Graveyard Hill
Peak · 4,737 ft · North Sierra corridor
Graveyard Hill is a 4,737-foot peak in California's North Sierra corridor, sitting in moderate avalanche terrain. Wind and exposure define its character more than elevation alone.
Wind funnels upslope by mid-afternoon on most days; the 30-day average wind is 7 mph, but gusts reach 14 mph. Morning calm is reliable before 10 a.m. Snowpack lingers into late spring, and cornices and cross-loaded slopes above 4,500 feet demand careful reading. Crowds stay light even on weekends.
Over the last 30 days, Graveyard Hill averaged a NoGo Score of 35 (moderate), with temperatures around 44 degrees Fahrenheit and 7 mph average wind. The week ahead looks similar to the 30-day pattern. Watch for afternoon wind events and residual wet-slab risk on solar aspects as temperatures warm.
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About Graveyard Hill
Graveyard Hill sits at 4,737 feet in the North Sierra corridor of California's Sierra Nevada, roughly 10 miles south of Sierraville and accessible via Highway 89. The peak stands in the SAC avalanche forecast zone and straddles moderate-to-steep avalanche terrain on its northern and eastern flanks. Winter and early-spring travel here requires current avalanche forecasts and terrain judgment. Summer and fall approaches are safer from slab risk but remain exposed to afternoon wind. The nearest towns with services are Sierraville to the north and Truckee to the southwest; Highway 89 is the primary corridor.
Conditions at Graveyard Hill shift sharply with season. The 30-day average NoGo Score is 35, with temperatures averaging 44 degrees Fahrenheit and average wind at 7 mph. Maximum wind gusts reach 14 mph on average in the rolling 30 and 365-day windows. Winter brings snowpack depth greater than 33 degrees at the base, but the peak itself tends to shed snow earlier than valleys below; by late spring, only northfacing remnants remain. Crowding is minimal year-round, averaging 5 on the scale. Afternoon wind is the dominant daily pattern; mornings before 10 a.m. are materially calmer. Spring sees the most rapid conditions changes as solar heating accelerates melt and instability windows.
Graveyard Hill suits skiers, snowboarders, and hikers comfortable with exposure and avalanche-terrain navigation. Winter visitors must carry beacons, probes, and shovels and check the SAC forecast before each trip. Summer hikers appreciate the light crowds and moderate elevation; the peak is cooler than the Lake Tahoe basin directly south but warmer than higher Sierra passes. Access is on foot or ski from trailheads near Highway 89. Afternoon wind makes early starts non-negotiable for anyone descending steep snow or exposed ridge lines. Parking at Highway 89 pullouts is limited; arrive before 8 a.m. on weekends.
Nearby Sierraville Peak and the ridgelines around Prosser Creek drainage offer similar terrain and wind patterns. Visitors pairing Graveyard Hill with a broader North Sierra tour often loop through the Tahoe-Pyramid trail network. Unlike the busier Tahoe West Shore access points, Graveyard Hill sees fewer day-use visitors even in summer, making it a quieter alternative for those willing to navigate avalanche terrain in winter or accept longer approach times year-round.