Nevada · Hiking · Near Sunnyside-Tahoe City

Upper Thomas Creek Trail

Upper Thomas Creek TrailPhoto: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
2.4 mi
round trip
1,008 ft
climb
6,922 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Is Upper Thomas Creek Trail open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Carson Ranger District. It doesn't name Upper Thomas Creek Trail, so check the source for the area it covers (3 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · Carson Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Upper Thomas Creek Trail is a moderate, 2.4-mile out-and-back hike in the Carson Ranger District of Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest in Nevada. The trail rises from about 6,000 feet to a high point of 6,922 feet, with a total elevation gain of about 1,000 feet, and the route is roughly 4.8 miles round trip. The steepest stretch comes at about 1.7 miles in, where the grade reaches 15 percent. The most comfortable stretch for a visit is July and August, when typical averages from the nearby Incline Village weather station run to highs around 76°F and lows near 50°F. Winter there is cold, with typical January highs around 41°F and lows near 24°F. The trailhead is Thomas Creek Trailhead, and the trip takes about two hours. Lower Thomas Creek Trail and the Sierra Front Trail sit just 0.1 mile away. Climbers can head to Thomas Creek, about 1.9 miles off, and Mount Rose Campground is about 6.4 miles away.

Around this trail

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

    Davis Creek Campground

    Campground

    Campground · 5.9 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    The Lodge, A Coffee + Wine Bar

    Bar

    On your way back · 2 mi
  • If it rains

    Fox Cultural Hall

    Museum

    On your way back · 15 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 Upper Thomas Creek 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

      41° / 24°

    2. Feb

      42° / 25°

    3. Mar

      45° / 27°

    4. Apr

      50° / 31°

    5. May

      59° / 37°

    6. Jun

      68° / 45°

    7. Jul

      76° / 50°

    8. Aug

      76° / 50°

    9. Sep

      71° / 45°

    10. Oct

      59° / 36°

    11. Nov

      50° / 30°

    12. Dec

      41° / 25°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Incline Village, NV, 11.5 mi away at 6,356 ft. The station sits about 600 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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Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors