California · Hiking · Near Sunnyside-Tahoe City

Moraine Trail

Moraine TrailPhoto: simonov, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
1.0 mi
round trip
36 ft
climb
6,403 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Sep
best months

Is Moraine Trail open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit. It doesn't name Moraine Trail, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

The Moraine Trail is a short, easy out-and-back hike in California's Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, managed by the Forest Service. The route is about 2 miles long, with a low point of 6,359 feet and a high of 6,403 feet, so the total elevation gain is about 36 feet. That makes it a gentle walk rather than a climb, and it works well as a quick stop or a way to stretch your legs before or after time on the water or on the trails around Fallen Leaf. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the South Lake Tahoe airport weather station, about 3.7 miles away, show July and August highs around 80°F with lows in the low 40s and only about two wet days a month. Winter is much colder, with highs in the low 40s and lows near 18°F from December through February. Fallen Leaf Campground and Taylor Creek, a canoeing spot, are both about 0.4 miles away. The Visitor Center to Fallen Leaf hike and the Floating Island Trail are each about 0.8 miles off.

Around this trail

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

    Camp Concord

    Campground

    Campground · 0.4 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Beacon Bar & Grill

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 1 mi
  • If it rains

    Baldwin Home

    Museum

    On your way back · 1 mi

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–Sep

    Best time to visit Moraine Trail

    Best months: May–September. 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

      43° / 18°

      9 wet

    2. Feb

      43° / 19°

      9 wet

    3. Mar

      48° / 24°

      10 wet

    4. Apr

      53° / 28°

      8 wet

    5. May

      62° / 33°

      7 wet

    6. Jun

      72° / 38°

      3 wet

    7. Jul

      80° / 43°

      2 wet

    8. Aug

      80° / 41°

      2 wet

    9. Sep

      73° / 35°

      3 wet

    10. Oct

      62° / 29°

      5 wet

    11. Nov

      51° / 23°

      7 wet

    12. Dec

      43° / 18°

      10 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at South Lake Tahoe Ap, CA, 3.7 mi away at 6,314 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Visitor Center to Fallen LeafPhoto: John William Hammond, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Visitor Center to Fallen Leaf

~1 min drive

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Camp Richardson Corral TrailsPhoto: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Camp Richardson Corral Trails

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EAGLE FALLS TRAILPhoto: radicalespresso, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

EAGLE FALLS TRAIL

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16.1-mile out-and-back hike in California with 4,668 ft elevation gain and loss.

FLOATING ISLAND TRAILPhoto: simonov, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

FLOATING ISLAND TRAIL

~1 min drive

2.92-mile out-and-back hike in California with 741 ft gain and 7,098 ft max elevation.

Tamarack Lake TrailPhoto: bsterling, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Tamarack Lake Trail

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High School TrailPhoto: mlinksva, Public Domain Dedication (CC0) (via Flickr)

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Rainbow TrailPhoto: John William Hammond, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Rainbow Trail

~1 min drive

1.20-mile out-and-back hike in California with 43 ft of elevation gain.

Lily Lake TrailPhoto: Scorewith German, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Lily Lake Trail

~6 min drive

3.72-mile out-and-back hike in California with 3,015 ft gain/loss.

Floating Island / Mount Tallac TrailPhoto: simonov, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Floating Island / Mount Tallac Trail

~5 min drive

1.28-mile out-and-back trail in California with 1,020 ft elevation gain