Shriner Lake Campground
Campground
Campground · 0.8 mi from the trail
California · Hiking · Near Bear Valley
Tanglefoot
- 7.6 mi
- round trip
- 918 ft
- climb
- 7,087 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- May–Sep
- best months
Is Tanglefoot open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists 2 alerts for Eldorado National Forest.
Help Halt Golden Mussel Invasion
Agency alert covering Eldorado National Forest · USFS · Eldorado National Forest
Deer Valley Trail (19E01) & Meadow Lake Road (09N01)
Agency alert covering Eldorado National Forest · Order 03-24-05 · USFS · Eldorado National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Eldorado National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Tanglefoot is a hard hike in California's Eldorado National Forest, within the Amador Ranger District. The route is an out-and-back of about 7.6 miles, with a total elevation gain of 918 feet, taking you from a low point of about 6,300 feet to a high of about 7,087 feet. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is natural-surfaced, with horses allowed but bikes not. 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 only about two wet days a month, while winter highs sit near 43°F with lows in the teens. Shriner Lake and Shriner Lake Campground are both within a mile, and Cole Creek offers canoeing about a mile away. Farther out, the Alpha Quadrant climbing area is about 2.1 miles off.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after Blue Bear Cafe
Restaurant
On your way back · 8 mi
If it rainsJunkyardsparkle, CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Junkyardsparkle, CC0 (commons)
More in Bear ValleyLocal outfitters
- Alpenglow Expeditions46 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Best time to go · May–Sep
Best time to visit Tanglefoot
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.
Jan
43° / 18°
9 wet
Feb
43° / 19°
9 wet
Mar
48° / 24°
10 wet
Apr
53° / 28°
8 wet
May
62° / 33°
7 wet
Jun
72° / 38°
3 wet
Jul
80° / 43°
2 wet
Aug
80° / 41°
2 wet
Sep
73° / 35°
3 wet
Oct
62° / 29°
5 wet
Nov
51° / 23°
7 wet
Dec
43° / 18°
10 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at South Lake Tahoe Ap, CA, 27.4 mi away at 6,314 ft. The station sits about 800 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
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