Trail Overview

This trail starts across from Packer Lake. There is a staging area at the bottom if you need to trailer your rig. The trail heads up to Tamarack Lakes. The two lakes are almost the same size and crowds at each are about the same. Once you pass the first lake going in stay to the right to head up to the second upper lake. The PCT crosses and follows this trail for a short bit. You can do this trail in most rigs, however if you have a big camper this may create an issue.

Photos of Tamarack Lakes 12E33

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Difficulty

There are a couple of spots where the trail gets steeper and can get washed out. For the most part, you can take most 4x4s all the way up.

Technical Rating

Jacob Gale

Jun 22, 2026

Open

DustyRough/Deteriorated

This trail is more like a 4-5 it’s very tight with lots of loose rock and some large boulders and 6”+ rock steps. Stock 4x4 are fine there was a stock Taco at the top when I was there.

Alec Bell

Sep 29, 2025

2012 KTM 350F

Open

Xander Loomis

May 29, 2025

1995 Ford Ranger

Obstructed

Deep Snow

About 3 quarters of the way up, there was a good chunk of snow over the road that I probably would’ve gotten stuck in so I had to turn around. Otherwise my stock ranger on 31s with a leveling kit went up just fine until that point.

Berts Shaye

Sep 01, 2024

Open

Normal

Large rocks, turned around half way to the lake. Took my 100 Series Land Cruiser with 33’s, used 4LO.