California · Hiking · Near Sunnyside-Tahoe City

Paradise Lake

Paradise LakePhoto: ilya_ktsn, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
2.1 mi
round trip
148 ft
climb
7,741 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Aug
best months

Is Paradise Lake 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.

Paradise Lake is an easy out-and-back hike of about 2 miles in the Sierraville Ranger District of Tahoe National Forest in California. It starts at a low point of about 7,585 feet and rises to a high point of about 7,741 feet, with a total elevation gain of about 150 feet, and the Forest Service manages the land. The route is a natural-surface trail, and it is open year round. Bikes and horses are both allowed. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical July averages from a nearby weather station at Sagehen Creek run to highs around 80°F and lows near 37°F. That station sits roughly 1,400 feet lower than the high point of the hike, so temperatures on the trail run cooler. The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail #2000 passes within about a third of a mile of the lake. Warren Lake is about a mile away. White Rock campground is about 1.5 miles off, and North Creek, a canoeing spot, is about 2 miles away.

Around this trail

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

    Paradise Lake

    Campground

    Campground · 0.8 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Donner Day Lodge

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 6 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 Paradise Lake

    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, 7.6 mi away at 6,337 ft. The station sits about 1,400 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.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail #2000Photo: ilya_ktsn, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail #2000

Next door

46.34-mile out-and-back trail on the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail in California with 7,335 ft gain/loss.

Warren LakePhoto: ilya_ktsn, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Warren Lake

~2 min drive

3.8-mile out-and-back trail in California with 980 ft elevation gain.

Warren Lake TrailPhoto: ilya_ktsn, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Warren Lake Trail

~3 min drive

2.46-mile out-and-back hike in California with 860 ft elevation gain.

Hole in the GroundPhoto: scorpio-tiger, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Hole in the Ground

~6 min drive

16.58-mile out-and-back trail in California with 1,132 ft gain.

HIKE

MEADOW LAKE LOOP

~8 min drive

35.38-mile out-and-back trail in California with 5,340 ft elevation gain.

Castle Peak TrailPhoto: simonov, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Castle Peak Trail

~5 min drive

2.54-mile out-and-back hike in California with 1,396 ft of elevation gain

Lower Lola Montez TrailPhoto: ray_explores, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Lower Lola Montez Trail

~7 min drive

2.02-mile out-and-back trail in California with 431 ft elevation gain

Donner Lake Rim TrailPhoto: ray_explores, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Donner Lake Rim Trail

~7 min drive

24.92-mile out-and-back trail with 1,300 ft gain around Donner Lake in California

Pacific Crest TrailPhoto: ray_explores, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Pacific Crest Trail

~6 min drive

2.4-mile out-and-back trail on the Pacific Crest Trail in California with 1,037 ft gain/loss.

Carpenter Valley Loop TrailPhoto: donner summit historical society, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Carpenter Valley Loop Trail

~9 min drive

0.82-mile out-and-back out-and-back in California with 120 ft elevation gain.