Trail Overview

From the junction of FS 16N86, this route takes off to the right and begins climbing a rocky dirt road past some impressively large cedar trees. The road climbs at a steady grade up the hill. After navigating a couple of rock gardens, you quickly arrive at a spacious parking area surrounded by large granite boulders. This spot offers a beautiful view of Crystal Bay in Lake Tahoe and serves as a lovely location for a picnic—worth the short drive just to see the view and the large cedars.

Photos of Red Cedar Overlook - FS 16N57

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Difficulty

The trail sits primarily at the upper end of a Level 2 rating due to the steady rocky climb. However, it does feature a small section of a Level 3-sized rock garden, meaning lower-clearance AWD vehicles (like a Subaru) might find it a little "scrapey" and should proceed with caution.

Technical Rating

Armando Marin

Sep 03, 2026

Open

NormalDusty

Definitely need a high clearance vehicle and 4x4. There’s a section right before the look out with 12-15” rocks. I would rate the trail a moderate trail due to the rocks.