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© 2026 Roaming.Camp · Data from NPS, Recreation.gov, BLM, USFS, NWS, and the FCC.Operating on ceded ancestral land.Photography via Unsplash.

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Hike

Mears Lake Valley

Near Quartz Mountain
Inside Tahoe National Forest
2,730 ft of climbing

8.9 mi out & back · 2,730 ft gain · 6,652 ft high point · Hard

In Tahoe National Forest · California · U.S. Forest Service

About Elevation Highlights Map Camp near here More hikes

About this hike

Mears Lake Valley climbs 2,730 feet over 8.9 miles out and back near Quartz Mountain in Tahoe National Forest.

Elevation

2,730 ft of gain round trip.

Camp near here

The closest places to sleep, measured from the trailhead.

See all on the map

2.0 mi from the trailhead
Tunnel Mills Ii
Campground · California

More hikes nearby

Ranked the same way, within twenty-five miles.

10 mi from you
Baltimore
- Ends at Wagon Wheel Lake
- Inside Tahoe National Forest
- 3,990 ft of climbing
16.9 mi out & back · 3,990 ft gain · Very hard
Tahoe National Forest · Camp 3 mi away

Out: 1,490 ft up, returns the same way. Source: USGS 3DEP.

Highlights

What the trail reaches, measured from the start.

Quartz MountainNearby · 2.3 mi in

Map

The route at the trailhead. Drag with two fingers, or hold a key to zoom.

Trail data: USFS, NPS, © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Elevation: USGS 3DEP via Mapzen terrain tiles. Nearby reading: Wikipedia. Download the trail and feature data.

At a glance

Length: 8.9 mi
Shape: Out & back
Gain: 2,730 ft round trip
High point: 6,652 ft
Low point: 5,334 ft
Difficulty: HardFrom 8.9 mi and 2,730 ft of climbing
Managed by: U.S. Forest Service
State: California
Camps within 15 mi: 19
Trailhead: 39.2610° N · 120.6166° W

Get directions Open the map

2.3 mi from the trailhead

North Fork (Ca)

Campground · California

5.4 mi from the trailhead

Indian Springs

Campground · California

15 mi from you

PCT - California Section L

Ends at Historic Donner Summit
Inside Tahoe National Forest
9,031 ft of climbing

41.1 mi one way · 9,031 ft gain · Very hard

Tahoe National Forest · Camp under a mile away

Mt. Judah Loop

Summits Mount Judah
1,253 ft of climbing

5.3 mi loop · 1,252 ft gain · Moderate

California · Camp 7 mi away

Hellhole

Ends at Hell Hole Reservoir
Inside Eldorado National Forest
4,971 ft of climbing

15.0 mi out & back · 4,971 ft gain · Very hard

Eldorado National Forest · Camp under a mile away

Sierra Buttes

Passes Packer Lake
Inside Tahoe National Forest
1,671 ft of climbing

5.2 mi out & back · 1,671 ft gain · Hard

Tahoe National Forest · Camp under a mile away

Mckinstry

Ends at McKinstry Lake
Inside Eldorado National Forest
6,441 ft of climbing

18.2 mi out & back · 6,441 ft gain · Very hard

Eldorado National Forest · Camp under a mile away

More like this

Hikes that read like this one, wherever they are.

Mears Meadow Ohv
- Camp 4 mi away
7.9 mi out & back · 937 ft gain · Moderate
California · Camp 4 mi away
Long Valley
- Passes Cascade Lakes
- Inside Tahoe National Forest
- 2,268 ft of climbing
9.2 mi out & back · 2,268 ft gain · Hard
Tahoe National Forest · Camp 3 mi away
Five Lakes Basin
- Passes Glacier Lake
- Inside Tahoe National Forest
- 1,786 ft of climbing
9.4 mi out & back · 1,786 ft gain · Hard
Tahoe National Forest · Camp 3 mi away
Quartz Mountain
- Ends at Chiquito Lake
- Inside Sierra National Forest
1.4 mi out & back · 280 ft gain · Easy
Sierra National Forest · Camp 8 mi away

Weather

7-day forecast

Mon59°41°Mostly Sunny
Tue65°45°Sunny
Wed65°46°Sunny
Thu60°42°Mostly Sunny
Fri53°40°Chance Light Rain
Sat50°36°Chance Light Rain
Sun40°Rain And Snow

Mon: Mostly Sunny · wind 2 to 7 mph S

National Weather Service · refreshed hourly

Signal

Cell coverage here

No carrier reports signal at this spot.

FCC coverage data · signal varies in remote terrain