Hiking Project Logo

An adventurous hike with easy access from downtown Truckee.


Your Rating: Rating Rating Rating Rating Rating      Clear Rating
Your Difficulty:
Your Favorites: Add To-Do · Your List
Zoom in to see details
Map Key

8.5

Miles

13.6

KM

Point to Point

6,477' 1,974 m

High

6,192' 1,887 m

Low

608' 185 m

Up

525' 160 m

Down

3%

Avg Grade (1°)

10%

Max Grade (6°)

Dogs Unknown

The FS06 road is closed in winter; the trails are good before the road opens in the spring.

Description

Sawtooth is a great trail with easy access from downtown Truckee. The route listed here is the 'standard' Sawtooth route, but there are many different variations available. There is little vertical gain/loss on this trail, but has an abundance of rocks.

Access to the Sawtooth trail system is from the FS06 fire road off of Thelin Dr. in Sierra Meadows neighborhood. Park in the pullout on the right hand side of the road. There is signage for the start of the trail.

0-1.08: Start out on flat singletrack, cross a fire road at .25. The section after the fire road is one of the more rocky sections which ends in a beautiful overlook of Hwy 89, Squaw Valley, and Castle Peak.
1.08-1.97: The terrain starts to gently undulate after the overlook and comes to an intersection at 1.97; go right at the signed intersection.
1.97-3.37: A short and rocky downhill leads to more gently rolling terrain. There is a three-way split at 3.37, the right leads to another overlook of Hwy 89 and Squaw Valley, the left continues on the Sawtooth and makes the only seasonal stream crossing.
3.37-4.74: More gently rolling terrain takes you to the southernmost part of the Sawtooth at a well signed crossing of the FS06 road.
4.74-5.98: The 'backside' of the Sawtooth is more smooth and less rocky than the 'frontside'. From the intersection with the FS06 road avoid the left turn that follows the powerline. This section winds through the woods and continues over a fire road. There is a 4-way singletrack intersection at 5.98; continue straight for Sawtooth, or go right to the "2 Beavers and a Bear" and "2 Bridges" trails.

Contacts

Shared By:

Thomas Page

Trail Ratings

  3.9 from 9 votes

#3

in Truckee

#11392

Overall
  3.9 from 9 votes
5 Star
22%
4 Star
44%
3 Star
33%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Trail Rankings

#3

in Truckee

#1,091

in California

#11,392

Overall
3 Views Last Month
2,064 Since Aug 10, 2017
Intermediate Intermediate

14%
14%
71%
0%
0%
0%

Photos

View of HWY 89
Aug 27, 2018 near Truckee, CA

0 Comments

Weather


Current Trail Conditions

Unknown
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Sep 27, 2022
Marina Torras
Jul 13, 2019
Michael Jacobs
10mi
Jun 17, 2018
Collin Turk
2.2mi
Jun 10, 2018
Olga Fedorova
11.1mi
Jun 3, 2018
Michael M
11.5mi
May 27, 2018
Bigmotel Daddy
This trail is NOT 8.5 miles. It is 11.4 miles from the lower parking lot at The Lin 11.3mi
May 14, 2018
J D
Welcome

Join the Community! It's FREE

Already have an account? Login to close this notice.