California · Hiking · Near Sunnyside-Tahoe City

Loch Leven

8.4 mi
round trip
1,265 ft
climb
6,878 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Aug
best months

Is Loch Leven 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.

Loch Leven is a hard hike in the Yuba River Ranger District of Tahoe National Forest in California, managed by the Forest Service. The route is an out-and-back of about 8.4 miles, with a one-way climb of about 1,265 feet from a low point of roughly 5,788 feet to a high of about 6,878 feet. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Sagehen Creek weather station, which sits about 540 feet lower than the trail's high point, show July highs around 80°F with lows near 37°F, while winter highs stay in the low 40s. The trail is on natural surface and bikes are allowed. The Rainbow A and Rainbow B climbing areas sit about 0.1 mile away, and Big Bend Campground is about 0.2 mile off. Hampshire Rocks Campground is about 0.9 mile away.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Big Bend - Cg

    Campground

    Campground · 0.2 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Rainbow Tavern

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 1 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Sunnyside-Tahoe City

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Jun–Aug

    Best time to visit Loch Leven

    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.

    1. Jan

      40° / 15°

    2. Feb

      41° / 15°

    3. Mar

      48° / 19°

    4. Apr

      53° / 22°

    5. May

      62° / 28°

    6. Jun

      72° / 32°

    7. Jul

      80° / 37°

    8. Aug

      79° / 35°

    9. Sep

      73° / 31°

    10. Oct

      61° / 24°

    11. Nov

      49° / 20°

    12. Dec

      39° / 14°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Sagehen Creek, CA, 17 mi away at 6,337 ft. The station sits about 500 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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