Round Top from Carson Pass

Near: Carson Pass
Distance: 8.6 Miles
Elevation: 8,500 to 10,400 ft
Vegetation: Mostly shrub
Last Visit: September 2020

 Round Top seems like a good name for this mountain from a distance, but on the steep scramble to the summit it reminded me of nothing so much as what a laugh the Vikings must have had when they named Greenland.  The last few hundred feet of climb require sturdy legs and tolerance for a bit of loose scree now and then, but mostly its a fun and easy scramble that should be fine for any healthy mid-sized dog and fit person without any vertigo issues.  The view from the summit (and along the way) is outstanding, even if you happen to be out on a smoky September day as we were, making the hike feel a bit like a walk into Mordor.  I'd rate the view from Round Top above any other in the Tahoe area except the most prominent summits in the Desolation Wilderness.  While the last bit on the unofficial summit trail is quite steep, the rest of the approach from Carson pass is light and easy.  Round Top may be the easiest hard peak in the Sierra, if that makes sense.

Rules

This hike is in the Carson Pass Management Area of the Eldorado National Forest.  Camping is allowed only in designated ares with a permit. Dogs are allowed off leash in most of the Eldorado Forest, but they must be leashed withing the CPMA.

Trailhead

Two large parking areas on CA-88 just west of Carson Pass.   Day use fee required, bring small bills.  November to March a SNO PARK permit is required.  Pit toilets available. 

Route Notes

Follow the PCT south to Frog Lake, then take a right at the signed intersection just south of the lake past Winnemucca Lake to Round Top Lake.  From Round Top Lake, the trail is unofficial and unsigned but not hard to follow.  Turn left at the intersection with with the trail from Woods Lake and follow the use trail along the east side of Round Top Lake, then up a steep climb that stays just north and east of the small stream draining into the east side of the lake. The trail is very steep but not otherwise challenging up to the saddle between Round Top to the east and The Sisters to the west.  Excellent views can be had to both the north and south here.  To summit Round Top turn east here and stay to the left (north) of the main ridge as you hit the first large rocky outcrop.  There is a trial to the right that can be followed to the top, but it passes through an unpleasant chute filled with loose scree.  The trail to the left crosses much more solid ground.  The final climb is a very light scramble that was definitely approaching the limit of what our 12 year old whipped is up for, but he navigated it fine in the end without the need for any lifts.

 

CalTopo Map: https://caltopo.com/m/5NRM

Photos

 

Round top from the trial, just after leaving the PCT.

 

Winnemucca Lake

 

Looking back towards Winnemucca Lake from the trail just below Round Top Lake.  Smoke from the Creek Fire of 2020 to the south was high in the atmosphere making this hike one of the most weirdly orange hikes I'd ever been on.  A few days later the San Francisco Bay Area had it's infamous day of orange twilight and the light on this hike no longer seemed very remarkable in retrospect...

 

Round Top Lake

 

Presto gets a last water break before the final climb

A tenacious snowfield on the north side of The Sisters.  A few folks were getting in their September ski runs on this tine patch, hiking up all the way with their skis.  I suspect they are in the small group of skiers that attempt to get in at least one ski run every month of the year.

Looking south from into the Summit City Creek canyon from the saddle between Round Top and The Sisters.

Looking up towards Round Top from the saddle.  Stay left here!

Climbing the solid rock of the final stretch. It's steep, but there are plenty of natural steps in the rock and the climb is not challenging as long as you don't have any vertigo issues.

Winnemucca lake from the west end of the summit ridge.

Looking northwest over Caples Lake, with the high summits of the Desolation Wilderness on the horizon.  That hazy bowl behind Presto is actually the Lake Tahoe Basin. I'm pretty sure it's visible on a day when there isn't a layer  of wildfire smoke settled over the lake.