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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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Sierra Buttes Fire Lookout

Hike

Sierra Buttes

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

5.2 mi out & back · 1,671 ft gain · 7,938 ft high point · Hard

Via Tamarack Lake (0.9 mi)

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

About Elevation Highlights Map Camp near here More hikes

About this hike

Sierra Buttes ascends 1,671 feet via Tamarack Lake, reaching a high point of 7,938 feet in Tahoe National Forest.

Elevation

1,671 ft of gain round trip.

Camp near here

The closest places to sleep, measured from the trailhead.

See all on the map

0.3 mi from the trailhead
Packsaddle
Campground · California

More hikes nearby

Ranked the same way, within twenty-five miles.

17 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: 1,670 ft up, returns the same way. Source: USGS 3DEP.

Highlights

What the trail reaches, measured from the start.

Packer LakeAlong the way · 0.0 mi in
Saxonia LakeNearby · 0.1 mi in
Sierra ButtesNearby · 2.6 mi in

Nearby reading

Sierra Buttes

Map

The hike from its start, the approach dashed. 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. Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors, licensed as shown on each photo. Download the trail and feature data.

At a glance

Length: 5.2 mi
Shape: Out & back
Gain: 1,671 ft round trip
High point: 7,938 ft
Low point: 6,267 ft
Difficulty: HardFrom 5.2 mi and 1,671 ft of climbing
Managed by: U.S. Forest Service
State: California
Camps within 15 mi: 23
Trailhead: 39.6218° N · 120.6531° W

Get directions Open the map

0.6 mi from the trailhead

Berger

Campground · California

1.1 mi from the trailhead

Diablo

Campground · California

16 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

Jamison Creek Trail

Ends at a waterfall
Inside Plumas National Forest
3,396 ft of climbing

14.2 mi out & back · 3,396 ft gain · Very hard

Plumas National Forest · Camp 2 mi away

Mount Washington Trail

Summits Mount Washington
Inside Plumas National Forest
2,879 ft of climbing

12.0 mi out & back · 2,879 ft gain · Very hard

Plumas National Forest · Camp 2 mi away

Jamison Lake Trail

Ends at Jamison Lake
Inside Plumas National Forest
3,431 ft of climbing

13.4 mi out & back · 3,431 ft gain · Very hard

Plumas National Forest · Camp 2 mi away

Lakeshore Trail

Ends at Little Grass Valley Reservoir
Inside Plumas National Forest
1,425 ft of climbing

14.3 mi one way · 1,424 ft gain · Hard

Plumas National Forest · Camp 2 mi away

More like this

Hikes that read like this one, wherever they are.

Tamarack Connection
- Passes Packer Lake
- Inside Tahoe National Forest
- 1,957 ft of climbing
7.6 mi out & back · 1,957 ft gain · Hard
Tahoe National Forest · Camp under a mile away
Beyers Lake
- Passes Baltimore Lake
- Inside Tahoe National Forest
- 4,131 ft of climbing
17.5 mi out & back · 4,131 ft gain · Very hard
Tahoe National Forest · Camp 3 mi away
Italian Bar
- Inside Tahoe National Forest
- 2,910 ft of climbing
- Camp 5 mi away
4.5 mi out & back · 2,910 ft gain · Very hard
Tahoe National Forest · Camp 5 mi away
Volcanic Knob
- Passes Twin Falls
- Inside Sierra National Forest
- 5,284 ft of climbing
21.1 mi out & back · 5,284 ft gain · Very hard
Sierra National Forest · Camp 2 mi away

Weather

7-day forecast

Wed52°29°Widespread Frost
Thu55°30°Widespread Frost
Fri59°34°Sunny
Sat62°36°Sunny
Sun60°37°Mostly Sunny
Mon56°35°Mostly Sunny
Tue57°Sunny

Wed: Widespread Frost then Sunny · wind 2 to 7 mph NNE

National Weather Service · refreshed hourly

Signal

Cell coverage here

No carrier reports signal at this spot.

FCC coverage data · signal varies in remote terrain