← Part of Donner Pass-Salmon and Loch Leven Lake Access
Donner Pass-Salmon and Loch Leven Lakes Trail
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 4.56 mi
- Elevation gain
- 656 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Easy
- Elevation loss
- 640 ft
- Max elevation
- 6,833 ft
- TrailRank
-
36
4.3
- Min elevation
- 6,559 ft
- Trail type
- Loop
- Coordinates
- 383
- Uploaded
- September 6, 2008
- Recorded
- September 2008
near Cisco, California (United States)
Viewed 3021 times, downloaded 52 times
Itinerary description
Salmon Lake Trail from trailhead to Middle Loch Leven Lake and return. A side trip to Salmon Lake is included in the round trip distance. This trail is the easier way to get to Loch Leven. Most people hike to Loch Leven from the Big Bend / Rainbow exit from the freeway. On weekends Big ben is crowded with the parking lots full and the trail crowded. This Salmon Lake trail on the other hand is fairly quiet, just as beautiful and arrives at Loch Leven with less of an elevaton change. Lakes, meadows, granite, shady forest, look-out to the canyons to the south.
Comments (5)
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CCWanderer,
What's the best route to the trailhead? Is 4WD required?
-NR
Thanks for your interest in this trail. I am not sure it is accessible this time of year, even with a 4X4. Although it does sound like a lovely snowshoe.
The road to the trailhead is here
http://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=192588
Take the Yuba Gap exit-to the north side of Lake Valley Reservior. Then follow signs to Huysinks lake. The trailhead is after huysinks.
After the snow melts and the road dries out, this road is perfectly acceptible for a regular car even though the last 4 miles are dirt. The road is much better than the alot of those over in the Grouse ridge area, if you are familiar with those. For the last mile, perhaps you might want something with a little bit high clearance depending on when the last time the road was graded. But I drive there in my regular car with no trouble ( at least in 2008)
So, just to entice you more, next summer when you try this, there one drive up cache along the dirt road .. GC1D94Q. and there is another nice one near Salmon lake GCGCDM. ENJOY
Ok NavadaRambler. The road is out of snow and drivable. (6/7/09) The potholes and rocks are easily avoidable, but still a high clearance vehicle is best.
Just did this trail yesterday. Lovely hike. A bit more granite scrambling than this ol’ hiker prefers, but definitely doable. Even in July, there was plenty of wild flowers blooming as the trail takes you from wet meadows to exposed granite ... lots to see and admire.
As far as the driving, the road was rough! A high-clearance vehicle is a must. 4WD and AWD would be preferred but regular drive will get you there too. Just be prepared to be jolted & bounced around with a few big “ka-dunks” thrown in just to keep you alert!
I have followed this trail View more
Information
Easy to follow
Scenery
Moderate
Just did this trail yesterday. Lovely hike. A bit more granite scrambling than this ol’ hiker prefers, but definitely doable. Even in July, there was plenty of wild flowers blooming as the trail takes you from wet meadows to exposed granite ... lots to see and admire.
As far as the driving, the road was rough! A high-clearance vehicle is a must. 4WD and AWD would be preferred but regular drive will get you there too. Just be prepared to be jolted & bounced around with a few big “ka-dunks” thrown in just to keep you alert!