| About Tahoe National Forest |
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| Loch Leven Lakes Trail |
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Length, One-way:
5 Miles
USGS Maps:
Cisco Grove & Soda Springs
Beginning Elevation:
5,680 Feet
Length, One-way:
4.5 Miles
Ending Elevation:
6,800 Feet
Elevation Gain:
1,120 Feet
Difficulty:
More Difficult
Length, One-way:
3 Miles
Reservation:
No
Season:
Mid-June - Mid-November
From Nevada City, Travel east on Hwy. #20 to Hwy. #80 east, take the Big Bend Exit. The trailhead begins 0.8 miles east of the Big Bend Visitor Center.
Location Information
Lock Leven Lakes Trail is a more difficult 5 mile trail at an elevation of 5,680 feet. The Loch Leven Lakes Trail lead to a series of five alpine lakes, the highest at 6,900 feet. The trail works its way upward on a moderately steep grade to the southwest, then southeasterly.Granite outcroppings are numerous and huge boulders left by receding glaciers are found scattered among Jeffrey and Lodge pole Pine. As the trail ascends, it crosses a creek and the Union Pacific Railroad tracks. It then continues upward through a cool and majestic fir forest, with switch backs leading to the summit. From the summit, the trail winds down and around Lower Loch Leven Lake. At the south end of the lake, the trail splits, the branch to the right leads southwest to Salmon Lake, and the other fork continues south, climbing and descending small ridges to Middle Loch Leven and still further to High Loch Leven Lake. Vistas of ridges and valleys, high alpine meadows, and glaciated mountain terrain can be seen in either direction. Fishing is generally good, and lakeside camping is available at all the lakes.
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