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High Sierra backpacking trails from Lake Tahoe to Highway 4 Trail Section index Next Trail Section: Highway 4 to Highway 108

Lake Tahoe to Yosemite Trail info Lake Tahoe backpacker resources Tahoe to Whitney trailheads Road Map	Section One: Lake Tahoe Basin Trailheads 3 Great Lake Tahoe Trail Heads to the Carson Gap There are many more than these three excellent trailhead options on the West and Southwest sides of Lake Tahoe to begin our Southbound backpacking trips to Yosemite or Whitney. They all hook up with the Tahoe to Yosemite & Pacific Crest Trails described below. This guide begins at the Classic Tahoe to Yosemite Trailhead out of Meeks Bay to join the Southbound PCT and TRT just North of Middle Velma Lake. Both trails pass together through Desolation Wilderness and around the Southwestern Tahoe Basin to the Carson Gap via the Meiss Country Roadless Area. A wide range of local hikes, in-and-out backpacking trips, and trailhead to trailhead trips through the Desolation Wilderness and Meiss Country begin through these trailheads, The Tahoe Rim Trail splits off near Meiss Cabin, while the PCT and TY Trails first part company at the Carson Gap where we exit the Lake Tahoe Basin. Trailhead Option #1: The Classic Tahoe to Yosemite Trailhead Desolation Wilderness Finding Meeks Bay Meeks Bay Resources Hiking South out of Meeks Bay Desolation Wilderness Map: Click trail route for underlaying HUGE detailed map Tahoe to Yosemite Trail Tahoe to Yosemite Trail: Information Miles and Elevations: Meeks Bay to Echo Summit All Maps: Meeks Bay to Echo Summit Lake Tahoe backpacker: Resources Backpacker's Forum Comments-Questions? Trailhead Option #2: Echo Summit on Highway 50 Meiss Country Roadless Area Echo Summit Trailhead to the Carson Gap Meiss Country Roadless Area Map: 7.5 minute topo hiking map Beginning our Southbound backpacking trip at Echo Summit picks up the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail South of Desolation Wilderness. Desolation is a very busy place during mid-Summer. Highway 50 across Echo Summit offers easy automobile access. Echo Summit begins your trip South into the Meiss Country Roadless Area, which stretches 12 miles from Echo Summit 'till we arrive at Carson Pass after exiting the Tahoe Basin through the Carson Gap. Video Miles and Elevations: Echo Summit to the Carson Gap All Maps: Echo Summit to the Carson Gap Backpacker's Forum Comments-Questions? Trailhead Option #3: Meyers-Christmas Valley Meiss Country Roadless Area South Upper Truckee Trailhead, Meyers, to The Carson Gap Meiss Country Roadless Area Map: 7.5 minute Hike from a quiet local's trailhead near Lake Level in Meyers up Christmas Valley to 8000 feet at Round Lake. Hike up the Eastern tributary of the South Upper Truckee River through Meiss Meadow to exit the Tahoe Basin through the Carson Gap. At the Carson Gap you will be confronted with the same choice independent of your starting trailhead: South on the Pacific Crest Trail or South on the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail? Miles and Elevations: South Upper Truckee to the Carson Gap All Maps: South Upper Truckee to the Carson Gap Backpacker's Forum Comments-Questions?


Lake Tahoe with Eagle Lake in foreground, Desolation Wilderness, Pacific Crest and Tahoe-Yosemite Trail(s) Heading from Meeks Bay towards Echo Summit.

Echo Summit trail head sign

Plague Warning, South Upper Truckee Trail Head, Meyers. Sierra Fleas carry the plague. Be Careful.

Resupply Point #1
	Echo Lake Chalet 9900 Echo Lakes Road, Echo Lake, CA 95721 Telephone: 530-659-7207 (8 am to 6 pm PST summer only) Echo Lake Chalet can be a resupply for Southbound backpackers out of Meeks Bay. The Echo Summit and the South Upper Truckee trailheads are South of Echo Chalet, making it irrelevant. Though Echo Chalet is not vital for Southbound backpackers out of Lake Tahoe, it can be a vital resupply for Northbound Pacific Crest Trail backpackers. Read this discussion of the resupply role of the Echo Lake Chalet for long distance backpackers. Echo Chalet Backpacker Resources and Resupply Information Echo Lake Trail Guide Page Echo Lake Miles and Elevations Page Resupply Forum Questions-Comments?
Echo Lake Chalet

Echo Lakes Trailhead
Section 1a alternate trailheads to the TYT at Meeks Bay: Echo Summit and South Upper Truckee Trailheads
	Section One A: Echo Summit and South Upper Truckee to the Carson Gap Meiss Country Roadless Area Echo Summit The Echo Summit trailhead is 30.71 miles South of Meeks Bay along the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail through Desolation Wilderness. Echo Summit is 12 miles North of the Carson Pass through the Meiss Country Roadless Area. Echo Summit Trailhead Meiss Country Roadless Area map Meiss Country Roadless Area miles and elevations South Upper Truckee The South Upper Truckee Trailhead lays 8.42 miles to the North of the Carson Pass through the Meiss Country Roadless Area out of the South Upper Truckee Road in the Tahoe Basin in the town of Meyers. South Upper Truckee Trailhead Meiss Country Roadless Area map Meyers to Meiss Cabin miles and elevations

Echo Summit trailhead.

