Mount Tallac
Northeast aspect
Highest point
Elevation	9,739 ft (2,968 m) NAVD 88[1]
Prominence	695 ft (212 m)[2]
Parent peak	Dicks Peak (9,974 ft)[3]
Isolation	2.82 mi (4.54 km)[3]
Listing	Tahoe OGUL Star Peak[4] Sierra Peaks Section[5]
Coordinates	38°54′21.5″N120°05′56.3″W / 38.905972°N 120.098972°W /38.905972; -120.098972[1]
Geography
Mount Tallac Location in California
Location	El Dorado County,California,U.S.
Parent range	Sierra Nevada
Topo map	USGS Emerald Bay
Climbing
Easiest route	Trail hike,class 1-2[6]

Mount Tallac is amountain peak southwest ofLake Tahoe, inEl Dorado County,California. The peak lies within theDesolation Wilderness in theEldorado National Forest. It is quite visible fromState Routes 89 and28, andU.S. Route 50. A "cross of snow" is clearly visible on the mountain's face during the winter, spring, and early summer months.

TheAetherius Society considers it to be one of its 19holy mountains.^[7][8][9]

The mountain is shown on maps of theWhitney Survey as Chrystal Peak. In 1877, theWheeler Survey named the peak "Tallac", after theWasho word "daláʔak", meaning 'big mountain'.^[10]

An estimated 10,000 climb the peak each year via routes approaching the summit from Desolation Wilderness to the west,Fallen Leaf Lake to the East, and access roads from the north.^[11] Wilderness permits are required to hike Mount Tallac. For day hikes, permits are free and self-issued at the trailhead.^[12] There is a quota for overnight hikes on Mount Tallac (and throughout Desolation Wilderness), but there is no quota for day hiking.

Mount Tallac is located in analpine climate zone.^[13] Mostweather fronts originate in thePacific Ocean, and travel east toward the Sierra Nevada mountains. As fronts approach, they are forced upward by the peaks (orographic lift), causing them to drop their moisture in the form of rain orsnowfall onto the range.

The opening sequence of the TV seriesBonanza was filmed at the McFaul Creek Meadow, with Mount Tallac in the background.

• "Mount Tallac".Geographic Names Information System.United States Geological Survey,United States Department of the Interior.
• Alpine Ski Tours - Lake Tahoe: Southwest Topographic Map

• Mountains of the Desolation Wilderness
• Mountains of El Dorado County, California
• Tourist attractions in El Dorado County, California
• Mountains of Northern California
• Sacred mountains of the United States

• Pages using gadget WikiMiniAtlas
• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Use mdy dates from January 2025
• Coordinates on Wikidata