Kingsbury South to Star Lake is 17.6 miles round trip and rated difficult, but the payoff is a mountain lake nestled high in the Sierra with views that make the effort worthwhile. The trailhead is at the Heavenly Stagecoach parking lot, accessed via Highway 207 (Kingsbury Grade) heading toward the pass—east from the lake, west from Genoa. Turn onto Tramway Drive and follow signs for the parking area, where you’ll find the Tahoe Rim Trail bulletin board and trail sign at the south end of the lot, right underneath the Stagecoach chairlift.
The first two miles mix steep sections with gentle switchbacks and short dirt road stretches through a forest of red firs and Jeffrey pines. You’ll pass under Heavenly ski lifts and cross saddles before reaching Daggett Creek at the two-mile mark. From there, a 2.5-mile gentle climb opens up the landscape, giving you eastward views of Carson Valley and the ranges beyond. The trail follows a maintenance road before a steeper descent into Mott Canyon, where you’ll cross another creek and pass under yet another ski lift.
At five miles, Monument Pass marks the transition from the Carson side to the Tahoe side of the ridge. The next section flattens considerably—a sandy path through mostly open terrain with dramatic views of Freel Peak spreading out in front of you. For the final 1.8 miles, the trail climbs through thicker tree cover toward Star Lake, which sits at the base of Job’s Sister. The lake water is cold and refreshing after the long hike, and it’s tempting to linger. Just make sure you start the descent with enough daylight left—it’s a long walk back to the parking lot, and the trail has plenty of elevation change to cover.
