California · Hiking · Near Sunnyside-Tahoe City

Salmon Lake Trail

Salmon Lake TrailPhoto: PLeia2, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
3.0 mi
round trip
263 ft
climb
6,810 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Aug
best months

Is Salmon Lake Trail 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.

Salmon Lake Trail is a 3-mile out-and-back hike in California's Tahoe National Forest, within the American River Ranger District. It's a moderate route with a one-way climb of about 260 feet, from a low point of 6,576 feet to a high of 6,810 feet. The trailhead is named Salmon Lake Trailhead, and the Forest Service manages the land. The trail is natural-surface and bikes are allowed. It stays open year-round, so it works as a short outing in any season. Summer and early fall are the mildest times to go. Typical averages from the Sagehen Creek weather station, about 19 miles away, show July highs around 80°F with lows near 37°F, and September highs around 73°F. Several other destinations sit close by. Big Granite is 0.4 miles away, and the Salmon Lake climbing area is 0.8 miles off. The Salmon Lake Tie Trail is about a mile away, and Big Bend Campground is roughly 2 miles from the trailhead.

Around this trail

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

    Loch Leven Lakes Dispersed Camping

    Campground

    Campground · 1.4 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Subway

    Fast food

    On your way back · 2 mi · Open after 6

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 Salmon Lake Trail

    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, 18.7 mi away at 6,337 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

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