ActivitiesHikingPowerline Trail Trailhead
Powerline Trail Trailhead
South Shore, hiking, easy
Smooth, well-maintained trail running from South Lake Tahoe through pine forest to the Corral network. The best beginner MTB option on the south shore — no shuttle, no technical moves, just flowing singletrack through the trees.
In short: Powerline Trail Trailhead is an easy hike on Lake Tahoe's South Shore: 7 mi round trip, 500 ft of elevation gain, a high point of 6,900 ft. The season is May – Nov, no permit is needed, dogs are allowed.
- Distance, round trip
- 7 mi
- Elevation gain
- 500 ft
- High point
- 6,900 ft
- Difficulty
- Easy
Where it is
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Trail details
- Smooth beginner MTB trail
- Town access — no drive needed
- Links to Corral network
- 7 miles through pine forest
- Trail
- Powerline Trail — South Lake Tahoe
- Season
- May – Nov
- Permit
- None needed
- Parking
- Free, Multiple street access points in South Lake Tahoe
- 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
- Corral Trail Hub — South Shore MTB1.0 mi, moderate
- Lam Watah Nature Trail3.3 mi, easy
- Fallen Leaf Lake Moraine Trail4.2 mi, easy
- Taylor Creek Rainbow Trail4.5 mi, easy
Nearest campgrounds
- Campground by the Lake0.3 mi, 170 sites
- Nevada Beach Campground3.2 mi, 54 sites
- Camp Richardson — RV Village4.2 mi, 98 sites