Backpacking to Glacier Lake from Grouse Ridge in the Tahoe National Forest can be both challenging and rewarding. Backpacking it is hard.
The campground area at Crystal Lake is primitive but spacious. We arrived earlier than most of the backpackers the day we arrived and were lucky enough to be able to camp away from the main camping area and be down closer to Crystal Lake. We were able to do this because we spent the night before at the Grouse Ridge Campground and then headed over to the backpacking parking area and started early before the backpackers arrived.
The trail starts on a 1.3-mile descent (you will have to climb back up it when you return – more on that later) down into the forest. From the top of Grouse Ridge at 7,441 feet, before you descend, you can look down on Milk Lake at about 7,083 feet. The view gives you sweeping views of the Tahoe National Forest, and you can see the Sierra Buttes at around 12 miles to the north.
As you descend down the trail into the forest, you start to hike under the pine canopy. Along the way, you might encounter both backpackers and day hikers, but they were few and far between the day we backpacked.
At about 1.3 miles, you will come to an intersection of trails. The Grouse Ridge Trail turns and goes north, but you want to continue east on the Glacier Lake Trail. At about another 370 feet you will come to another trail intersection. Bypass the Sand Ridge Trail which heads northeast and continue on the Glacier Ridge Trail.
The hike was pleasant, was up and down, and eventually came to a green meadow. We kept hearing bells in the distance, and we could not figure out what was making them ring until we rounded a corner and came upon a large herd of cattle. While some of them stared at us as we passed, they gave us no issues. We did not see them on our return the following day, nor could we hear the cowbells. But we did have to step over a few cowpies on the trail.
After we came out of the meadow, about a .5-mile ascent began on about an 8.5 percent grade, and got seemingly steeper at points, and it did not seem to end. When we got to the top, we thought we were at the lake. A group of day hikers was not far behind us, and we were talking and questioned where the lake was, as there was some water in an area, and we thought the lake was dry. The trail wasn’t easy to find at that point, where the area was exposed, and we really thought we were at the end.
Refusing to believe it, we looked around for a bit and picked up the trail and headed further east a little more than a quarter of a mile and came to the campground and found the lake.
The Glacier Lake was awesome. Not too many people went in, but it was swimmable, and the water a had pretty green sheen to it.
Coming back, and I don’t know why I was affected more than others, but the 1.3 mile climb back up to Grouse Ridge on a 6.8 percent grade was hard, and I had to make frequent stops to rest. I’m not sure what was going on as others past us (me) with ease.
Directions: From Sacramento, take Interstate 80 East for about 78 miles and take exit 161 to California Highway 20 West for about 3.8 miles and turn right onto Forest Route 18/Bowman Lake Road for 6.3 miles. Turn right onto Grouse Ridge Road for 5 miles and turn onto Grouse Ridge Road for .2 miles. Four-wheel drive vehicles are recommended. You will not be driving on pavement, and you may encounter rough ruts in the road. Parking is here: 39.390883, -120.609350
The Skinny
Trail: Grouse Ridge Trail & Glacier Lake Trail
Trailhead Coordinates: 39.391150, -120.608933
Trailhead Elevation: 7441 Feet
Distance: 7.9 Miles Out And Back
Level Of Difficulty: 🟠
Average Grade: 4.8%
Steepest Grade: 17.9% Over 390 Feet
Ascension: 691 Feet
Trail Condition: 🟢🟢🟢
Scenery: 🟢🟢🟢
Nearest Town: Truckee
Challenges: Continual Climbs Up
Traffic: 🥾
Highlights: Scenery, Making It To Crystal Lake
Best Time: Spring, Summer, Fall
Hazards: Dehydration, Temperatures Over 90 Degrees
Wildlife Concerns: Bears, Mountain Lions, Rattlesnakes
Cell Service: 📵 Verizon
Would I Do This Hike Again?: Possibly
Parking: Free At The Time Of This Writing
Restrooms: At Grouse Ridge Campground