From WikiOutdoors

Loch Leven Lakes Trail

The Low Down

A moderately challenging hike or snowshoe to a series of three alpine lakes, the Loch Leven Lakes trail system is conveniently located right off I-80 in the Tahoe National Forest. The trail system is officially open from early June to November though adventurous snowh-shoers and cross-country skiers can certainly get outdoors on this trail in the winter.

Vital Information

Location (country, state/province): USA, California, Lake Tahoe
Distance: 7.2 mi RT to highest lake
Time: 2-6 hours
Elevation change: 1070'
Bathrooms Available: yes
Water Available: yes
Dogs allowed: yes

View along the Loch Leven Lakes trail

Table of contents

1) The Low Down

2) Getting There & Parking

3) Route Finding

4) Trail Resources

4.1) Helpful Hints
4.2) Activities allowed

5) For More Information

6) Related WikiOutdoors Articles

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Getting There & Parking

Take Highway 80 to the Big Bend exit. You'll pass the Big Bend ranger station, and the trailhead is about 1/8th of a mile east of it.

From the San Francisco Bay Area, the drive takes about 2 ½ to 3 hours without traffic. From the Sacramento area, the drive takes about 1 ½ to 2 hours.

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Route Finding

View of the Loch Leven Lakes trail system in winter

After you've parked across the road from the trailhead, you'll follow the trail upwards toward the railroad tracks (approximately 1.1 miles). The trail heads toward the southwest on a fairly steep grade.

Along the way to the railroad tracks, you'll be hiking over granite outcroppings and bare rock sections, making trail-finding a little difficult. As long as you are heading upward and to the southwest you're fine. You'll also see markers for a buried telephone line and a petroleum pipeline, indicating that you're on the right path.

From the railroad tracks, the trail becomes much steeper. You'll gain almost 800 feet in just about a mile and a quarter. Here, the trail is well-marked and well-established.

At the top of the ridge line, you'll begin to descend down into the Loch Leven Lakes basin. At the southern end of the first lake, you'll see a junction to the left. If you're looking for solitude in the summer, follow the junction to the high lake, another 1.1 miles along the trail. Camping permits are available for all three lakes and for Salmon Lake, but many campers stay at the 1st lake or the middle lake.

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