Near: Tahoe City
Trip Type: Hike
Distance: 10 miles
Elevation: 7,000 to 8,700 feet
Vegetation: Pine forest
Martis Peak fire lookout is an easily accessable spot for fine veiws of Lake Tahoe. In late summer, a narrow but paved road gives access to a trailhead less than a mile from the lookout. So you can pop out for a quick view, or use it as an appetizer for a full day-hike further up the Tahoe Rim Trail to Mt. Baldy to the east. In the winter, the road should provide a nice ski route up the the lookout.
When we visited after a bomber snow year in 2017 there was still lots of snow over 6,000 feet in early June, keeping the road closed for a few more weeks. So we took the Tahoe Rim Trail, which parallels the Martis Peak road up from Brockaway Summit on CA267. We were hoping the south-facing aspect of the trail would have sped the snow melt enough that we'd only have to spend a litte bit of time playing find-the-trail. Alas, the snow remained quite deep on all aspects above 7,500 feet and we ended up getting shunted off the TRT onto a more easily followed fire trail. We made it, but I would suggest following the Martis Peak Road when trail isn't appparent because even our fire road petered out near the summit. Also note that at just 1 mile east of Brockaway Summit, a spur trail leads to a great lookout spot over lake. At about 500 feet of climb this spot would make for great easy hike for small kids or a group without a whole afternoon to spare.
Trailhead
Brockaway Summit on CA 267. Just over the pass as you come south from Truckee past Northstar at Tahoe ski area.
Rules and Permits
This hike is in the Tahoe National Forest. Dogs are OK off-leash if under voice control. No permits required for day hikes or dispersed camping away from trails and water sources. Campfire permit required for operation of a camping stove.Route
The Tahoe Rim Trail winds up to Martis Peak on the southern side of a lumpy wooded ridge. The trail should be easy to follow in summer, but note there are some dirt roads and smaller trails crossing the TRT here that aren't on some maps. We accidentally took one of these trails to a dirt road, that we were able to easily follow through the snow most of the way to the summit before it too became obscure. From there we just marched straight up hill until we found the junction between the TRT and Martis Peak Road a half mile south of the lookout. Not wanting to take our roundabout way back or mess about with searching for the TRT again, we returned via the Martis Peak Raod until we dropped low enough that the trail started to emerge from the snow again.
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| At about 1 mile in, a shot spur climbs to this veiwpoint on a local high point. |
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| Several feet of snow obscure the trail above 7,500 feet, even on south facing slopes. |
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| The Fire Lookout sits just below and to the east of the peak with an unobstructed view of Lake Tahoe. |
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