California · Hiking · Near Sunnyside-Tahoe City

Sailor Flat Trail

5.5 mi
round trip
2,370 ft
climb
5,700 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Is Sailor Flat Trail 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.

Sailor Flat Trail is a moderate out-and-back hike in California's Tahoe National Forest, on the American River Ranger District. The trail starts at Sailor Flat Trailhead and reaches a high point of about 5,700 feet, with a total elevation gain of about 2,370 feet over a route of roughly 5.5 miles. The Forest Service manages the land. Summer and early fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Lake Spaulding put July and August highs around 82°F with lows in the upper 40s, while winter highs stay in the low to mid 40s. That station sits about 544 feet below the trail's high point, so temperatures up top run cooler. Bikes are allowed on this natural-surface trail. The trailhead is open year-round, and the hike works as a standalone outing or a base for exploring the surrounding area. Walker Mine Trail lies about 2 miles away, and Robinson Flat campground and the Robinson Flat Meadow Loop are both within about 2.4 miles. Big Granite Creek, a paddling route, is about 4.5 miles off.

Around this trail

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

    Soda Springs

    Campground

    Campground · 1.7 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Subway

    Fast food

    Open after 6

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 Sailor Flat Trail

    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

      44° / 25°

    2. Feb

      46° / 26°

    3. Mar

      51° / 27°

    4. Apr

      56° / 30°

    5. May

      64° / 37°

    6. Jun

      75° / 43°

    7. Jul

      82° / 48°

    8. Aug

      82° / 47°

    9. Sep

      76° / 44°

    10. Oct

      65° / 37°

    11. Nov

      51° / 30°

    12. Dec

      43° / 25°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Lake Spaulding, CA, 11.6 mi away at 5,156 ft. The station sits about 500 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.

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