June 21, 2022

California – Challenging Rifle Peak Hike to Views of Lake Tahoe


Okay, this hike was kind of ridiculous. My partner even called the trail dumb for how relentlessly steep it was without switchbacks. However, all the frustration and anger melted away when we got above the treeline and started to enjoy the spectacular views and lack of other people on or around Rifle Peak. At the top, we looked over the North Shore and all of Lake Tahoe with snow patches nearby and Rifle Peak to ourselves. This hike is doable because it’s less than two miles to the top. But two miles of intense climbing is not fun, so I wouldn’t recommend it to everyone. Please read this post carefully before taking on this beast of a trail to Rifle Peak!

Note: Looking on a map, the actual Rifle Peak is slightly northwest of the rockpile peak featured in this post. However, when doing research, most trails and even the Tahoe Tribune call this the Rifle Peak Trail. For simplicity, I will refer to the prominent rock pile as Rifle Peak.

Secondary Note: For an easier alternative, check out my blog post about the Monkey Rock Hike, which also provides incredible uninterrupted views of the North Shore while being a manageable climb.

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Rifle Peak Hike: The Trailhead to the End of the Trees

When researching hikes in Lake Tahoe, I wanted something a little more challenging and was drawn to the views above Incline Village and the lack of trail traffic. We arrived at the trailhead at 10:20 am, late by Lake Tahoe standards in summer, but no other car was around. Although I wasn’t aware of it at the time, this was a clue to how hard it would be! We started on a dirt forest road with a climb to a water tower, where the road ended and a more typical trail began.

After the water tower, we lost the trail (pay close attention to Alltrails at this juncture!!). After a steep sandy ascent, we reunited with the trail and took a sunscreen break. I was already sweating with no idea what was in store: the most ridiculous calf-burning climb through the trees. There are small curves in the trail but no proper switchbacks as you make your way up and up and up. It’s an absolute slog.

Within the climb, there are different segments to visually break things up – a dense section of trees with softer dirt, an exposed sandy section, and mini meadow-like openings with lupine. Through the trees, we could see the vibrant blue of Lake Tahoe. While pretty, during one of these sections when my partner commented on how dumb this trail was. Luckily, we kept going.

At a Glance:

  • Rating: 3 (out of 4) stars; while the views were spectacular, I’m not sure I would do this again… at least anytime soon.
  • Intensity: Hiking Clothes, Hiking Shoes
  • Location: On the north shore, in the hills above Incline Village.
  • Cost: Free!
  • Restrooms: None
  • Timing: 3 – 5 hours
  • Distance: 3.7 miles roundtrip
  • Elevation Gain: 1,860 ft — STEEP for this distance, which is why this trail is challenging

Highlights:

  • The views were phenomenal throughout the route.
  • Exploring the ridge above Incline Village and the Tahoe Rim Trail.
  • Absolutely no one else on the trail (probably because it’s so hard) – we saw three people, each from a distance.
  • The saving grace of this trail is knowing that it’s less than 2-miles to the top.

Lowlights:

  • “Aggressively steep” is how one reviewer described the hike on AllTrails.
  • We lost the trail twice in the first section, after the water tower, which is funny because the path is clear as day when you are coming down. From below, it is not as clear. Have your map handy and know there are no sweeping switchbacks on this trail – just small ones.
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End of the Trees to Rifle Peak

Eventually, you’ll reach a point where the topography lines on the Alltrails Map spread out, and the incline is reduced. This is also when the trees begin to thin, and the views open up with low shrubs. My partner and I became much more positive with the sights and ability to see the dark brown rocky pile that designated Rifle Peak. Okay, we can do this! However, I wouldn’t say it got “easy.” Between the high elevation and the work it took to get to the treeline, my legs still felt the burn. Also, the incline never entirely goes away; it’s just lessened.

We felt a lot better to see our progress as we climbed vertically for a bit, then traversed the hillside below Rifle Peak before heading up on the left side (when looking at the peak). The traverse section of the trail was stunning, with uninterrupted views of Lake Tahoe, the flattest part of the trail and is also part of the Tahoe Rim Trail.

After going under Rifle Peak, we began our final ascent to the peak. It was incredibly steep, with rocky, loose rocks underfoot at first and then a final scramble on bigger rocks. I had to take my time through this section because we were at 9,400 ft, and it was easy to lose my breath. While you catch your breath, check out the vibrant orange and yellow lichen on the dark rocks – very cool!

