Little Round Top
Peak · 9,593 ft · Lake Tahoe corridor
Little Round Top is a 9593-foot peak in the Lake Tahoe corridor's high Sierra. Typically calmer than the exposed ridges to its west, it sits near the drainage divide between Tahoe and the Carson Range.
Wind funnels up the eastern slope by mid-afternoon, averaging 8 mph over the past month but capable of gusting to 29 mph. Morning approach offers the steadiest conditions. Snowpack persists through spring; avalanche terrain dominates the north and east faces.
Over the past 30 days, the 30-day average wind was 8 mph with temperatures averaging 30 degrees Fahrenheit, typical for spring at elevation. The week ahead will show whether afternoon wind spikes above that average or holds stable. Watch the trend chart for wind surges tied to low-pressure systems moving inland from the Pacific.
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About Little Round Top
Little Round Top sits at 9593 feet on a high crest between the Carson Range and the Tahoe basin proper. Access is primarily via Highway 50 from the west (Sacramento) or Highway 395 from the south (Reno); both routes converge near South Lake Tahoe and branch to trailheads in the Marlette Lake area. The peak itself is reached by hiking and scrambling from the east side of the Sierra crest. The approach crosses avalanche terrain and remains snow-covered well into spring; check the Sacramento Avalanche Center forecast before any trip.
Little Round Top experiences a classic high-Sierra spring-into-summer pattern. The 30-day rolling temperature averages 30 degrees Fahrenheit; the 365-day record shows a low of 18 degrees and a high of 46 degrees. Wind is moderate on average at 8 mph, but the rolling 30-day maximum reached 29 mph. Mornings are calmer; afternoon thermals and funneling from the lake basin push wind upslope by late morning. Crowds are negligible (rolling 30-day average of 2 on a 10-point scale), reflecting both the peak's remoteness and the technical nature of the approach. Snow and rockfall are the dominant seasonal concerns; stable snowpack melts by mid-June in typical years.
Little Round Top suits experienced mountaineers and snow climbers comfortable with avalanche terrain and rock scrambling. Spring ascents require an avalanche transceiver, probe, and shovel. The rolling 30-day NoGo Score averaged 42, indicating mixed conditions; scores ranged from a low of 5 (good) to a high of 65 (marginal). Plan for wind, unpredictable snowpack stability, and rapid weather changes at elevation. Cell service is unreliable. Solo travel is not recommended during snowmelt.
Nearby alternatives include Monument Peak (9314 feet, slightly lower and more straightforward) and the gentler ridgewalks of the Marlette Lake plateau. The Lake Tahoe corridor between Highway 50 and Highway 395 offers dozens of high-elevation targets; Little Round Top is among the most technical. For those seeking calmer, lower-elevation options, the western shore of Tahoe itself is typically less windy in the lee of the Sierra crest.