Western States Trail

California

Caution todayCalifornia
Caution today

Free — you'll pick up right here.

5.8 mi

Distance

3,209 ft

Gain

2h 59m

Time

Conditions: Caution

for hike, today

Agency alerts are in effect for this area; weather is good

2 factors · 2 sources

Newest 6 h ago · oldest 6 h

  • caution: Agency alerts

    21 active alerts in Tahoe National Forest; most severe: Floriston Fire Closure

    USFSPosted Oct 6 · checked 6 h ago

  • clear: Weather

    Clear, high 75°F / low 58°F, 0% precip — 100/100 for hike

    OpenWeather6 h ago

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Why you'll love it

Through-trail
Big climb
Out & back

Here's your day, mapped

Western States Trail

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Elevation & route

Distance
5.8 mi
Elevation gain
3,209 ft
Elevation loss
3,209 ft
Highest point
6,814 ft
Lowest point
5,451 ft
More about this trail ↓

Photos

Directions & GPX

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Permits & access

Managing agency
Forest Service

About this trail

Western States Trail is an 11.6-mile out-and-back hike in California with 3,209 feet of elevation gain and loss, reaching a maximum elevation of 6,814 feet.

Facts about this trail

The climb

Starts at
5,731 ft
High point
6,814 ft
Total climbing
3,209 ft
Total descent
3,209 ft
Steepest stretch
34% grade around mile 5.2 on the way out
Length (round trip)
12 mi
Shape
Out and back

The climb is steady from start to finish.

Source: Roamze elevation profile and trail geometry (DEM samples along the mapped route)

When to go

Typical monthly averages (not a forecast) from the Tahoe City, CA weather station, 19 mi away. High / low in °F, and days with snow.

  1. Jan40° high21° low7 days with snow
  2. Feb40° high21° low7 days with snow
  3. Mar45° high24° low7 days with snow
  4. Apr50° high28° low4 days with snow
  5. May59° high34° low1 days with snow
  6. Jun69° high40° low
  7. Jul78° high46° low
  8. Aug77° high45° low
  9. Sep70° high41° low
  10. Oct59° high33° low1 days with snow
  11. Nov48° high26° low3 days with snow
  12. Dec40° high21° low6 days with snow

Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020

Where it is

Managed by
Forest Service

Source: USFS EDW boundaries; USGS PAD-US 4.1

Conditions

Active alerts for Tahoe National Forest as of Oct 9, 2026:

Source: USFS forest alerts

Nearby

Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)

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Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Guided trips nearby

Local operatorsoffering guided trips. You book directly with them — Roamze doesn’t take a cut.

Alpenglow Expeditions

Hiking business nearby (~14 mi away) — hasn't claimed their Roamze page yet

View operator