Martis Lookout
Martis Lookout has a terrific and is very popular with the locals. The trail and Martis Lookout offer inspiring views of Truckee and the Truckee River Valley, Mount Rose, and Lake Tahoe. On a clear day you can see Mother Earth’s broad shoulders along the crest of the Sierra Nevada.
The marked trail follows the narrow but paved access road to the summer season lookout.
...openings created by logging allow enthusiasts to fan out across the broad ridge and ski or snowshoe through the trees.
DESCRIPTION:
Once you break out of the headwaters of Martis Creek above Brockway Summit, the broad, mostly forested divide that forms the northern rim of the Lake Tahoe Basin will lead you up to the lookout. The marked trail follows the narrow but paved access road to the summer season lookout. It is steep enough that skiers returning downhill will need to have sufficient experience to make the turns on the curvy road. The timbered drainages to either side have much steeper side-slopes, but openings created by logging allow enthusiasts to fan out across the broad ridge and ski or snowshoe through the trees.
| Parking Elevation: | 7000 feet | Base Elevation: | 7000 feet | Summit Elevation: | 8742 feet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Description | Beyond Martis Peak the elevations increase as you approach Mt Rose. |
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| Snowfall | 0 inches | Season | 7000’-8742’ Late November through late April | ||
| Parking: | Not plowed | Skiable Area | 200 acres | Groomed | No | Terain Park | No |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snowmaking | |||||||
| Runs | Beginner | 0% | Intermediate | 0% | Expert | 0% | |
| Lifts | 0 | Types | |||||
| Contact(s) | Tahoe National Forest: 530-265-4531 |
|---|---|
| Website(s) |
DIRECTIONS:
To Martis Lookout
Drive Highway 267 south out of Truckee. The trailhead is about 0.25 miles before cresting out at Brockway Summit that then drops you into the Lake Tahoe Basin and Kings Beach, which is less than 3 miles away. The road is paved but is not currently signed. There is no regularly plowed parking area at the road intersection.
Topographic Map: East Slope -Winter Recreation or U.S.G. S. Martis Peak
ACTIVITIES:
Nordic Cross-country Skiing (Rating: Good)
Although the route is unmarked, it follows the Martis Lookout Road and the Lake Tahoe rim up a moderate climb from Brockway Summit to the lookout. There are several minor roads that take off to the side. In short, follow the main road and the ridge uphill and unless you are the first one after fresh snow, follow the tracks. This is a popular area for skiers, snowshoers, and snowmobilers alike. From the lookout views open to Lake Tahoe, the Sierra Crest, the Truckee Valley and the snow covered hulk of Mount Rose only a few miles to the east.
The nearby Lake Tahoe Rim Trail and other logging roads offer even more opportunities for playing after a picnic lunch on top of Martis. A current topographic map will show you many of the options.
Mileage: 4 miles to the lookout. Optional roads could add 2-4 additional miles on your return.
Snowmobiling (Rating: Good)
Opportunities are limited to logging roads which continue east past the lookout. Experience riders can follow the ridgetop to the southern flanks of Mt Rose.
Snowshoeing (Rating: Good)
Although the route is unmarked, it follows the Martis Lookout Road and the Lake Tahoe rim up a moderate climb from Brockway Summit to the lookout. There are several minor roads that take off to the side. In short, follow the main road and the ridge uphill and unless you are the first one after fresh snow, follow the tracks. This is a popular area for skiers, snowshoers, and snowmobilers alike. From the lookout views open to Lake Tahoe, the Sierra Crest, the Truckee Valley and the snow covered hulk of Mount Rose only a few miles to the east.
The nearby Lake Tahoe Rim Trail and other logging roads offer even more opportunities for playing after a picnic lunch on top of Martis. A current topographic map will show you many of the options.
Mileage: 4 miles to the lookout. Optional roads could add 2-4 additional miles on your return.
