Five Lakes Basin
Photo: ilya_ktsn, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)- 2.0 mi
- round trip
- 561 ft
- climb
- 7,578 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Jun–Aug
- best months
Is Five Lakes Basin open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists an alert for Tahoe National Forest.
Camping and Campfire Restrictions-Truckee and Sierraville Districts
Agency alert covering Tahoe National Forest · Order 17-25-05 · USFS · Tahoe National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Tahoe National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Five Lakes Basin is an easy out-and-back hike in California's Tahoe National Forest, within the Yuba River Ranger District. The trail is about 2 miles long, with an elevation gain of about 560 feet, and it rises from roughly 7,000 feet to about 7,578 feet at its high point. The route is on natural surface and is open year-round. Bikes are allowed, so it works well as a ride as well as a walk. Summer and early fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Sagehen Creek show July highs around 80°F and September highs near 73°F, with temperatures on this hike running cooler than at the station because the trail sits higher. The Sand Ridge Trail starts about 0.4 miles away, and the Baltimore trail is about 1.6 miles off. Fordyce Creek, a paddling spot, is about 2.3 miles away, and Grouse Ridge campground is about 2.9 miles away.
Local outfitters
- Alpenglow Expeditions22 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Best time to go · Jun–Aug
Best time to visit Five Lakes Basin
Best months: June–August. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
40° / 15°
Feb
41° / 15°
Mar
48° / 19°
Apr
53° / 22°
May
62° / 28°
Jun
72° / 32°
Jul
80° / 37°
Aug
79° / 35°
Sep
73° / 31°
Oct
61° / 24°
Nov
49° / 20°
Dec
39° / 14°
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Sagehen Creek, CA, 17.1 mi away at 6,337 ft. The station sits about 1,200 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
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