Mileage: 5.0 miles one way
Elevation: 6040 to 4500 feet
Difficulty: Difficult
Use Level: Very light
Season: June-October
Topographic Map: Wentworth Springs

Access: The Hellhole trail is located within the Granite Chief Wilderness boundary. The trail can be accessed using the Powderhorn trail from Barker Pass. Below are directions to the Powderhorn trailhead.

From Interstate 80 in Truckee, take Highway 89S and drive to Tahoe City. Continue south on 89 from Tahoe City for another 4.2 miles to Caspian Picnic Area. Turn west on Blackwood Canyon Road. The road follows Blackwood creek for 2.3 miles, crosses the creek and then climbs 4.8 miles to Barker Pass. Pavement ends at the summit. The Powderhorn trailhead is 2.3 miles down the road from where the pavement ends.

Trail Description: This is an ideal trail for hikers who seek a challenging trek in a very remote wilderness setting. To access this trail, take the Powderhorn trail (4.0 miles) to Diamond Crossing. From Diamond Crossing, the Hellhole Trail heads west and soon crosses Five Lakes Creek (high water may make crossing Difficult). The next 1.7 miles descend through open forests to Little Buckskin and Buckskin Creeks. Beyond the creeks, the trail passes signs for Steamboat Mountain and Greyhorse Valley. In another mile, the trail crosses Steamboat Canyon and proceeds toward Rubicon River. Due to a landslide which is located about .5 miles down the trail from Steamboat Canyon, caution should be exercised on this part of the trail.