| About Tahoe National Forest |
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| PCT North of Squaw Valley to Tinkers Knob Trail |
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Ending Elevation:
8,760 Feet
USGS Maps:
Tahoe City & Granite Chief
Length, One-way:
7 Miles
Elevation Gain:
2,520 Feet
Beginning Elevation:
6,240 Feet
Difficulty:
Difficult
Reservation:
No
Season:
July - October
From Truckee, Travel Hwy. #80 west and take the South Lake Tahoe exit and follow Highway #89 south for 8.5 miles to the Squaw valley junction. (If you are coming from Lake Tahoe, take Hwy. #89 north from Tahoe City for 5 miles.) Turn west on Squaw valley Road and drive 2.2 miles to the Squaw Valley Fire Station. Hikers must use the large parking area in front of the ski lift buildings and under no condition use any of the parking spaces around the fire station. The trailhead is located on the east (right) side of the fire station and is clearly marked.
Location Information
The PCT North of Squaw Valley to Tinkers Knob Trail is a difficult 7 mile hike at an elevation of 6,240 feet. Take the Granite Chief Trail from Squaw Valley to where it connects with the PCT. From that junction to Tinker Knob, it is 3.5 miles. The trail winds around an makes some switch backs along the crest of the mountains. At 1.5 miles it passes the Painted Rock Trail and continues on its way to pass by the headwater to the North Fork of the American River. Between there and the switch backs up to the Tinker Knob Saddle there are two springs which usually have water flowing from them. It is just a short climb from the saddle up to the top of Tinker Knob which is 8,950 feet above sea level. An impressive 360 degree panoramic view is the reward for this hike. Hikers with ambition and who can arrange transportation may want to extend their hike by taking either the Cold Stream Trail down to its trailhead (3.5 miles) or hike the PCT to Donner Pass on the old Highway #40 (7 miles.)
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