- Distance: 10 miles
- Time: 6 – 8 hours
- Elevation Gain: 3,300 foot gain
- Difficulty: very strenuous
Mount Tallac is one of the best hikes to enjoy panoramic views of the whole Lake Tahoe Basin, Desolation Wilderness, Emerald Bay, and beyond. It’s the highest peak around the lake’s immediate shoreline standing at 9,739 feet tall and it’s visible from the highways into the Tahoe area and almost every spot around the lake.
You’ll want to plan a full day to hike to the summit of Mount Tallac because even if you’re a fast hiker, you’ll want to enjoy the impressive summit views.
The trail starts with a gradual incline through the pine forests along a ridge bordering Fallen Leaf Lake, just outside of South Lake Tahoe. Upon entering Desolation Wilderness about 2 miles in, the trail gets a bit rockier. At the Desolation Wilderness border, you’ll pass Floating Island Lake which gets its name from the small grass island that moves about the lake.
As you continue hiking you’ll eventually reach some rocky thigh-burning switchbacks. Watch your footing here as the rocks become loose! The remainder of the trail goes back and forth between a well-established trail and rocky areas until reaching the summit where you’ll scramble across boulders to your preferred viewpoint.
I love this trail because along the way you pass a bunch of alpine lakes and from the summit you’re looking down on all of Lake Tahoe, including alpine meadows, lakes, and Emerald Bay. It’s one of the best hiking trails for those who are in good hiking shape.
**Because the ascent on the Mount Tallac Trail reaches almost 10,000 feet and gains over 3,000 feet in elevation you’ll need time to acclimate to the altitude. Acute mountain sickness is common for people coming from low elevations hiking high too quickly, so if you don’t feel well on the ascent, run around and rest.