Rifle Peak – Not Totally What I Expected, But Very Cool

From below, Rifle Peak looks like a giant rock pile in a pyramid shape, where I would expect the rocks to trail off behind the central peak. And even as you climb it, it feels large with boulders to do a little light scrambling on. However, when I reached the top, I was surprised to see that the peak was relatively narrow. It was only one or two boulder-width wide and a drop-off. While not what I expected, I was euphoric to make it to the top and take in the views.

From the top of Rifle Peak, all of Lake Tahoe is presented in front of you… or at least as far as you can see. The lake is so large that we cannot see the South Lake Tahoe zone clearly, but we can see the snow on the mountains beyond. With the Crystal Bay Peninsula, the lake looks like the top of an upside-down heart. Wow, what a view! While it’s not so different from the perspective you got while climbing, the sense of accomplishment of making it to the top makes it much better.

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Snow, Making a Loop, and Heading Down

Instead of taking the same trail down, you can make a small loop at the top of this trail! We wanted to check out a lingering snow drift on the peak’s north side. From there, we had to see what was beyond the northern ridge. It was a view toward the reservoirs in the Truckee area – crazy to see it from this perspective. Since we were already north of the peak, we found the trail to make our way back to the main trail traversing the hillside (the Tahoe Rim Trail). The route is incredibly steep and somewhat slippery through some pine trees, and I’m glad that we made the loop in a clockwise manner.

Heading downhill felt super fast. I was super worried we would be slipping on the entire descent, and while we had to move more slowly in some sections, we made it down without any accidents. While it wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be, I was still sweating nearly the entire time. The trail was WAY easier to see on the way down, and we never lost it. Before long, we were back at the water tower and finally back at the car.

Rehydrating at Raleys, Taking a Dip in Lake Tahoe

Back at the trailhead, we were sweaty, dusty, and eager for a drink of something cold, so we headed back through the quaint neighborhood to Raley’s. The Raley’s grocery store in Incline Village is absurdly massive. It’s gotta be the size of two grocery stores in one, and at that moment, we were lucky to find any chilled drinks and snacks that our hearts desired. Rehydration was on the way!

After recovering and beginning our drive back to South Lake Tahoe, we opted to stop and take a dip in Lake Tahoe. We didn’t want to pay for parking, so we pulled over at the new Memorial Scenic Overlook. There are signs everywhere that allow only 10 or 15 minutes of parking. That’s all we needed as we scrambled to the water and slipped in. In late June, the water was EVEN COLDER than usual, and it took my breath away. I could only handle about 10 seconds submerged to my neck and quickly got out to towel-change. But afterward, my body felt amazing. It was like an ice bath, which likely helped my recovery speed.

Speaking of recovery, I was surprisingly not sore after this hike. The shorter 4-mile length, rehydration, and lake dip really helped! However, I was ready for a relaxing beach day the next day at Sand Harbor.

Rifle Peak Hike: What to Bring and Wear

While this is a shorter hike, I always bring a few items on the trail to ensure my comfort and safety. Check out my list of what to bring:

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Getting to the Trailhead

The trailhead for Rifle Peak is up the hill in Incline Village, and I used the Alltrails Directions to navigate there on Google maps. The trailhead is between 1012 and 1026 Marlene Street, Incline Village, Nevada. There is no straightforward way to get there, but I was stoked to see a different Lake Tahoe neighborhood and cabins. And any elevation that you can knock out in the car is fantastic. We parked on the street and tried not to be near any particular home. The trailhead starts as a dirt road with green fencing, which is easy to walk around.

Other Things to do at Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe is a loved and familiar destination for my family and me. Here are other activities that I’ve done and written about in the area over the years:

Overall Thoughts: Rifle Peak Hike

My partner and I agreed to wait until after the hike to make our final judgments about this trail. It helped that the endorphins kicked in, and by the end, we had a favorable view of the trail. While challenging, we marveled that we never passed anyone on the trail. We saw a couple of people in the distance, but we never crossed paths for whatever reason. Lake Tahoe has become increasingly busy in the summer, so this felt like a breath of fresh air. The views were phenomenal, and we loved the trail’s top half, with low shrubs and open space. In late June, it’s still early season for Lake Tahoe, and I bet it will be even greener in a few more weeks!

Our final favorable judgment, but with some reservations. Because it was so challenging, you must be mentally ready to take on this type of trail, rested, prepared, and eager to escape crowds. I wouldn’t recommend this for the casual hiker, but for someone looking for something more challenging. If you’re looking for something a little easier, check out the nearby Monkey Rock Hike for insane views at a much shorter distance.

I’m always looking for more hikes to do around Lake Tahoe. Do you recommend any other hikes for me to check out? Let me know in the comments!

Happy Travels,

Hanna

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Filed Under: California, Hikey Climby, Nevada

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