September 19 through September 21, 2023. Came up for a…read morecouple day fishing trip with good friend. Campsites are both reserve and first come first serve. We showed up as first come first serve and we're lucky to get a beautiful spot right on the lake. They have nice deep fire rings, picnic tables and bear lockers. We didn't see any sign of bears. The sites are $27 a night and you can buy wood for six dollars a bundle or two bundles for $10. There is a 14 day limit on first come first serve sites. This time around, the road to Upper Blue Lake was open, so we headed up there to check it out. There are a couple campgrounds up there that have nice sites and include bathroom facilities. We ran into a couple of backpackers who convinced us to take the "short" hike to Granite Lake to do some fishing. We grabbed our fishing poles and gear and headed out thinking that short would be a quarter mile or so. The hike actually turned out to be 2 1/2 miles with about a 700 foot elevation gain. If we had known the distance, we probably would not have done the hike, but once there, we got a couple of very nice rainbow trout. We did not have any cell phone coverage in our camp, but at the 9100 foot elevation of Granite Lake we did have some pretty good cell coverage.

Beautiful and quiet. Nice little trail that goes around the lake. Great little lake for Kayaking.read more

I visited Lake Kirkwood in August. It's a small pristine High Sierra lake off highway 88 west of…read moreKirkwood Ski Resort. The road from 88 goes to a sandy beach and a lovely 12 site camping area. There are several private summer cabins around the lake which can only be accessed by boat or hiking trail. The trail around the lake is an easy 2 or 3 miles. You can launch a boat, however no motor boats are allowed. Swimming and fishing are OK. Mosquitoes might be a problem in the early summer or evening. There's an old-fashioned Girl Scout camp on the lake that operates for just a couple weeks during the summer.

My pictures do not even come close to documenting just how pretty this place is. I'll have to…read moreremember my waterproof case next time so I can take pictures beyond the shore. At any rate, these reservoirs are nothing short of awesome. Totally non-motorized and crystal clear water - this is a paddler's paradise. There are plenty of spots along the shoreline and throughout the many granite islands to camp out and enjoy. The west side of Utica also features a shallower, swimming hole-like section with large slabs of granite to lay out and enjoy the sun. This was the perfect place to relax after SUPing around the lake. Both Utica and Union reservoirs each feature two small first come, first serve campgrounds that fill up fast to capacity and have limited resources. Seriously though, this place could have zero bathrooms and I would still give it five stars. Utica has a large day use/overflow parking lot across from the Sandy Flat campground that is totally free. Keep driving down the road another couple of miles and you'll find the staging area at the start of the Slick Rock Jeep Trail. I'll definitely be back, especially to explore the waterfall area between the two reservoirs.

This is an excellent place to bring your non-motorized watercraft (SUP, kayak, canoe...what have…read moreyou) and have hours and hours of fun exploring the shores of islands and peninsulas within this scenic, granite-rich reservoir. In fact, you can bring tents and sleeping gear in your kayak and spend the night on a rocky-gorgeous island. [If it happens to have more granite than dirt, be sure to have a WAG bag in your kit.]. I recommend bringing a brightly-colored piece of cloth to hang to assist in finding your camp after you've set up and gone for a day paddle. It can get somewhat confusing. Unload your gear at the staging area close to the lake and then re-park at the free day-use parking area somewhat further back. Secure your water transport with your supplies in dry bags and put-in to Union Reservoir. There are many vistas to paddle to and from as you explore this paddler's wonderland from a water's-level viewpoint. [Please practice Leave-No-Trace as this is too nice of a jewel to ruin by leaving litter.] Bring a picnic lunch and your beverages of choice to enjoy as you paddle to your arm's content in this little slice of wilderness heaven.

Wow wow wow!! This is a must stop point if you like waterfalls, creeks, rock formations, mountains…read moreand scrambling. Brought my kids 5 & 8 and they can do most of it. Views are incredible. We went to the waterfall (10 mins on the trail) and bridge and then to the vista point. Wanted to do more but the 5 y/o got tired. You can scramble this whole mountain!

