before joining the ridge above Fallen Leaf Lake.

There the trail descends into gorgeous Floating Island Lake, where you can stop, catch your breath, swim, or have a bite to eat before leaving the trees behind to head up to Cathedral Lake, which affords the beautiful backdrop of Cathedral Peak. After Cathedral comes the hotter trip up to the summit, but the views make the burning in your legs almost obsolete. Along the switchback up to the summit, you’ll get spectacular views of Lake Tahoe, Fallen Leaf Lake, and the Carson Range. The views open to the west and you get the snowcapped peaks of the Crystal Range and distinctive Pyramid Peak.

0.2 miles of steep climbing brings you to the summit, a sight you can’t afford to miss. Standing on top of the world (or at least on top of Tahoe) there are dramatic views in every direction. The incredibly blue waters of Lake Tahoe provide cool contrast to the jagged peaks – from Freel Peak in the east to Mts. Agassiz and Price in the west. At 9,735 feet, it’s an almost religious experience to look out over the panorama.

Many hikers eat lunch at the top of the summit. Bring plenty of water, food, sunscreen, and bug repellent. To the summit and back is about a six hour hike with an average grade of around 12%. The trailhead is approximately 3.5 miles north of South Lake Tahoe on Highway 89. Look for the Mt. Tallac Trailhead sign directly across from the Baldwin Beach entrance, turn left down the dirt road, and continue to the Trailhead parking. A permit is required to venture into Desolation Wilderness, and they are available at the trailhead.