California · Hiking · Near Sunnyside-Tahoe City

Power Line Trail

Power Line TrailPhoto: DaltonKat2, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
7.1 mi
round trip
411 ft
climb
6,641 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Sep
best months

Is Power Line Trail open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit. It doesn't name Power Line 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.

Power Line Trail is a 7.1-mile out-and-back hike in the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit of California's national forest system, managed by the Forest Service. The trail rises from about 6,420 feet to about 6,640 feet, with a total elevation gain of 411 feet, and is rated hard. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at South Lake Tahoe 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. Cold Creek Trail and the Powerline Trail mountain biking route both start about 0.2 miles away. Dana Boulder and Hope Valley campground are each about a mile off.

Around this trail

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

    Hope Valley

    Campground

    Campground · 1.0 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Umbrella Bar

    Bar

    On your way back · 2 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 Power Line 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, 2.5 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

Cold Creek TrailPhoto: DaltonKat2, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Cold Creek Trail

Next door

11-mile out-and-back hike in California with 1,574 ft elevation gain.

High Meadows Spur TrailPhoto: DaltonKat2, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

High Meadows Spur Trail

Next door

1.06-mile out-and-back trail in California with 168 ft elevation gain.

Monument Pass TrailPhoto: denverkid, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Monument Pass Trail

~6 min drive

5.3-mile out-and-back trail in California with 2,249 ft elevation gain and loss.

HIKE

Hartoonian Trails

~3 min drive

Moderate 12.37-mile loop with gentle elevation gain and scenic California landscapes.

Lower Cold Creek TrailPhoto: DaltonKat2, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Lower Cold Creek Trail

~1 min drive

1.14-mile out-and-back hike in California with 271 ft gain/loss.

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

High School Trail

~7 min drive

3.00-mile out-and-back trail in California with 302 ft of elevation gain.

HIKE

Star Lake Trail

~4 min drive

7.66-mile out-and-back hike in California with 1,602 ft elevation gain.

College TrailPhoto: tjdee, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

College Trail

~5 min drive

1.68-mile out-and-back hike in California with 212 ft elevation gain/loss.

Tahoe Mountain Trail (South)Photo: mlinksva, Public Domain Dedication (CC0) (via Flickr)

Tahoe Mountain Trail (South)

~7 min drive

4.02-mile out-and-back hike in California with 1,171 ft elevation gain

HIKE

Saxon Trail

~6 min drive

10.32-mile out-and-back hike in California with 2,528 ft gain.