The hike was just the right amount of challenging to really appreciate the top and sit and look…read moreover the lake. It took us about 4 hours round trip. Nice clean trail, no bikers. It was great. Would do it again.

If you're looking for an alpine hike with meadows, lakes, wildflowers, snow capped peaks and…read morerushing streams, then a hike to Winnemuca Lake offers all of this within a 5-7 mile hiking excursion. Parking is located off Highway 88 at the Carson Information station (ranger staffed during certain hours) and costs $5. It's a small lot but there's overflow parking a few hundred yards up the road. Hiking to Winnemuca Lake and back is about 5 miles RT and it's a gentle elevation change uphill to most of the lake. Lots of rocks and roots so I bring my hiking poles for stability. During the summer (timing dependent on the snow pack of the previous winter) you're treated with a spectacular wildflower show en route to the lake. Once there, there are plenty of spots to relax and enjoy the view. I like to stop there for lunch and then push on up to Round Top Lake which is more strenuous (but short) 1 mile further up the trail. From there you will get to enjoy more sweeping views, rushing streams and a path that skirts part of the lake. Doing these two lakes as an out and back is about 7 miles but since I explored the meadows and lake shore at Round Top my tracker told me I did over 8 miles. It's a gorgeous hike that, while does get crowded, isn't overly packed-you can find some trail solitude. The PCT intersects the trail and there are hike in camp sites for those who want to extend their adventure. No water so be sure to bring enough. This is about 2 1/2 hours from the Bay Area depending on where you located but absolutely worth a day trip out!

Not a difficult hike, but these trails take you some of the most beautiful alpine mountain areas…read morethat you will ever encounter, especially when all of the wildflowers are in bloom. Breathtaking is the best way to describe the scenery that you will encounter hiking along these trails. We started our hike at the Woods Lake trailhead passing Round Top Lake, Winnemucca Lake and ending up along the Carson Pass trail. It was mid-August, but the snow-capped mountains were just melting, so there were mountain streams everywhere and the wildflowers were in full bloom. The temperature was perfect in the mid-seventies. The skies were blue with puffs of wispy white clouds. This was a hiking experience that I will remember for a lifetime.

Amazing natural Hot springs. We stopped by here on our way from Tahoe to Mammoth and really enjoyed…read morethe beautiful scenery and the natural Hot springs which were really awesome. One tip if you get to the main springs try not to go to the one on the right which is the bigger pool because it's more stagnant water and so there were a lot of these red looking worms or maggots swimming in there. The smaller pool on the left is much cleaner as there are two mini waterfalls that are keeping the water circulating and fresh. Anything less than five stars is an injustice so a glowing five stars and two thumbs up for Travertine Hot Springs!

Travertine Hot Spring is one of those rare places that stays with you long after you leave…read more I've been lucky enough to experience this spot in multiple seasons and it truly delivers every single time. Whether it's a crisp winter soak with snow on the ground, a calm spring sunrise, warm summer nights, or the quiet stillness of fall, this place always feels right. What makes it special isn't just the hot springs themselves, but the feeling of escape. At night, the sky opens up, endless stars, the Milky Way glowing above you, and if you're patient (or lucky), shooting stars cutting across the darkness. It's peaceful in a way that's hard to find anymore. This is my favorite place to unplug, reset and breathe. No noise, no rush, just nature doing what it does best. Respect the land, pack out what you bring in and soak it all in. If you're looking for a true Eastern Sierra experience raw, beautiful and unforgettable this is it.

I gotta be honest and give credit where due. This is a nice, clean, accesible area that allows for…read moremany different activities and for all sorts of personalities. There are paths for walking and biking. Restroom nearby are well maintained, and with water spots in the area too. Just need to be aware of people who ride motor vehicles in prohibited areas. And the occasional nut discharging guns late at night. Some may even get bonfires going during fire season. Other than that, this is a great spot for all to enjoy.

