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.

Awesome trail as always. It's easy to get a bit lost on the beginning as there are lots of little…read moreside trails off here and there. GPS is helpful for this. It's a steady climb up to the first lake. Cool crossing over the train tracks. You do hear I-80 for a lot of the hike even when it's mikes away so it's not a remote hike at all.

Loch Leven trail begins at Placer County Road and ends at High Loch Leven Lake in the Tahoe…read moreNational Forest. It is about 8 mile out-and-back trail near Soda Springs, California. The trail begins 200 yards east of the Big Bend Fire Station on old U.S. 40 (Big Bend exit off I-80). A restroom is available at the trailhead. The trail begins across the road from the parking area. A designated parking lot is limited but parking is available along the road. Hiking can be challenging due to its high elevation and heat. I would rate this hiking trail as moderate as the trail works its way upward on a moderately steep climb. Granite outcroppings and glacial erratic starts along the first portion of the route, and the trail can be difficult to follow on the bare rock sections. The trail is a bit difficult to find at times but you can look for enough signs and cairns displayed by previous hikers. Don't get lost. Look carefully for the hiking trail! As the trail ascends, it crosses minor hogbacks and depressions, generally trending upward. Prior to the railroad tracks, you see the markers for a buried telephone trunk line, and petroleum pipeline that they cross. Near the tracks, a small bridge spans a creek that flows swift and cold in early season. Be careful with the train tracks. Don't get trapped! The railroad tracks are on the original 1860s route of the Central Pacific railroad, built by hand with Chinese labor. It is still a major freight and passenger route in and out of California as I saw two long trains passing by. After crossing the tracks, the trail becomes steeper, going from 6,000' to 6,800' in 1.25 miles. At the top of the ridge, the trail descends gradually into the Loch Leven lakes basin. The trail in the basin is primarily level, but follows the topography. At the south end of lower Loch Leven, a trail junction continues left to middle and high Lochs, or right to Salmon Lake. Fishing is good, and camping is dispersed throughout the basin. Campfire permits are required for campfires, backpacking stoves, BBQs, and lanterns. It took us about 5.5 hours to complete, including breaks, and time to enjoy the lakes. I would start around 8am although we did not get to the trail head until 1030am. There are plenty of cool tree shades and tree tunnels It seems to be popular for backpacking, camping, and fishing, so we encountered other people while hiking. The best times to visit this trail are May through October. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. Please pick up all your poop bags. Garbage in, garbage out please. Sun block, mosquito repellent, and adequate hydration and food snacks are definitely important! We must try our best to keep nature is clean and stay beautiful! Magic is definitely here!!

The best spot to spend time in quiet and fish, they got picnic areas to be there with your family…read moreand spend some quality time.

This is a bequtiful little trout lake About an hour above…read moreloomis ca. Ive taken my kids here for many years and now take their kids. Grrat plave for a picnik. Some casu a l float or bank fidhing with no noise and few people on weekdays. Easy access but not much parking.

Mosquitoes will kill you and take your lunch money in seconds. Also an intermediate trail please…read moredon't assume you can do it easily because you used to hike 20 years ago!

Like the other reviewers we just hiked the 1.5 miles to the bridge and back up, would not recommend…read morefor beginners. But the view is worth it!

Bathroom locked. Road closed to parking lot. Parked along Ice House Road which added about a mile…read moreto our hike. Some minor stream crossings. Some snow patches. Waterfall raging. Beautiful views.

Such a beautiful place! Located near Ice House and in Pollock Pines - it's a must see!…read more The hike is about 4.5 miles round trip and is pretty easy - there were only a few small inclines. Bassi Falls is huge - lots of little areas to swim. The water was freezing, but well worth the hike and a quick dip. We could have spent hours here! Pack lunch and make a day of it! I highly recommend checking it out. We will definitely be back next month when we go camping again!

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.)

I've lived in Reno since 1979, and I've never been to the tunnels?! It was so fun! Incredible…read moreviews. No snow yet, making the tremendous rock formations visible. A lot of people, and dogs. A few bikers, of which, I was one. Everyone was friendly and courteous with their pups, and kids. Parking was easy in the lot by Sugar Bowl Ski Resort. If biking, I recommend a fat tire bike as the gravel is deep in random spots in the tunnels. Water trickles through in several spots. I recommend a head lamp in addition to your fully charged bike light, some tunnels are really dark, and long!

Chasing (roadside) waterfalls…read more.. This is a pretty decent roadside waterfall off Highway 50 (between Sac and Lake Tahoe) near Pollock Pines. It is pretty during spring as snow melting gives the waterfall a good amount of flow with a drop of 80-ft. Nice stop to stretch out the legs at the same time. The waterfall grabs your attention whether you're driving to or from Lake Tahoe. The falls is to your right as you head to the Lake. I suppose you can pull over on the opposite side of the highway to get a full view of the falls but I wouldn't cross the road as it is dangerous because there are blind turns, sometimes cars and trucks whiz by fast and furious down this road. Easy access where you literally just pull over into a very large pullout right in front of the falls. This waterfalls is about 60 miles from our place. It is worth stopping to look at, at least once, on your way to Lake Tahoe. Review #2106 updated

Worth the quick stop to get out, stretch and check it out on the drive to Tahoe or back! Very cool…read morelittle falls on an easy pull out.

Great place to go on an adventure! It is well maintained by nature and well kept by visitors.read more

This was a drive through in May of 2019. We missed the snow fall, but there was plenty of snow on…read morethe sides of the road and in the trees. The streams were running swiftly and they sky was cloudy. Picturesque in every way and from every angle. The roads are well maintained so driving was a breeze and allowed me to take in the scenic wonders. We did stop at the Donner Memorial Park and spent some time looking and exploring. We managed to find a spot where we could play in the snow for a little bit. Any time of year would be a good time to come and visit such a grand forest. From the Bay Area it's a wonderful day trip.

I'm fully in my hiking/camping era at this point, so we decided to take a short drive and check out…read moreFrazier Falls. And honestly? This is my kind of hike. It's about a mile, easy, and paved, so you're not out there fighting for your life...but still has a high payoff at the end, which is really all I'm asking for these days When we got there, the waterfall was actually flowing, which always feels like a win. And on the way back, we cut through some rocks and were able to see where the waterfall starts, which made it even cooler. If you're nearby in early spring, I highly recommend checking out Frazier Falls. Easy, quick, and worth it...basically the perfect low-effort, high-reward hike.

Our favorite hike in the whole area. It comes to mind every time we visit our relatives in…read moreLoyalton.

One of my favorite hike in Tahoe National Park ! Sure it's about 5.5 miles RT but it's quite a…read moreworkout with the elevations gains and loose rocks but definetly worth it with all the stunning gorgeous view on top ! Will be back

Excellent hiking trail, except for about the first one quarter. All trails rates this as a hard…read moreTrail. What makes the trail hard is the continuous uphill grade, and about the last half mile. Just take your time, we're good hiking shoes, and bring water. You'll be fine. I did the hike mid October 2020. It was about 60 degrees at the trailhead, but the wind at the peak was at least 35 miles an hour. And it was cold. I went from short sleeves and short pants to a warm coat with a hood. I can't imagine doing this Trail in the snow, although apparently that's a thing. As with most steep trails, the trip up is tiring and the trip down is a constant battle with slipping. there's tons of cool geology along this Trail, although there isn't a lot written about it. Read up on the general geology of the Donner Pass area.