Absolutely breathtakingly, beautiful day hike in Graeagle Lakes Basin Area that is not quite 2…read morehours from the Carson City area. Easy directions that has signs that will guide you right to the trailhead with as the other reviewers noted very limited parking but this hike is WELL worth it. With your choice of going to fish at Long Lake or hiking on several different hiking options from the Bear Lakes & Long Lake Loop Trail or take in a more moderate to difficult hike up to Mt. Elwell or Pacific Crest Trail you will not be disappointed by the beautiful nature views plus the four alpine lakes that on this trip in November we weren't brave enough to take a dip in but our Hobey doggy thoroughly enjoyed and we found to be of temperature similar to Lake Tahoe. Big Bear, Little Bear, Cub and Long Lake were exactly what we needed to put us back in touch with the serene vibes of the peacefulness of being outside with nature. Weather, views were stunningly gorgeous, we and our furry companions HIGHLY recommend getting out here to enjoy this easy to moderate hike/loop trail. Enjoy and #moveyourbody !!

I feel like nothing I write will adequately describe the beauty of this place, so I'll let the…read morepictures do the talking for that part. The trailhead is easy to find and off the main road. The road to get to the trailhead is doable in a small car, but take it slow as there are potholes and lots of blind corners. There's a well-maintained bathroom at the start of the trail and good signage. Parking is pretty good, there were plenty of spaces when I went but i could see it getting crowded during the summer months. The trail to long lake is relatively easy, but I wouldn't suggest it for someone with limited mobility. It's also a short hike with almost immediate payoff once you get to long lake, which is BEAUTIFUL. My dog and I elected to keep going past long lake toward the dam, and passed several small pretty lakes and streams on the way there. The trail was a little icy when I went in early December, but nothing too crazy.

Heavy snowmelt runoff on 5/5/2012…read more Elevation ~5,130 ft. Difficulty: Moderate. Hiking season: May through October. Accessible from the Johnsville cemetery parking lot.

Thanks to previous reviewer whose info made us check this out. A slippery beginning down a steep…read morelittle trail then levels off to an easy 1/4 mile walk to the falls. Water level is pretty low, so a lot of rocks to jump around on, but not so low that there was no swimming hole. It was so much fun to try to get down to the swimming hole - someone tied a rope line, and our 9 y.o. was able to "rappel" down to the area, as were many other kids. They all had a blast swimming in the icy cold water, and jumping off the rocks. If it was 20 degrees warmer in the water, it would have been filled with adults, too. Nice crowd, too, not rednecky, just families from the nearby campground. Check out the local cemetery while you're here, just don't leave any trash -- people do, and it's just too annoying to pick up after them. Leave no trace, please.

Best part of this trip! Please wear shoes as the rocks and…read moregravel can be slippery. Must take your time getting to this area but worth it. There's a rope section to get up/down to the waterfall. Kids had a blast jumping off the rocks. Water was cold but the kids had too much fun. Plenty of parking Not crowded which is always a plus.

To get there: You can turn from CA-89 onto Johnsville Rd. and it is approximately 4.6 miles to…read moreJamison Mine Rd on the left. The trailhead parking area is 1.3 miles from the turnoff. The trail: From the parking area you'll see the trail and you'll go up to an old mine building and the trail goes to the left. The climb is moderate but partially shaded. If you go to Jamison and Rock Lakes you'll have an elevation gain of about 1100' to 1400' depending if you make it a loop and check out Wades Lake. We ended up exploring different areas and clocked 9.15 miles. This trail is extremely rewarding with a good workout, beautiful views, excellent cool lakes to swim in, and friendly people.

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.

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.

Just by looking at all of the gorgeous photos everyone has uploaded from their visit here to this…read morespot.... you can tell that it's a hidden gem within. Nevada City didn't feel like that far of a drive from Sacramento and it really was an outdoor type oasis when we visited during the summer months. It's surrounded by lush forests and gorgeous waters from the upper Tahoe areas. There's a defined parking area so you're not just pulling off the side of the road. We had taken swim shorts and dressed for the ability to free swim and jump off the rocks so it really was the best blend of hiking, nature, and swimming all in one! I would love to return here for another visit when it gets past the chill factor of winter and snow!

