California · Hiking · Near Sunnyside-Tahoe City

Painted Rock

Painted RockPhoto: donner summit historical society, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)
7.4 mi
round trip
1,738 ft
climb
7,552 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Sep
best months

Is Painted Rock open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists an alert for Tahoe National Forest.

  • Camping and Campfire Restrictions-Truckee and Sierraville Districts

    Agency alert covering Tahoe National Forest · Order 17-25-05 · USFS · Tahoe National Forest

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

Painted Rock is a hard hike in the Truckee Ranger District of Tahoe National Forest in California, about 7.4 miles long with a one-way elevation gain of 1,738 feet. The trail is an out-and-back, starting at a low point of about 6,052 feet and reaching a high of about 7,552 feet. It stays open year-round, and the natural surface allows horses and bikes. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show July highs around 82°F with lows near 44°F, and fewer wet days than the rest of the year. That station sits well below the trail, so temperatures on the ridge run cooler. Nearby options include the North Fork American River, about 2 miles away, the Tevis Cup Trail and the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail #2000, both within about 2.4 miles. Talbot campground is roughly 4.9 miles off.

Around this trail

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

    Onion Creek Campground

    Campground

    Campground · 2.8 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    The Arc

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 5 mi
  • If it rains

    Watson Cabin

    Museum

    On your way back · 11 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 Painted Rock

    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

      41° / 17°

      11 wet

    2. Feb

      43° / 18°

      10 wet

    3. Mar

      48° / 22°

      10 wet

    4. Apr

      53° / 26°

      7 wet

    5. May

      63° / 33°

      6 wet

    6. Jun

      73° / 38°

      3 wet

    7. Jul

      82° / 44°

      2 wet

    8. Aug

      81° / 42°

      2 wet

    9. Sep

      74° / 36°

      2 wet

    10. Oct

      63° / 29°

      4 wet

    11. Nov

      49° / 23°

      7 wet

    12. Dec

      39° / 17°

      10 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Donner Mem Sp, CA, 7.2 mi away at 5,937 ft. The station sits about 1,600 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.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail #2000Photo: Tim Berger, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail #2000

~4 min drive

31.62-mile out-and-back trail on the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail in California with 6,544 ft gain/loss.

Cold StreamPhoto: Tim Berger, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Cold Stream

~4 min drive

Cold Stream is a 1.42-mile out-and-back trail in California with 582 feet of elevation gain.

Coldstream TrailPhoto: Tim Berger, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Coldstream Trail

~4 min drive

4.18-mile out-and-back trail in California with 1,535 ft gain/loss.

Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim TrailPhoto: donner summit historical society, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail

~7 min drive

5.82-mile out-and-back hike in California with 1,900 ft elevation gain and loss.

HIKE

Tevis Cup Trail

~11 min drive

16.8-mile out-and-back trail in California with 3,384 ft elevation gain/loss.

Rowton Peak TrailPhoto: donner summit historical society, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Rowton Peak Trail

~7 min drive

1.02-mile out-and-back trail in California with 438 ft gain and 7,180 ft max elevation.

Emigrant TrailPhoto: Loco Steve, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Emigrant Trail

~6 min drive

4.38-mile out-and-back hike in California with 1,442 ft elevation gain and loss.

Tevis Cup TrailPhoto: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Tevis Cup Trail

~7 min drive

9.28-mile out-and-back trail in California with 3,072 ft elevation gain and loss.

Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim TrailPhoto: donner summit historical society, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Walter and Esther Hewlett Royal Gorge Rim Trail

~7 min drive

2.6-mile out-and-back hike in California with 918 ft elevation gain and loss.

Shirley Lake TrailPhoto: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Shirley Lake Trail

~7 min drive

2.22-mile out-and-back hike in California with 1,201 ft gain/loss