Hiking the Pacific Crest and Tahoe to Yosemite Trails through Desolation and Meiss Roadless Area

Backpacking Map index                                                                                                                              Backpacking Trail Guide index

High Sierra Topo Hiking Maps

Lake Tahoe Basin Trailheads

View Three Classic Lake Tahoe Trail Heads in a larger map 

The Trail Head Options: Your Choice, Your Discussion

Read, or add your own hiker's comments about Meeks Bay to Echo Summit and the Trail head and Trail Options it offers.

All Trail Head Option Maps

Google Map locating the trailheads, with discussion

See the trail guide for more information about the trail head options

Topo Hiking Maps

Lake Tahoe Basin Trailhead Options

Option #3

South Shore trailhead to Meiss Cabin

Meiss Roadless Area

South Upper Truckee Trailhead in Meyers, referencing Big Meadow on Highway 89 as well. The Southern Trailhead. Uses the same maps as the Echo Summit Trailhead.

South Upper Truckee, Meyers, to the Carson Pass Maps

Exiting the Lake Tahoe Basin

The Pacific Crest or the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail route South to Highway 4?

Note that the colored points on the topo map above links to the related trail guide pages, while the topo map itself links to the full-sized version of the map.

The above map shows your possible trail routes South of the Carson Gap, where Southbound hikers on the TYT and PCT exit the Lake Tahoe Basin and part company

Southbound Pacific Crest Trail hikers head down to Ebbetts Pass along the Sierra Crest while Tahoe to Yosemite Trail backpackers hike the Western Flank to Lake Alpine.

2 Route Option Discussions

The Tahoe to Yosemite Trail Info I

The Tahoe to Yosemite Trail Info II

Topo Hiking Map: Transition

Southbound through the Carson Gap

Southbound decision: Departing the Tahoe Basin through the Carson Gap, you are faced with two trails South.

Follow The Pacific Crest or the Tahoe to Yosemite trail route South from the Carson Gap? The trail guide index and the maps below can help you figure out the best route for you.

Carson Pass Region Topo Hiking Map

The Big Picture Topo Hiking Maps

1x2 Carson Gap to Highway 4: TYT and PCT

The map above is an index map in that the route is linked to detailed maps and the red dots link to trail guide pages. This will help you compare the Tahoe to Yosemite and Pacific Crest Trails. The big map below does the same without links, but will be improved.

Carson Gap to Bensen Lake

Topo Hiking Maps of the PCT & TYT

Pacific Crest Trail

Map: Carson Pass to Ebbetts Pass

Map List: Carson Pass to Ebbetts Pass

Tahoe to Yosemite Trail

Map: Carson Gap to Lake Alpine

Map List: Carson Gap to Lake Alpine

All Highway 88 to Highway 4 Topo Maps

Look at ALL the PCT & TYT Topo Hiking Maps

Carson Gap to Highway 4 Map Index

South on the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail

There are three trail options heading up to Round Top Lake from the Carson Gap to the Winnamucca Lake trail junction on the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail route. All three are detailed on the Carson Pass Region Map. Your choice at the Carson Gap is simple:

Left, to follow the Pacific Crest Trail South to Ebbetts Pass via Carson Pass.

Right, to follow the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail to Lake Alpine over Round Top and The Sisters.

Carson Pass Region Topo Hiking Map