ActivitiesHikingEllis Peak Trailhead
Ellis Peak Trailhead
West Shore, hiking, strenuous
The west shore's best summit hike and the basin's top snowshoe destination. Views encompass Tahoe, Desolation Wilderness, and the Granite Chief Wilderness.
In short: Ellis Peak Trailhead is a strenuous hike on Lake Tahoe's West Shore: 6 mi round trip, 1,800 ft of elevation gain, a high point of 8,740 ft. The season is Jun – Oct, no permit is needed, dogs are allowed.
- Distance, round trip
- 6 mi
- Elevation gain
- 1,800 ft
- High point
- 8,740 ft
- Difficulty
- Strenuous
Where it is
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Trail details
- Best 360° views on west shore
- Snowshoe destination in winter
- Less crowded than Tallac
- Trail
- Ellis Peak Summit
- Season
- Jun – Oct
- Permit
- None needed
- Parking
- Free, Barker Pass Road
- 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
- Blackwood Canyon / Barker Pass Trailhead0.8 mi, moderate
- Ward Creek / Stanford Rock Trailhead3.3 mi, moderate
- Tahoe City TRT Trailhead4.6 mi, moderate
- Meeks Bay Trailhead4.8 mi, moderate
Nearest campgrounds
- Kaspian Campground0.7 mi, 10 sites
- William Kent Campground1.3 mi, 95 sites
- Tahoe State Recreation Area4.6 mi, 23 sites