Tahoe National Forest

Mileage: 6 to the Pacific Crest Trail
Elevation: 5,800-7,600 feet
Difficulty: Difficult
Use Level: Very light
Season: June-September
Topographic Map: Granite Chief, Tahoe City
Access: 90 percent of this trail is on private land. There is no parking available in the vicinity of "The Cedars" or the trailhead. The trail can only be used if hikers are dropped off at the trailhead. Take the Soda Springs/Norden exit off Interstate 80. Drive east on Old Highway 40 for 0.8 miles. Turn south on Soda Springs Road and follow it past Ice Lakes (also known as Serene Lakes) to where the pavement ends. Follow the unpaved road south 4.1 miles to where it forks. Take the left fork, which crosses Onion Creek and passes some homes in The Cedars. The road makes a 90-degree bend 2.5 miles past the fork. There is a private road that joins the main road at this bend. This is the actual trailhead. As indicated, there is no parking permitted in this area.

Trail Description: Follow the private road for 1.5 miles to Old Soda Springs (it will cross a bridge along the way). The trail passes some homes and gently ascends through some old ponderosa pines and incense cedars. Approximately 2 miles past Old Soda Springs, the trail crosses the North Fork of the American River. Caution needs to be exercised when crossing the river during high water. For the next mile, the trail stays fairly flat, passing an area of old aspen trees. From here the trail climbs toward the Sierra Crest. At the crest the trail joins the Pacific Crest Trail. Possible destinations that can be reached by following the Pacific Crest trail or some of the spur trails in the area include Squaw Valley, Alpine Meadows, Coldstream Valley and Highway 40. Mountain Meadow Lake is on private land. There is no public right-of-way to this lake.

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