Trail Guide Section 2: Highway 88 to Highway 4
	The Carson Gap Question Trail Section Two: Which Way South? The Pacific Crest or The Tahoe to Yosemite Trail?
	The Carson Gap is the point where Southbound Pacific Crest and Tahoe to Yosemite Trail backpackers all exit the Lake Tahoe Basin. The Carson Gap is located 1.39 miles North of the Carson Pass. On the South side of the Carson Gap Southbound backpackers following the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail to Lake Alpine will immediately encounter an unmarked trail junction veering right off the PCT route. This is the Northernmost junction where the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail splits off from the Pacific Crest Trail. Discussion On the Southern side of the Carson Gap where the trail levels out there is another, second trail junction leading Right towards Round Top and the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail route. The third and Southernmost option for turning off the PCT onto the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail is the Winnamucca Lake Junction, which sits a mile South of Carson Pass along the Pacific Crest Trail. See this short video depicting these Tahoe to Yosemite Trail junctions on the South side of the Carson Gap. Hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail will ignore these 3 junctions, and continue hiking the PCT to and through Carson Pass on their way South to Ebbetts Pass. The first topo hiking map below of the Carson Pass Region depict 2 of these 3 trail junctions, while the second map imparts a broader context of the differences between these routes. Carson Pass Area Topo Backpacker Map Carson Pass to Sonora Pass Topo Backpacking Map
Above: Round top and The Sisters, looking South through the Carson Gap. Hiking to the Left of this massif follows the PCT along the Eastern Flank of the Sierras, while hiking to its Right follows the Tahoe-Yosemite Trail South along the Western Flank of the Sierras.


View of Round Top and The Sisters through Carson Gap with the Carson Gap Pond in the foreground.	Your Options hiking South from Highway 88
	Section 2 The Tahoe to Yosemite Trail Topo Map: Echo Summit to Lake Alpine Topo Hiking Map Index Trail Guide: Carson Gap to Woods Lake Miles and Elevations For Southbound backpackers the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail breaks Southwest off from the Pacific Crest Trail just South of the Carson Gap. Proceed down mountain from the Carson Gap on this trail to cross Highway 88, then head towards Woods Lake. Near Woods Lake you have a choice between two well marked trail routes up to Round Top Lake. The First Route turns East across a footbridge just North of Woods Lake, and then tracks South to pass by Winamucca Lake on the way up to Round Top Lake. This would be the Eastern route. The Second Route is the Lost Cabin Mine trail, which begins behind the Woods Lake car campground. This route is more direct, and approaches Round Top from the North. If you passed the first two Tahoe to Yosemite Trail Junctions on the South side of the Carson Gap, you can still follow the 3rd Tahoe to Yosemite Trail by turning Right, or West, from the Winnamucca Lake Junction. The Winnamucca Lake Junction is a mile South of the Carson Pass along the Pacific Crest Trail route. The Carson Pass Area Backpacker Map depicts your route options to Round Top Lake and the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail from the Carson Gap.	Section 2a The Pacific Crest Trail Topo Map: Carson Gap to Ebbetts Pass Topo Hiking Topo Map Index Trail Guide: Carson Pass Miles and Elevations Southbound backpackers following the Pacific Crest Trail towards Ebbetts Pass will stay on the main trail route through the Carson Gap, past the first two unmarked Tahoe to Yosemite Trail junctions to continue South on the PCT to the Carson Pass. The Carson Pass Area Backpacker Map depicts the PCT route through the Carson Pass towards Ebbetts Pass. The Carson Pass Cabin on the PCT Hike each Route! Both routes are worthy of your attention. The PCT is a better route for less skilled backpackers and new visitors to the Sierras. The TYT route rougher and more isolated terrain, combined with the unmaintained section of the trail between Summit City Creek and Camp Irene, require greater backpacking skill, navigational knowledge, and fitness.


Above: looking South at Elephant Back Rock through the Carson Gap. The Winnamucca Lake junction towards Round Top Lake sits below Elephant Back on the Pacific Crest Trail. This junction would only make sense to Northbound hikers, who would have likely entered Summit City from its headwaters at Blue Lakes.

Round Top Lake in late Spring, Carson Pass Mangement Area. Past the Lake you bend Southwest around the mountaintop, revealing Summit City Creek below.

Trail Guide Section 3: Highway 4 to Highway 108: The Carson Iceberg Wilderness

The Next Resupply Point
	Lake Alpine Lodge 4000 Highway 4 PO Box 5060 Bear Valley, CA 95223 (209)753-6350 Lake Alpine: A beautiful man-made lake on Highway 4 with a really friendly lodge on its West side. Map Lake Alpine Lodge and Bear Valley Backpacker Resupply Information Lake Alpine Lodge: .5 mile West of Tahoe Yosemite Trail crossing Highway 4, and a 15 mile hitch hike West of where the Pacific Crest Trail crosses Highway 4 at Ebbetts Pass. They accept and will hold your resupply packages sent through UPS for you for free. Bear Valley: 3 miles West of Lake Alpine on Highway 4. Full service Regional Center: Arnold
Above: Lake Alpine from Mount Reba on the Tahoe to Yosemite Route.

Above: Lake Alpine Lodge, Highway 4

Bear Valley, Highway 4