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    Bear Lakes & Long Lake Loop Trail

    5.0 (14 reviews)

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    Round Lake. Just one of the many beautiful lakes you get to see on this hike!
    Natasha M.

    Beautiful views! If you live within 2 hours of this hike, it is worth the drive. Make a day out of it and try the Village Baker! We started from the Gold Lake Lodge trail head and arrived at about 8:30. There were 4 other people there and they started the hike just a few minutes before us but were really quick so other than them- we didn't encounter any other people until we were looping back to the parking lot. When we did get back to the parking lot there were tons of cars and people just starting the hike so I definitely suggest getting there early! The hike is moderate and elevation changes are pretty easy. The views are so worth it! I am not going to go into great detail because you really need to go see it for yourself. Check out my photos if you need anymore convincing. I'm only sharing 2 of over 50 (FIFTY) that I took. It was that beautiful! We hiked a total of 5 miles and it took us 2 hrs 24 mins BUT we took a longer way back to the parking lot than intended (oops). It just gave us a little more scenery to enjoy, so oh well! I think overall the hike would've been about 4 miles had we taken a left when we took a right.

    Long Lake seen from the trail
    Thomas G.

    One of the most scenic hikes in the area. Deserves six stars. Breathtaking views, flora, and fauna during our hike (7/9/17 after an epic winter). The map at the trailhead isn't correct as far as the scale listed which I think is the cause of the disagreement between some of the reviewers. For instance, if you leave the trailhead to go to Big Bear Lake first instead of Long Lake one sign says "3/4 of a mile". There is NO WAY that was accurate. More like 1 3/4 of a mile. I agree with one poster who pegs this hike at 4 1/2 miles total. Being from Reno we are used to very cold water if we want to do any swimming, but I was SHOCKED at how warm Big Bear Lake was. Explains the *snake* I saw swimming by when I was cooling my feet off in the water. Dampened any further urges to take a dip... If you have someone in from out of town this is a must see. Lots of "easies", but the payoff is huge.

    Laura A.

    Super easy ramble up and down and around several lakes. The wildflowers are showing off with a miriad of colors and varieties. A tad busy as we were leaving...parking lot completely full at 1pm and bikers on the trail..but we were on our way off the mountain. Do friendly. Clean oit toilet. Wear a suit and jump in any number of lakes.

    Came here in late October, colors are just beautiful
    Dennis L.

    About 105 miles from Reno with spectacular views of three major mountain ranges coming together. It's a excellent place to view a variety of wildlife. The views are nothing short of fabulous. The area is home to bald eagles, but we didn't any the day we were there. The hike from the trailhead is easy to moderate, down a very well maintained trails. With the ivy as ground cover, along with the whispering aspen turning bright yellow, there I thought it resembled a enchanted forest more than just a ordinary hike. We only hiked about 2 miles in, turning around just past Cab Lake. Just a knock your socks off kinda day. Enjoy

    Joel E.

    This is one of my favorite hikes near Graeagle, CA in the Lakes Basin Area. The hike is a 2 1/2 mile loop that includes very beautiful scenic views of 4 alpine lakes - Big Bear Lake, Little Bear Lake, Cub Lake, and Long Lake. Elevation: ~6,700 ft. Difficulty: Moderate Hiking Season: May through October Gold Lake Highway intersects with Highway 89 approximately 48 miles North of Truckee (1 1/2 miles South of Graeagle). Drive 6.6 miles down the Gold Lake Highway to the Lakes Basin Campground. Take this narrow road .9 miles to the trailhead parking lot. (Note: keep going past the sign to the Elwell Lodge and also past the entry to the Lakes Basin Campground).

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    4 years ago

    I thought it was very pretty, has a wide path with a gentle incline, the trees look gorgeous.

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    Ask the Community - Bear Lakes & Long Lake Loop Trail

    Review Highlights - Bear Lakes & Long Lake Loop Trail

    For instance, if you leave the trailhead to go to Big Bear Lake first instead of Long Lake one sign says "3/4 of a mile".

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    Eureka Lake - Peace,Quiet, and Fresh air !

