Sunflower Hill
Peak · 7,011 ft · Lake Tahoe corridor
Sunflower Hill is a 7011-foot peak in the Lake Tahoe Sierra corridor, lightly trafficked and exposed to afternoon wind funnel effects off the lake. Best visited early morning before conditions turn.
Wind averages 6 mph but routinely spikes to 16 mph by mid-afternoon as thermal patterns develop off the lake basin. Morning calm typically holds until late morning. Avalanche terrain requires winter snowpack assessment.
Over the last 30 days, Sunflower Hill averaged a NoGo Score of 41.0 with wind at 6 mph and temperatures near 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Conditions have ranged from calm (score 4.0) to windy (score 65.0). The week ahead will test whether thermal wind timing holds to pattern or arrives earlier as temperatures warm.
30 days back / 7 days forward
Today's score by factor
About Sunflower Hill
Sunflower Hill sits at 7011 feet on the eastern rim of the Lake Tahoe corridor in California's Sierra Nevada. Access is via Highway 50 from the west or Highway 89 from the south; gateway towns include South Lake Tahoe and Stateline, Nevada. The peak is a secondary summit in a lightly-visited drainage and carries low baseline foot traffic compared to nearby Heavenly or Echo Lake area routes. Winter approach involves avalanche terrain; consult the Sacramento Avalanche Center before travel during snowpack buildup or rapid warming.
Temperatures at 7011 feet average 40 degrees Fahrenheit across the rolling 30-day window and range from lows near 26 degrees in winter to highs near 55 degrees in late summer. Wind averages 6 mph but regularly gusts to 16 mph, especially in afternoon hours when thermal circulation off the lake intensifies. Crowding remains minimal (average 1.0 on the rolling metric) year-round, reflecting the peak's low profile relative to Highway 50 corridor attractions. Late September and early October offer the most stable conditions: lower wind variance, cooler temperatures that suppress afternoon thermals, and post-summer visitation decline.
Sunflower Hill suits backcountry skiers, summer ridge walkers, and peak baggers comfortable with minimal trail infrastructure and exposure to wind-driven weather transitions. Experienced visitors plan around mid-afternoon wind onset; morning departures yield calm-weather windows. Winter travel demands avalanche competency and real-time stability assessment; the peak's northeast and east-facing aspects shed load rapidly in spring thaw. Parking near trailheads fills rarely; approach timing is driven by weather windows, not lot capacity.
The Tahoe corridor contains dozens of similar-elevation peaks within 10 to 30 miles. Nearby alternatives include peaks accessed from Highway 89 and the Mokelumne Wilderness boundary, each with comparable avalanche terrain and thermal wind patterns. Sunflower Hill's low popularity makes it an alternative to crowded Heavenly-area summits for skiers and hikers seeking solitude and earlier-season stability, though it trades foot traffic for exposure to funnel winds that accelerate mid-day.