California · Hiking · Near Sunnyside-Tahoe City

Loon Lake Trail

8.2 mi
round trip
638 ft
climb
6,822 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Is Loon Lake Trail open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 2 alerts for Eldorado National Forest.

As of · Source: USFS · Eldorado National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Loon Lake Trail is an 8.2-mile out-and-back hike in the Pacific Ranger District of Eldorado National Forest in California, managed by the Forest Service. The trail rises from about 6,320 feet to about 6,822 feet, with a total elevation gain of 638 feet. It is a hard hike, and the route is natural-surfaced, so expect a rougher path than a developed trail. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Tahoma weather station, which sits at a similar elevation, show July highs around 77°F with lows near 46°F, while winter highs stay in the upper 30s. The trail starts close to Red Peak, about 0.1 mile away, and Highland is about 0.6 mile off. For an overnight stay, Tells Equestrian Campground is about 0.8 mile away and Van Vleck Bunkhouse is about 1 mile away.

Around this trail

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

    Tells Equestrian Cg

    Campground

    Campground · 0.8 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Chambers Landing Bar and Grill

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 13 mi
  • If it rains

    Baldwin Home

    Museum

    Museum · 14 mi from Sunnyside-Tahoe City

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 · May–Oct

    Best time to visit Loon Lake Trail

    Best months: May–October. 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

      37° / 22°

    2. Feb

      38° / 22°

    3. Mar

      43° / 25°

    4. Apr

      49° / 27°

    5. May

      58° / 34°

    6. Jun

      69° / 40°

    7. Jul

      77° / 46°

    8. Aug

      76° / 46°

    9. Sep

      69° / 41°

    10. Oct

      58° / 34°

    11. Nov

      44° / 27°

    12. Dec

      38° / 21°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Tahoma, CA, 12.9 mi away at 6,315 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.

    Closures we've recorded since August 2026

    • Fire Restrictions are in Effect Forest Wide

      Eldorado National Forest · Order dated September 22, 2026; seen Aug 23, 2026 → lifted Nov 2, 2026 · Forest Service

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