3.5 miles
Distance
1,125 ft
Climb
-15 ft
Descent
01:02:18
Avg time
Supporters, Builders, Maintainers & Land Managers of Star Lake Trail

  • USFS
    Land Manager

Star Lake Trail Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • Horse
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Freel High Country
    South Lake Tahoe, California
  • Ref Number
    #18E01
  • Difficulty Rating
    Blue rate
  • Voted Difficulty
    Black Diamond (1 vote)
  • Hiking SAC Scale
    T2 Mountain Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    AM, XC
  • Direction
    Both Directions
  • Climb Difficulty
    Black Diamond
  • Physical Rating
    Moderate
  • Season
    Summer, Fall
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    No
  • Global Ranking
    #7060 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #74420 in Trail Running
    • #10725 in Hiking
  • Local Popularity
    90 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 90 in Trail Running
    • 90 in Hiking
    • 5 in Horseback
  • Land Owner
    USFS Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

A well-constructed trail connecting Star Lake and the Tahoe Rim Trail to the Cold Creek/High Meadow area. The trail features a few brief technical challenges, but is generally a smooth twisty trail on rock and decomposed granite. The uphill ride is occasionally challenging, but very reasonable. There are two perennial creek crossings and Star Lake is a quintessential high alpine lake. Due to the elevation of this trail, it is one of the last to open in the spring.

Access Info

The lower trailhead is accessed from the summit of the forest service's High Meadow Rd. Turn south on to the sandy logging road for approximately a mile until it dead-ends into the Star Lake Connector Trail. From the end of the Cold Creek Trail, turn south, cross Cold Creek, and continue up the very gentle grade to the summit of High Meadow Rd. There are plenty of forest service trail signs to help.

The upper trailhead is just north of the Star Lake outfall. The TRT crosses the outfall of the lake and does a short climb up rock stairs before continuing to Monument Pass. The Star Lake Connector Trail departs the TRT just before the rock stairs and immediately, but gently begins descending.

Local Trail Association
Traditionally Indigenous Territory
More Stats for Star Lake Trail multi-use trail trail
  • Altitude change
    1,110 ft
  • Altitude min
    7,993 ft
  • Altitude max
    9,104 ft
  • Altitude start
    7,994 ft
  • Altitude end
    9,104 ft
  • Grade
    6.1%
  • Grade max
    -6.1%
  • Grade min
    33.1%
  • Distance climb
    3 miles
  • Distance down
    853 ft
  • Distance flat
    1,102 ft
  • Avg time
    01:02:18
  • Avg reverse time
    00:28:50
  • view trail stats
Status:
on Sep 6, 2024
Dry
Avg: 4.26 (13 votes)
Your vote: 0

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Trail Conditions
  • Unknown
  • Snow Groomed
  • Snow Packed
  • Snow Covered
  • Snow Cover Partial
  • Freeze/thaw Cycle
  • Icy
  • Prevalent Mud
  • Wet
  • Variable
  • Ideal
  • Dry
  • Very Dry
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      Directions to star-lake-trail-7487 trailhead (38.889320, -119.913490)
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      Star Lake Trail Trail Reports

      statusdatedescription
      Sep 6, 2024 @ 3:06pm
      Sep 6, 2024
      Jun 30, 2024 @ 2:17pm
      Jun 30, 2024
      Jun 14, 2024 @ 9:09pm
      Jun 14, 2024
      		 Trail is clear other than one waterfall crossing.
      May 24, 2024 @ 6:31pm
      May 24, 2024
      		 Snow drifts start immediately at the bottom.
      Aug 23, 2023 @ 8:09am
      Aug 23, 2023
      		 Recent rains firmed up the sandy conditions. This trail was a good test for my new midpower ebike technical climbing skills. Long but fun uphill.
      view all reports »

      Recent Ridelog Activity on Trail

      Past Week
      • 0 rides
      •  
      6 Months
      • 52 rides
      • 22 miles avg distance
      All
      • 281 rides
      • Last: Oct 26, 2024

      Photos

      more »
      44 |
      Sep 15, 2023 @ 7:33pm
      Sep 15, 2023
      35 |
      Sep 15, 2023 @ 8:33pm
      Sep 15, 2023
      48 |
      Sep 15, 2023 @ 8:35pm
      Sep 15, 2023
      155 |
      Jul 27, 2022 @ 9:38am
      Jul 27, 2022

      Routes with this trail

      more »
      titledistance
      Cold Creek-Star Lake-Freel Peak-Mr. Toad's26 miles
      Stagecoach to Star Lake to Heavenly CA base24 miles
      Markleeville to Downieville: Complete193 miles
      Star Freel Peak Armstrong loop22 miles

      4 Reviews & Comments


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      Videos

      more »
      youtuber Cold Creek and Star Lake Connector (South Lake...
      825 | Aug 14, 2017 , South Lake Tahoe
      RAW Star Lake MTB Trail - South Lake Tahoe 4K
      19:36 | 57 | Jun 13, 2024 , South Lake Tahoe
      Star Lake Trail
      7:53 | 117 | Jul 23, 2023 , South Lake Tahoe
      Star Lake Trail / South Lake Tahoe, CA / MTB
      17:14 | 187 | Jul 8, 2022 , South Lake Tahoe

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      Freel High Country

      • By FRguild & contributors
      • #7487 - 11,790 views

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