Finally made it here! Been wanting to for years and I most definitely was not disappointed…read more Knowing how busy it can get we came on a Monday. We were able to find parking and it was an easy and pretty walk to the pools. My only regret was not having the right shoes as the rocks can be slippery. The water is clean and clear with a lovely green color. As the water was low the grandkids were able to wade, but it can be much fuller with rushing water earlier in the year.

My husband and I love this easy walking trail! It's the Garden of Eden of Pines and Ferns - a very…read morelush and dense forest of towering pines and thousands of ferns. A babbling brook accompanies the trail for a short time. Although the lake is not as spectacular as others in the area, it is still a rewarding water feature to walk to. We arrived around 10:00am on a warm June morning and were glad to see so much shade along the gravel path. A fellow walker told us that when the tiger Lillie's are in bloom (maybe mid-to-late summer?) that there is an abundance of butterflies. We will be back soon to hopefully see this spectacle.

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".

I love Gold lake. Snow camping here is epic if your rig and winch can get you through the icy snow…read moreto camp by the lake! The best part is no one will be here in the cold! Snow hiking is awesome but you can easily get lost! Have fun!

10/21/2023 It's been…read morea very long time since our last visit.. Still have the fishing bug... trying to take advantage of the time and weather... Windy as heck, but the scenery takes it all !!! Next trip, hoping to catch some nice ones!

The Donner Pass Railroad Tunnel Hike was one of the reasons for our trip to the area. My boyfriend…read morehad always wanted to check out the Donner Petroglyphs, and I stumbled across the rail tunnels when looking for things to do while in the area. We parked at the Donner Ski Summit - if you are looking to check out this hike, that is the best place to park and access the start of the tunnels. I truly enjoyed this hike, but was ill prepared. I was fully committed once we were in the tunnels & I should have went back to the car and swapped my "barefoot" style shoes for my hiking boots. The large chunk gravel path killed my feet with the thin soles of the shoes I wore. We hiked through about 5-6 tunnels before heading back. We did a total of 6 miles in and back. There were alot of beautiful street art within the tunnels, we found 19 cave ghosts along the trail as well as some other reoccurring variations of different items over the course of the trail. I would like to eventually take the trail past the last tunnel and to the next set of tunnels some day. This is a trail we would do again next time we are in the area. Though the weather was nice, we both wore hooded sweatshirts as the are in the tunnels got quite chilly. If you plan on checking these trails out, take well charged flashlights or head lights with extra batteries. The tunnels can be PITCH Black when you are in the heart of them. Overall this was a really cool thing to see and I would love to do it again with the correct shoes!

We had out of town family in town last week and we made it back to the Donner (Railroad) Tunnels. I…read morelove the tunnels! It's SO beautiful. And as it was a railroad, it's level and easy, and as it's in the tunnels, you're mostly protected from the weather. Bring good trail walking shoes and a flashlight. (And park across from the Donner Ski Ranch.)

This is a challenging, strenuous hike but with some absolutely incredible views of 4 alpine lakes -…read morethe spectacular Upper Salmon Lake, . . . then, Horse Lake . . . the pristine, Deer Lake . . . and if you make it to the top, you will also be rewarded with a scenic view of Summit Lake. It is 7 3/4 miles out and back if you go all the way to Summit Lake. Be prepared as this requires a 1,200 foot elevation gain hike, so you will have some very challenging climbs up the mountains. You can, of course, cut the hike short, as I have done twice, and consider Deer Lake the return point. Elevation: ~7,400 ft. Difficulty: Trail around Upper Salmon Lake is Moderate . . . Climbs to Deer and Summit Lakes are stenuous Hiking Season: June to October Gold Lake Highway intersects with Highway 89 approximately 48 miles North of Truckee (1 1/2 miles South of Graeagle). Take Gold Lake Highway for 11.3 miles to the turnoff to the right for the Salmon Lakes. This road will dead end in ~1 mile at a parking lot adjacent to Upper Salmon Lake, from which the trailhead is accessible. Don't start your hike along the lakeside. Rather, from the parking lot, walk back up the road approximately 100 yards to the trailhead, which is marked "Upper Salmon Lake Trail".