    Eureka Lake

    5.0(3 reviews)
    4.9 mi

    Eureka lake is located within the Plumas-Eureka State Park. We initially did not know what to…read moreexpect when we saw the sign for it and had not planned anything around it. The directional sign at the beginning of the gravel road states it is 1.3 miles to the lake and my wife said let's go for it and check it out, so off we went! The rock and dirt one lane road to the lake is narrow and rough. There a few turnouts but it gets narrower as you approach the lake. We would recommend 4wd but smaller vehicles would also be better because of the width of the road. We made it easily with a 2015 Toyota Tundra but had to do some rearranging with other vehicles we encountered going the opposite direction. At the top, the parking lot is big enough for about 15 cars and the views are amazing!!! There were several people wading and swimming in the lake and we also saw a small kayak. We personally thought to ourselves "wow that water must be cold this early in the summer!". There is also a trailhead which begins just off the parking area with a directional sign indicating information about hiking to Eureka Peak but we were not prepared and when my wife saw the sign explaining what wildlife was in the area and saw a rubber boa on the list there was no way she was going to proceed any further. We are very glad we decided to explore the area!

    Be prepared for a rough dirt road going up. Some may feel they need to be in 4 wheel drive, but…read more hubby felt it not necessary. When you get to the top you experience... what did I hear? SERENITY. Peace! Great place to just experience some outdoor clean air. You can park and go for a hike, or throw a pole in the lake to see what you can catch. Unlike a couple years ago there were only some smaller trout at this lake. If not fishing, you can certainly let the dog(s) play in the water.

    Photos
    Eureka Lake - ºlllllllº

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    Eureka Lake - ºlllllllº

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    Eureka Lake - Eureka lake with Eureka peak in the background

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    Eureka lake with Eureka peak in the background

    Feather Falls Trail - Collage of sights along the trail

    Feather Falls Trail

    4.6(55 reviews)
    34.5 mi

    This hike was a blessing and a curse combined; stunningly beautiful views and an amazing waterfall…read moremixed with treacherous inclines, a mass amount of poison oak, and very aggressive bugs. I hiked this trail with my group in early June, and needless to say, this was one of the most beautiful and also one of the most challenging hikes that I've done. The entire loop measures about 8 miles, but you should add another mile if you plan to hike to the top of the falls. We started on the Upper Trail which is about 4.5 miles long. We took this trail to the top of the falls, then to the falls Overlook, and then to the Lower Falls trail which looped us back to the beginning of the trailhead. But be forewarned; if you take the Lower Falls trail back, the hike is very strenuous and not very well maintained. Right from the gate, you can see that this trail was filled with tons and tons of poison oak. If you don't know what poison oak looks like, you should look it up before you decide to come here. It's a beautiful plant, but you definitely don't want it touching you. And trust me, it's everywhere. All over the trails! I would recommend that you wear long pants and sleeves, especially if you're allergic. Also, there are tons of bugs! Lots of mosquitos and even ticks. Spray yourself with bug spray before you hit the trail. We sprayed and we still got bitten up pretty badly. Luckily, I didn't find any ticks on myself though. We also spotted a rattlesnake on the trail and you should also note that there have been bear sightings in the past. Just be aware of your surroundings. Okay, so now that I've gotten the scary stuff out of the way, let's focus on the actual hike. The hike through the Upper Trail is really pretty! It starts out flat and inclines gradually. It's full of greenery and mostly shaded. You'll pass over a small bridge that overlooks a baby waterfall that flows into a beautiful creek. There are ferns and flowers all throughout the trail. You'll see giant ants crawling on the ground. You'll also get a wonderful view of Bald Rock Dome which looks likes a mini Half Dome (Yosemite), and a sweeping view of the Middle Fork Feather River. The Overlook point to Feather Falls will be down some stairs and to the left. There are signs that will help to guide you. The view of Feather Falls is just simply breathtaking! The images are stunning but even they can't do it justice. You will truly have to just experience it for yourself. If you're up for some fun, I would highly recommend hiking to the top of the falls. It's seriously unbelievable up there. Storybook views, crystal clear water, and vivid greenery. It'll make you feel like you just walked into an enchanted forest. Like, is this really real? On the way back from the falls, we took the Lower Falls Trail back. This trail is a mile shorter than the Upper Falls Trail, but 10 times more strenuous. If you're looking for a less strenuous hike, either take the Lower to Upper Trail Loop or take the Upper Falls Trail there and back. Otherwise, you'll be in for a steep climb. Not only is this trail all uphill until the very end, it's also not well maintained. It's super rocky with lots of trees blocking the trail that you'll have to climb under and over. Parts of the trail are narrow and slippery. You should also make sure that you bring waaay more water than you think that you'll need because you WILL need it. After 9 miles of hiking, we were tired but felt extremely accomplished. The restrooms aren't the cleanest and the parking lot is pretty small, so I'd advise that you get there early. Would I do this hike again? Definitely! I would just take a different route and bring a stronger bug repellent. In the end, this hike is worth it for the views of one of the tallest waterfalls in California.