I have been coming to this campground my entire life! My mom worked for SMUD for over 30+ years and…read morethis has always been our campground of choice. We come every year in the summer time! The campground is private and you must either work for SMUD or know someone that works there in order to camp. It is located on Ice House Road along the manmade Union Valley Reservoir. There are 51 campsites that are well maintained. They allow RVs and camper trailers. Dogs as well and each campsite allows for a maximum of 10 people. We love coming during the cornhole tournament weekend and they also host a bingo weekend. There are showers and toilets as well as a large playground for the kids. It's a great family campground - we love making new memories every year!

White Pines exploring this weekend was insane. My daughter and I had a blast riding some of the…read morefire roads with unreal views. There's miles of roads and trails everywhere that lead down to the river. Super chill people out and about enjoying the weather. Will definitely be back next time in Arnold.

Came up here for 4th of July weekend, and what a cool little gem it is! Lots of nice beach area,…read morehiking, frisbee golf, fishing, and just general fun on the lake with swimming, inflatables, etc. I totally recommend! :)

Alpine Lake offers an idyllic retreat for outdoor enthusiasts seeking tranquility and stunning…read morevistas. The surrounding terrain boasts incredible natural beauty and a serene ambiance, making it a popular destination for paddling, relaxation, and wildlife viewing. What many fail to realize is that the lake's true splendor is best appreciated from the water, where visitors can immerse themselves in the serene landscape. Nestled amidst the mature coniferous forests along the shores of serene Lake Alpine, the Lake Alpine Campground is one of five scenic camping destinations within the larger Lake Alpine Recreation Area. It is a superb place to paddle and camp! FOr more info: https://www.paddlingcalifornia.com/Alpine_Lake.html

Beautiful Lake at 7300 feet! I came up to this lake to go kayaking. The water was clear and…read moreperfect for paddling around in Mid-September. Probably a little chilly for swimming, though. There was plenty of irregular cloud cover, and the temperature was in the seventies with a slight breeze. I wore a long-sleeved shirt and PFD and felt comfortable. My paddling companion was wearing a t-shirt initially, but felt cold and had to add layers partway in our circumnavigation of the lake. There are some nearby structures that I guess are privately owned residences nearby. A few others were also kayaking around. I saw one motorized craft tooling slowly around, so it is allowed. Parking was pretty crowded for the number of available parking. Day use parking is $5 available at the store in the lodge building or at the little shack near the boat launch. $10 fee to use the boat launch. The campground host of the Silvertip campground also oversees the camping at Lodgepole campground, about a mile east of the lake where we camped. According to him(Thom), he also patrols the parking in the day use parking and along the shore. If you are staying at the campgrounds and have checked into your site with the host(Thom), the additional $5 day parking fee is waived (wish someone had told us that. We had already paid at the store earlier).

Frog Lake is a short, easy hike for all ages, leashed furry companions and skill levels - located…read moreat the top of Carson Pass on Highway 88 about 5 miles east of Kirkwood, California in a paved parking lot at the Carson Pass Information Center. Here is to locate them: https://enfia.org/discover/carson-pass/ Starting out alongside the information center a trailhead map shows you that Frog Lake is under 2.5 miles out & back. We found this trailhead to be well trafficked with many other outdoor enthusiasts enjoying the Mokelumne Wilderness Area also - either going to Frog Lake or one of the many other Points of Interest: Winnemucca Lake, Woods Lake, Elephants Back...even came across overnight campers - you will enjoy this wooded, granite/boulder lined trail that leads to mountain views with a lake to sit by for a picnic. Wildflowers, wildlife, tons of birds with stunning views plus being in the wilderness/forest among the beautiful trees this hike you will truly enjoy!! So what are you waiting for...grab your hiking buddy, get out and #moveyourbody and enjoy the great outdoors!!

Saw this hike on a list of easy hikes around Tahoe. Promised wildlife, wildflowers, and a nice…read moreendpoint. Obviously, wildflowers are seasonal. But the wildlife were lacking, and the lake was pretty lame. At least there were some tadpoles. It is easy, but there's only shade for half of the 2 mile roundtrip hike. And there's not much beauty along the way. You're better off with the hikes closer to Tahoe.