Tells Peak
About
Tells Peak is an 8,872-foot summit in California managed by the Forest Service. It is reached by the Highland Trail, a 15.64-mile public trail with 4,382 feet of elevation gain.
Summit Facts
Summit elevation
8,872 ft
Land manager
Forest Service
Elevation from USGS 3D Elevation Program terrain data (about 10 m resolution).
Location
Tells Peak
California
Name and location: U.S. Geological Survey, Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). Elevation: USGS 3D Elevation Program. View the GNIS record.
Facts about this place
When to go
Typical monthly averages (not a forecast) from the Dagget Pass, NV weather station, 20 mi away. High / low in °F.
- Jan36° high23° low
- Feb37° high23° low
- Mar42° high26° low
- Apr48° high29° low
- May56° high35° low
- Jun66° high42° low
- Jul75° high49° low
- Aug74° high49° low
- Sep67° high44° low
- Oct55° high36° low
- Nov43° high28° low
- Dec35° high23° low
The station sits about 1,500 ft lower than this spot, so expect it to run cooler up here.
Where it is
- Desolation Wilderness · Wilderness
- Pacific Ranger District · Ranger district
- Eldorado National Forest · National forest
- Nearest town
- Rubicon Properties, California · 8.2 mi
- Managed by
- Forest Service
Source: Wilderness.net boundaries; USFS EDW boundaries; USGS PAD-US 4.1; USGS GNIS populated places
Conditions
Active alerts for Eldorado National Forest as of Oct 9, 2026:
Fire Restrictions are in Effect Forest Wide
fire-restriction · posted Sep 30, 2026
information · posted Aug 24, 2026
Mokelumne Wilderness Restricted Use
information · posted Aug 24, 2026
Occupancy and Use Restrictions - Desolation Wilderness Area
information · posted Aug 24, 2026
Deer Valley Trail (19E01) & Meadow Lake Road (09N01)
caution · posted Aug 24, 2026
Silver Bear Wheeled Vehicle Closure
information · posted Aug 24, 2026
Desolation Wilderness Food and Refuse Storage Restriction
information · posted Aug 24, 2026
Camping Occupancy Restrictions
information · posted Aug 24, 2026
information · posted Aug 24, 2026
Help Halt Golden Mussel Invasion
caution · posted Aug 24, 2026
Source: USFS forest alerts
Nearby
- Highland TrailHiking0.1 mi
- Shadow LakeHiking1.7 mi
- Rubicon RiverCanoeing3 mi
- Lower ButtressRock climbing3.6 mi
- Loon Lake CgCamping3.6 mi
- Loon Lake Group CgCamping3.6 mi
- Loon LakeRock climbing4.2 mi
- Bassi ForkCanoeing4.4 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)