Tahoe Trio of Lakes

Camp at Loch Leven Lakes in Tahoe

Campsite at Loch Leven Lakes in Tahoe National Forest

Three alpine lakes, superb views, and shoreline camping for soaking it all in … Loch Leven Lakes is pure Tahoe wilderness. This 7.2-mile out-and-back in Tahoe National Forest is great for a long day hike, or a weekend of adventure camping among this trio of crystal waters.

The Loch Leven Lakes Trail starts with a steady climb that skirts to the right of a granite ridge, passing pine forests and a small pond. Once around the ridgetop, you cross a small footbridge over a beautiful creek before continuing the climb. After 1.1 miles you’ll cross a set of train tracks still in use (be sure to check before crossing). Ascend another mile through pine forest. You will know you are close to the lakes when the path levels and you make a short descent to come upon the first of three lakes, a nice place to take a dip before heading to the next lake, just a quarter mile down the trail.

Person sitting in a hammock at Loch Leven Lakes in Tahoe National Forest

Backpackers walking next to Loch Leven Lakes in Tahoe National Forest

Loch Leven Lakes in Tahoe National Forest

Backpackers on the trail to Loch Leven Lakes in Tahoe National Forest

The second lake has lots of first-come, first-served campsites along the shoreline, all with amazing views of the clear water and surrounding hills. Getting to the lake early gives you first access to the shaded shoreline campsites, which are ideal during afternoon heat. Pitch your tent and take a hike up to the upper lake—where campsites are also available—just over half a mile up the trail. As the highest lake in the trio, you get the best views of the valley and surrounding area from here.

Campsites are first-come, first-served. Loch Leven Lakes Trailhead is located on Hampshire Rocks Rd., half a mile east of the Big Bend exit on I-80 (Exit 166). Bring water for day hikes and a water purifier for overnight excursions, as there is no potable water at the trailhead or along the trail. Bathrooms are available at the trailhead but not along the trail. A fire permit is required for backcountry camping. IMPORTANT: Please review the updated fire restrictions for Tahoe National Forest.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Picnic and a Pedal

    West Marin has all the right stuff for an afternoon getaway: bike paths, babbling brooks, canopy forests, and secluded picnic spots. Combine a picnic and a pedal at Samuel P. Taylor State Park by biking the easygoing Cross Marin Trail.

    View
  2. Hike the Oursan Trail alongside Briones Reservoir in the East Bay

    Opt for Oursan

    Hike the trail less traveled in the East Bay's Briones Regional Park. The Oursan Trail is pure serenity on a wide hiking path skirting the northern shores of Briones Reservoir.

    View
  3. Most Peaceful Hike of All

    Is this the most peaceful one-hour hike in the Bay Area? It's got our vote! Lake Lagunitas is the smallest lake in a series of five found on the north side of Mount Tam, so it’s got that tiny but mighty charm. Do a 1.5-mile loop around the lake's shore-hugging trail.

    View
  4. Sebastopol Food & Wine Roll

    One apple farm, three charming towns, multiple wineries, and infinite natural beauty. Savor a perfect autumn day in Sonoma County by biking the West County Regional Trail from Sebastopol to Forestville via Graton. It’s a 17-mile (round-trip) adventure. 

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Wine Down, Dine Out in Lake Chelan

    The fertile soil around Washington State's Lake Chelan is ripe for more than just the amazing apples. Vineyards here yield high quality grapes, and some of the country’s best less-discovered wineries. Locals know it, and you will too when you start choosing from the more than 30 wineries in the region.

    View
  2. Lace Up for Lacy

    Lacy Park in San Marino is a hidden gem that may very well be the most pristine green space in greater Los Angeles, and a concealed pair of nearby stairways makes it all the more appealing.

    View
  3. Hiker amid trees at Oak Glen Preserve in Yucaipa Southern California

    Apple of Your Eye

    That fall feeling is definitely in the air and on display at the Oak Glen Preserve. Apple orchards and colorful leaves are a bonus, as are the apple cider donuts and slushies you can enjoy post-hike.

    View
  4. Hike San Diego Volcan Mountain Wilderness

    Planet of the Oaks

    Let us count the number of oak tree species in the Volcan Mountain Wilderness Preserve near Julian: coast, scrub, canyon, black, and Engelmann. Five! The preserve’s Five Oaks Trail is a 3.2-mile hike that boasts all five.

    View