ActivitiesHikingBig Meadow Trailhead
Big Meadow Trailhead
South Shore, hiking, moderate
The first half mile climbs from the highway through pine and fir to Big Meadow. After the creek and the meadow the trail enters lodgepole forest and, over one more short hill, reaches Round Lake.
In short: Big Meadow Trailhead is a moderate hike on Lake Tahoe's South Shore: 5.4 mi round trip, 1,100 ft of elevation gain, a high point of 8,050 ft. The season is Jun – Oct, no permit is needed, dogs are allowed.
- Distance, round trip
- 5.4 mi
- Elevation gain
- 1,100 ft
- High point
- 8,050 ft
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Where it is
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Trail details
- Big Meadow
- Round Lake
- Tahoe Rim Trail
- Meiss Country, no permit needed
- Trail
- Big Meadow to Round Lake (Tahoe Rim Trail)
- Season
- Jun – Oct
- Permit
- None needed
- Parking
- Free, Lot on Hwy 89 below Luther Pass, Closed in winter
- Dogs
- Allowed
Go with a guide. Walk the basin with a local guide, on a trail matched to your group and the season.
Guided hikeConditions today
- Right now
- 72°F, Sunny
- Today
- High 72°, low 48°
- Wind
- 8 mph
- Campfires
- Metal rings only
- TomorrowPartly Cloudy, 10% chance of rain68° 45°
- ThuMostly Clear, 5% chance of rain74° 50°
- FriPM Storms, 75% chance of rain61° 44°
Know before you go
- Permits
- Desolation Wilderness needs a permit for both day hikes and overnight trips. Most other trails in the basin need none.
- Parking
- Lots at Eagle Falls, D.L. Bliss and other popular trailheads fill by 9am on summer weekends. Start early or go midweek.
- Altitude
- Trailheads start around 6,300 feet and the highest summits top 10,000. Carry more water than you would at sea level and take the first day easy.
- Weather
- Summer afternoons can bring thunderstorms. Plan to be off exposed ridges and summits by early afternoon.
More hiking within 5 miles
- Horsetail Falls Trailhead1.3 mi, moderate
- Echo Summit TRT Trailhead2.3 mi, moderate
- Echo Lake Trailhead3.6 mi, moderate
Nearest campgrounds
- Fallen Leaf Lake Campground8.1 mi, 206 sites
- Campground by the Lake9.7 mi, 170 sites
- Camp Richardson — RV Village10.4 mi, 98 sites