Loch Leven Lakes Hike

“I am considering a hike or an overnighter to the Loch Leven Lakes. I am thinking about September 22nd and 23rd.
It looks like a moderate hike, about 10 miles round trip. The trail head is located at Big Bend Visitor Center just off I-80 in California. The exit is a bit west of Donner Pass.
If anyone of you want to come along, or have any good advice about the area, let me know.
This is my first trip there and I could use a little more data than what is in my guide book. Where are the good spots to camp, is the water from the lake/stream O.K. to filter and drink? Is September to late in the year- to cold or whatever.
Data please!!”

“Tahoe, it's been a couple years but I've been there. Pretty easy hike as I recall, I believe it's only about 7.5 miles. There are a couple lakes back there (3?), I remember swimming in one, also recall some people catching some trout there. Also recall a rattlesnake!”

“There are a bunch of lakes back there. I think there are 7. A couple of them are SWEET for swimming. They should still be pretty nice for dipping in Sept. I saw a couple of nice camping spots back at some of the further ones. I've only day hiked and XC skied back there tho. Of course, if you have a filter, I'm sure the water will be fine to drink.”

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“I remember the scouts doing some rock-jumping into the water back there...Rosey might be right about the # of lakes...

Tahoe, have you considered the other side of I80...going up to the trailhead at Carr / Feely Lakes? There are more lakes back there off those trails than you could hike to in weeks...some good fishing, good swimming, etc.”

“you might like to keep this thread alive till the 10 day group gets back from the llama rama. A couple of CA's(Pepperdog and Obi-wan-canoli)may like to see it. Sorry I can't make it. I've been there before and its a good hike for a group to not have to kill themselves on and still have a good social hike so you'll enjoy it.”

“Loch Leven Lakes are nice especially High Loch Leven Lake, however, given the easy access, these Lakes can get crowded.

Like Wanderer, I prefer the North side of I80. Using either the Carr Lake or Grouse Rdige Trail heads, you can hit Island Lake, Crooked Lakes, Penner Lake or Milk Lake (note these also can get crowded). From there you can go deep and hit Glacier Lake or Beyers Lake of the Five Lakes Basin (rarely see anyone back at these lakes).

Given the areas relatively low altititude 6k-7k feet, September and October are some of the best months to visit this area. Fly fishing in all these lakes can be quite good!”

“Also, if you bushwhack off trail up past Island Lake to some of the smaller lakes you'll find an incredible number of catfish in some of them. The Chinese brought them in when building the roads over the Sierras as a self-replenishing food supply. The water was so cold, however, and therefore the growth season so short, that they seldom exceed 6 or 7 inches. They were so plentiful in one of the lakes that my son was catching them by hand, made for some great photo's.”

“Wanderer, those catfish are in some of the Crooked Lakes. I was amazed when I reeled in what I thought was a trout and saw a catfish. I was wondering how they got in there.”

“The offer for you all to come along is always open. I enjoy hiking with a group of folks who enjoy the outdoors.”

“I might consider a day hike to Loch Leven on the 22nd. Both that trail and Grouse Ridge tend to be pretty busy but they are also pretty pretty.”