    First off, if you cannot have the decency to carry out your trash, don't hike…read more People leave trash EVERYWHERE on this trail. Literally, the most trash I've ever seen on a trail. People were leaving trash within hours of places we passed earlier. Unbelievable. Snack wrapper, water bottles and I even saw a dirty diaper. WTF?! Falls are awesome. Totally blew passed the turn for the loop on the way down so it was more of an out and back for us. Approximately 3.41 miles to the falls. Didn't have a problem with bugs but bring bug spray.

    Photos
    Feather Falls Trail
    Feather Falls Trail - You can watch our hike to Feather Fall YouTube video here - Go to link: https://youtu.be/LPyNEkOa6Wo

    You can watch our hike to Feather Fall YouTube video here - Go to link: https://youtu.be/LPyNEkOa6Wo

    Feather Falls Trail

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    Madora Lake Loop Trail

    Madora Lake Loop Trail

    3.5(2 reviews)
    5.7 mi

    After being frustrated in the lack of access for our sedan to many of the lakes in the Lakes Basin,…read morewe looked forward to the easy access and hike to Madora Lake. The trailhead is marked by a sign on the Graeagle-Johnston Road (A-14), and is hard to miss if you are coming from Blairsden in the East. But if you are coming from the main part of the park, the sign faces the opposite way, and it's easy to miss (the trailhead sign is on the north side of the road, about 2 miles east of Park headquarters). There is a short, paved road to the trailhead, and we appreciated the lack of potholes after struggling through many of the forest service's access roads. No formal parking lot, but lots of room to park on the side of the road near the trailhead. A vault toilet is at the trailhead. The trail is 1.5 miles long, a loop around the lake. They are in the process of converting the trail to make it ADA accessible, and in the summer of 2017 parts of the trail could be closed depending upon construction. The whole trail was open when we were there in late August, parts of the trail now flattened and hardened, other parts still the original dusty dirt. Much of the trail goes through pine forest, a beautiful, peaceful setting. A small creek and an unexpected abundance of ferns can be found a small ways past the trailhead. However, if like us, you were expecting to see a beautiful mountain lake, this trail can be a bit of a disappointment. For most of the hike you can't see the lake at all, you are separated from it by the forest. But it turns out you aren't missing much: the lake is more like a large pond, and is rapidly being subsumed by an explosion of water-loving plants. A large number of willows along the lake edge shield the hiker from many lake views, and most views of the lake yield more plants than water. The best views of the lake are halfway through the trail along the north bank. A decent hike, and a good choice for those not prepared for anything strenuous - just maintain modest expectations for the "lake".

    The Madora Lake Trail is a very accessible 1.5 mile loop that can be found just off the…read moreGraeagle-Johnsville Road (County Road A-14). Elevation is ~5,025 ft. Difficulty: Easy Hiking season: May to November, with wildflowers best in early to mid summer.

    Photos
    Madora Lake Loop Trail
    Madora Lake Loop Trail
    Madora Lake Loop Trail

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    Bear Lakes & Long Lake Loop Trail - hiking - Updated May 2026

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