California · Hiking · Near Nevada City

Round Lake

Round LakePhoto: ray_explores, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
5.2 mi
round trip
526 ft
climb
7,087 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Aug
best months

Caution today

Agency alerts are in effect for this area; weather is good · USFS, OpenWeather · checked 1 min ago

Is Round 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.

Round Lake is a 5.2-mile out-and-back hike in the Yuba River Ranger District of Tahoe National Forest in California. The trail rises 526 feet from a low point of 6,657 feet to a high of 7,087 feet, and the climb is rated moderate. The route is on natural surface, and it's open to both horses and bikes. The Forest Service manages the land, and the hike is open year-round. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Sagehen Creek weather station run from highs around 72°F in June to about 80°F in July, with July lows near 37°F. That station sits roughly 750 feet lower than the trail's high point, so temperatures up top run cooler. The Downey Lake hike starts just 0.2 miles away, and Glacier Lake is 0.6 miles off. Grouse Ridge campground is 0.7 miles away, and the Island Lake Boulders climbing area is about a mile from the trail.

Around this trail

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

    Sanford Lake

    Campground

    Campground · 0.6 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Subway

    Fast food

    Open after 6
  • If it rains

    Golden Drift Museum

    Museum

    On your way back · 18 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Nevada City

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Jun–Aug

    Best time to visit Round 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, 19.6 mi away at 6,337 ft. The station sits about 800 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

Downey LakePhoto: ray_explores, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Downey Lake

Next door

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Glacier LakePhoto: ray_explores, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

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PASS CREEK LOOPPhoto: M. Rhodes Photography, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

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