California · Mountain biking · Near Sunnyside-Tahoe City

Mount Watson Access Road

0.5 mi
round trip
170 ft
climb
Gravel Road
surface
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Is Mount Watson Access Road open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit. It doesn't name Mount Watson Access Road, 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.

Mount Watson Access Road is an easy out-and-back mountain biking route of about 0.9 miles, with a 170-foot elevation gain from the low point at 6,695 feet to the high at 6,880 feet. It lies within the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit in California, managed by the Forest Service. The most comfortable months for riding are late spring through early fall. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Tahoe City, which sits about 650 feet lower, show July highs near 78°F with lows around 46°F and only about one wet day in the month. Winter brings highs near 40°F and several snowy days a month from December through March. Nearby, the Jackpine/Old State Park Road Connector is 0.3 miles away and Angry Bear is 0.5 miles away. Twin Crags, a climbing area, is 1.2 miles off, and William Kent Campground is about 2.9 miles away for an overnight stay.

Around this trail

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

    Lake Forest Campground

    Campground

    Campground · 1.6 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Thai Kitchen

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 1 mi
  • If it rains

    Watson Cabin

    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–Oct

    Best time to visit Mount Watson Access Road

    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

      40° / 21°

      11 wet · 7 snow

    2. Feb

      40° / 21°

      10 wet · 7 snow

    3. Mar

      45° / 24°

      10 wet · 7 snow

    4. Apr

      50° / 28°

      8 wet · 4 snow

    5. May

      59° / 34°

      7 wet · 1 snow

    6. Jun

      69° / 40°

      3 wet

    7. Jul

      78° / 46°

      1 wet

    8. Aug

      77° / 45°

      2 wet

    9. Sep

      70° / 41°

      2 wet

    10. Oct

      59° / 33°

      4 wet · 1 snow

    11. Nov

      48° / 26°

      7 wet · 3 snow

    12. Dec

      40° / 21°

      10 wet · 6 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Tahoe City, CA, 1 mi away at 6,230 ft. The station sits about 700 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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Mount Watson Access Road

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0.12-mile easy gravel road with 72 ft elevation gain in California.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors