Helpful Hints

• The 9,735-foot summit of Mount Tallac is a rite of passage for Lake Tahoe hikers. The big mountain looms large over the lake, tempting visitors to make the 9.4-mile round-trip to the summit despite the butt-kicking ascent required. The trail gains 3,400 feet over 4.7 miles from the Mount Tallac Trailhead, located across from Baldwin Beach, to the summit.
• Although the summit view is the main reward on this trip, two lovely lakes are visited along the way: Floating Island Lake and Cathedral Lake. Either one makes a good rest stop before the more serious ascent begins.
• If you can arrange a car shuttle, a great way to hike Tallac is to head uphill from the Tallac Trailhead, then come back down on the mountain's west side, passing Gilmore Lake on the way to the Glen Alpine Trailhead at Fallen Leaf Lake. Total trip length