The Palisade Creek trail is the backcountry option in Tahoe National Forest: the long, demanding route into a remote granite canyon that sees a fraction of the traffic that the I-80 corridor and Alpine Meadows trails attract. The trailhead near French Meadows Reservoir is 25 miles of gravel road east of Foresthill, which filters the crowd considerably. The route follows the North Fork American River drainage into a canyon draining the southern edge of the Granite Chief Wilderness, passing Long Lake and Upper Peak Lake in a high alpine basin. For overnight trips, the Palisade Creek drainage offers dispersed camping with very few other parties. For experienced day hikers, the 12.7-mile round trip is a genuine challenge. Either way, this is the trail you choose when you want California's northern Sierra Nevada without the company.
Trail Overview
The trail is 12.7 miles out-and-back with 2,585 feet of elevation gain. The trailhead sits at approximately 5,200 feet and the route climbs through a series of lake basins to a high point near 7,700 feet. The terrain is varied: forested canyon in the lower section, open granite and meadow in the upper basin. Unlike the front-loaded difficulty of Five Lakes or Sierra Buttes, this trail distributes its elevation gain more evenly, making the pacing more sustainable over a long day. Budget 8 to 10 hours for the full route as a day hike, or plan to camp near Long Lake or Upper Peak Lake.
Getting to the Trailhead
From the town of Foresthill (accessible from I-80 via the Foresthill Road exit near Auburn), take Foresthill Road east through the town. After the last houses, the road becomes Mosquito Ridge Road. Drive approximately 25 miles on Mosquito Ridge Road, which transitions from paved highway to gravel road as it climbs toward French Meadows Reservoir. The trailhead is signed near the reservoir dam. The drive from Foresthill takes approximately 1.5 hours.
The drive from Sacramento to the trailhead is about 90 miles and takes 2 to 2.5 hours depending on conditions on Mosquito Ridge Road. Call the Foresthill Ranger District at (530) 367-2224 for current road conditions before your trip.
GPS coordinates: 39.0889, -120.4672. No cell service at or near the trailhead.
The Route
Miles 0 to 2 (trailhead to lower canyon): The trail begins near the French Meadows Reservoir dam and immediately enters forested canyon terrain. The North Fork American River is audible below in the canyon. The grade is moderate and the trail follows the canyon contour through mixed conifers. This lower section can be brushy by midsummer, particularly after the first 1.5 miles.
Miles 2 to 4 (lower canyon to Cascade Lakes area): The trail gains elevation more steadily as it climbs away from the river and toward the first lakes. Cascade Lakes appear on the right at about mile 3.5. These are small, scenic tarns set in a granite basin. They are a reasonable turnaround for parties who don't want to go the full distance.
Miles 4 to 5.5 (Long Lake): Long Lake is the most accessible of the upper lakes, a long narrow lake in a broad granite basin. The camping near Long Lake is excellent: flat granite benches above the shoreline, good views, and minimal foot traffic. This is where most overnight parties stop for their first night.
Miles 5.5 to 6.35 (Upper Peak Lake and beyond): The trail continues through open granite terrain to Upper Peak Lake, which sits at approximately 7,400 feet. Beyond Upper Peak Lake, the route becomes less defined as it approaches the southern edge of the Granite Chief Wilderness. This upper section is the turnaround for the standard route.
When to Visit
July: The lower canyon is typically accessible from late June, but the upper lake basins may hold snow through early July. Mosquitoes in the forested canyon sections can be very heavy in June and early July. A head net is worth carrying.
August and early September: Prime window. The upper basins are snow-free, bugs have thinned, and the days are long enough to complete the full distance as a day hike if you start before 7 AM. This is also the best month for overnight trips.
Late September: Worth considering for solitude. The canyon and upper basins take on fall color, temperatures drop, and the few hikers who do come here will be gone. Nights are cold at elevation.
What to Bring
- Water: At least 3 liters capacity. Water is available from the creek and lakes but must be filtered. The distance and elevation gain make this a high-water-demand hike.
- Navigation: A GPS track or detailed offline map is essential. The trail can be difficult to follow in brushy sections and in the upper basin.
- Bear canister or bear bag: Black bears are present throughout the area. Overnight trips require proper food storage. See the bear canister requirements guide for current regulations.
- Overnight gear (if camping): Warm sleeping bag (temperatures can drop to near freezing even in August at 7,400 feet), tent or bivy sack, stove with California Campfire Permit.
- Insect repellent: The forested lower canyon sections are heavy with mosquitoes through July.
Practical Details
Trailhead: Near the French Meadows Reservoir dam on Mosquito Ridge Road, approximately 25 miles east of Foresthill. Small gravel pullout. No vault toilet. Free.
Parking: About 15 vehicles. Rarely fills.
Dogs: Permitted on-leash. The length and terrain are demanding for dogs; carry adequate water for your animal and be prepared for the long day.
Permits: None required. Free California Campfire Permit required for stove use in the backcountry.
Cell Service: None from Foresthill onward. Plan accordingly.
Getting There
From Sacramento, take I-80 east to the Foresthill Road exit near Auburn. Drive Foresthill Road east through the town of Foresthill, then continue on Mosquito Ridge Road approximately 25 miles to the trailhead near French Meadows Reservoir. Total distance from Sacramento: approximately 90 miles, 2 to 2.5 hours.
From Truckee, this trailhead involves a significant drive: roughly 65 miles and 2 hours via Highway 89 south and then Mosquito Ridge Road. The I-80 corridor trailheads are far more convenient from Truckee.
Beyond Palisade Creek
From the upper basin near Upper Peak Lake, use trails and off-route travel can connect to the southern edge of the Granite Chief Wilderness and eventually to the PCT. This is advanced backcountry navigation territory requiring map and compass skills or reliable GPS.
For a dramatically different experience in the same general section of Tahoe National Forest, the Five Lakes trail approaches the Granite Chief Wilderness from the opposite (north) side via Alpine Meadows Road. Comparing the two approaches illustrates the range of the wilderness: the Five Lakes side feels polished and accessible; the Palisade Creek side feels remote and earned. The Leave No Trace principles matter doubly in low-traffic areas like this, where user impacts take longer to repair without the natural recovery from heavy foot traffic.