Hiking the Maggie’s Peak Trail in Lake Tahoe, California
Distance: 4.4 miles / 7.1 km
Elevation Gain: 1,800 ft. / 549 m
The Maggie’s Peak Trail, located near Emerald Bay in South Lake Tahoe, is one of the best summit hikes in the area, with it’s expansive 360º views above the lake.
That being said, Maggie’s Peak is quite the steep trail, gaining nearly 1,800 ft. (549 m) of elevation in just 2.2 miles (3.5 km)!
However, if you’re up for the challenge, Maggie’s Peak can be a great trail at any time of the day, especially during the summer when you have the opportunity to cool off in Granite Lake on the way up and down.
Maggie’s Peak Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Maggie’s Peak Trail is located on the south side of Emerald Bay within the paid Bayview parking area.
This day-use area is managed by the National Forest Service, but in my experience, they do not accept any kind of federal passes in lieu of the parking fee. Believe me, I tried.
Google Maps Directions: Maggie’s Peak Trailhead
Hiking Checklist - Lake Tahoe
The Lake Tahoe area is bear country, and being the case, here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike around Lake Tahoe.
Bear Spray & Holster - If you aren’t flying, don’t rent bear spray! It’s a waste of money. Prepare ahead of time by buying your own, as this may be one of the most important items on this list.
Osprey 3L Water Bladder - The Osprey 3L water bladder is the most universal hiking and backpacking water bladder on the market, and it’s my go-to because of the slide-off seal that allows it to be quickly filled from the top. Additionally, individual parts are easily replaceable, such as the bite valve.
Black Diamond Headlamp - Personally, I recommend the Black Diamond Storm because it is one of the brightest, lightest, and longest-lasting headlamps on the market—and trust me, the weight-to-battery-life ratio really does matter!
Hiking / Trail Running Shoes - Depending on the type of trail, I prefer to use either the Keen Targhee for longer, more rugged hiking or the HOKA Zinal Trail-Running Shoe for lighter, less intense trails. In either case, both have been amazing to me for many years across countless environments, and both can be found in men’s and women’s sizes. - (Men’s Keen / Women’s Keen) (Men’s HOKA / Women’s HOKA)
Blister / Heel Protectors - I swear by these cheap, amazing heel protectors to prevent blisters for nearly every kind of hiking and backpacking that I do!
Waterproof Rain Shell - You never know when it may rain, and I’ve learned over the years that a rain shell is far better than a rain jacket. By this, I mean that it’s best to have something that the water will roll right off of, which is why I recommend the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L available in both men’s and women’s sizes.
High SPF Sunscreen - Packing high-SPF sunscreen is a must for long days outside!
Hiking the Maggie’s Peak Trail
Depending on your pace, the Maggie’s Peak Trail may take anywhere from one to three hours for the ascent.
To try to estimate your time, I talked to a relatively fit-looking couple that took two hours to go up, and my time was around 49 minutes, as I chose to hike without taking breaks.
In any case, be sure to fill out a free wilderness permit at the trailhead before hiking. These permits are not only important for accountability purposes but are also legally mandated by the National Forest Service.
Desolation Wilderness-Cascade Falls Junction
When the trail splits almost immediately following the trailhead, go right to stay on the Maggie’s Peak Trail.
The trail to the left is the Cascade Falls Trail, the other of the two most popular day hikes out of the Bayview Day-Use Area.
Then, almost immediately the trail starts climbing, which will remain nearly constant for the entire hike.
Depending on how early in the season you are hiking, micro-spikes may be necessary when you expect there to be snow on the ground, especially if it is melting during the day and freezing at night.
Granite Lake
At about 1 mile (1.6 km) and roughly 800 ft. (244 m) of elevation gain, the trail passes by Granite Lake, which makes for a great place to cool off from the steep ascent during the mid-summer months.
In any case, I waited until the end to jump in, which was great, as the much smaller Granite Lake was much warmer, in my experience, than Lake Tahoe down below!
Maggie’s Peak-Desolation Wilderness Junction
When you reach the split in the photo below, go left.
This left turn is like one big horseshoe, which leads to the summit ridge, roughly 300 vertical feet (91 m) below the top.
Furthermore, the trail to the right is the route that extends much further into the Desolation Wilderness, which is often treated as an overnight backcountry trip, rather than a day hike.
The tallest rock in the photo below is the true summit for Maggie’s Peak, but in my opinion, the better views are about where this photo was taken.
Maggie’s Peak (South)
According to the USGS, the summit of South Maggie’s Peak—the higher of the two summits—stands at 8,703 ft. (2,653 m), which is slightly taller than the northern summit by just over 200 ft. (61 m).
Warning
Afternoon thunderstorms in high Mountain West areas, such as this, are a serious concern during the summer monsoon season.
Even if the weather forecast doesn’t predict any storms, I can tell you from personal experience that they may show up out of nowhere and can put you and your entire group in a very dangerous situation.
I say this to emphasize the importance of turning around at the first sign of lightning, thunder, or even heavy cloud buildup. However, if you ever get caught in a storm unsuspectingly, follow the steps linked below to reduce the risk of getting struck.
U.S. Forest Service: Lightning Safety Tips
More Nearby Adventures
If you’re interested in reading about some more amazing adventures nearby, check out my separate posts below!
Best Way to Find Places to Stay!
Wherever I travel, I love to start my search for places to stay on VRBO.
Even if I don’t end up booking through them, I think it’s one of the best ways to see what’s in the area!
Washington
Best Way to Book Rental Cars!
I travel quite a bit, and I know firsthand that finding a good rental car deal can be a challenge, but that’s why I recommend comparing all of your options with Discover Cars.
In short, Discover Cars is a well-known, reputable business that allows you to search for the best deal across companies, and they have the best full-refund cancellation policy I’ve ever seen, valid up to 72, or sometimes even 48, hours prior to your reservation!
Book Here: Discover Cars
Discover Cars!
Safety
The Lake Tahoe Basin and the surrounding area is black bear country, and while hiking in black bear territory generally presents less danger as opposed to grizzlies, hiking with bear spray is never a bad idea. However, it’s really up to your own discretion and comfort level.
In any case, afternoon thunderstorms, the summer heat/ dehydration, and falls, especially when it’s icy, generally present the greatest risks to hikers.
In addition, there are two venomous rattlesnakes in the Lake Tahoe area, which are the Great Basin and Northern Pacific Rattlesnakes. That being said, an encounter with either is generally rare, as I have only ever seen one.
Disclaimer
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