TALLAC PEAK (LAKE TAHOE RIM)

WHERE:  There are several trailheads.  All can be reached by taking highway 89 west from South Tahoe.  One trailhead can be reached near the terminus of a road that skirts the west side of Fallen Leaf Lake while the one that I took is reached by taking a left at a forest road that goes to Camp Shelly.  Take a left at this road and follow the signs to the trailhead. 

THE AREA:  Lake Tahoe is the second deepest lake in the United States at 1,645 feet and its average depth is considered the fifth deepest in the world amongst lakes which have this available statistic.  Lake Tahoe's altitude is Lake Tahoe is in the northern section of the Sierra Nevada mountain range and is also the lowest section of the mountain range.  There is only 4 mountains around the Tahoe rim that are over 10,000 feet above sea level, however there are quite a few mountains over 9,000 feet including Tallac which is 9,735 feet.

THE TRAIL:  The first 2.1 miles rise about 1,100 feet on a wide but rocky trail.  There are some good views of Tahoe and Fallen Leaf lake along this stretch but there is no need to spend to much time relishing in these views as the vistas will only get better.  At the 2.1 mile point you reach a junction with the other trail that goes to Tallac.  From here the trail gets steep as you climb 2,000 feet over the next 2.4 miles with the steepest gains over the first mile.  after the first mile of this segment you reach a ridge top which offers the first views west and glorious views all around.  You stay on the ridge for over a mile going past several rocky outcrops that may appear to be false summits.  At 9500 feet you reach a junction with the Gilmore Lake trail.   Take the Tallac summit trail for .2 miles and 235 feet elevation culminated by a short scramble up talus scree.  From the top you have panoramic views over lake Tahoe, heavenly ski resort and the crystal range to the east with mount Agassiz, mount Price, Pyramid Peak and Dicks Peak being most prominent.

In the winter many people climb close to the summit and ski/snowboard down to Fallen Leaf Lake.