California · Hiking · Near Sunnyside-Tahoe City

Highland

HighlandPhoto: Kurt Minard, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
5.0 mi
round trip
441 ft
climb
6,934 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Caution at last check

Agency alerts are in effect for this area; weather is good · USFS, OpenWeather · checked 17 h ago

Is Highland open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 2 alerts for Eldorado National Forest.

As of · Source: USFS · Eldorado National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Highland is a 5-mile out-and-back hike in California's Eldorado National Forest, within the Pacific Ranger District. The trail climbs from about 6,500 feet to a high point of about 6,934 feet, with an elevation gain of about 440 feet. It is managed by the Forest Service and rated moderate, and the route is natural-surfaced and open to horses. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Tahoma, which sits a few hundred feet lower than the trail, run to highs around 77°F and lows around 46°F in July and August. Winter highs there stay in the upper 30s. The trail starts close to several other outings. Tells Equestrian Campground and the Bassi hike are each about 0.3 miles away, and the Van Vleck Bunkhouse and the Red Peak hike are within half a mile. Paddlers can reach the South Fork Rubicon River about 3 miles off.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Tells Equestrian Cg

    Campground

    Campground · 0.3 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Chambers Landing Bar and Grill

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 14 mi
  • If it rains

    Baldwin Home

    Museum

    Museum · 15 mi from Sunnyside-Tahoe City

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Sunnyside-Tahoe City

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · May–Oct

    Best time to visit Highland

    Best months: May–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      37° / 22°

    2. Feb

      38° / 22°

    3. Mar

      43° / 25°

    4. Apr

      49° / 27°

    5. May

      58° / 34°

    6. Jun

      69° / 40°

    7. Jul

      77° / 46°

    8. Aug

      76° / 46°

    9. Sep

      69° / 41°

    10. Oct

      58° / 34°

    11. Nov

      44° / 27°

    12. Dec

      38° / 21°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Tahoma, CA, 13.5 mi away at 6,315 ft. The station sits about 600 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

    Closures we've recorded since August 2026

    • Fire Restrictions are in Effect Forest Wide

      Eldorado National Forest · Order dated September 22, 2026; seen Aug 23, 2026 → lifted Nov 2, 2026 · Forest Service

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Red PeakPhoto: Kurt Minard, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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Lake No. 3Photo: Kurt Minard, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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Shadow LakePhoto: Kurt Minard, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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South Fork TrailPhoto: Dicklyon, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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