There’s nothing difficult about hiking this scenic trail along Loon Lake on the Rubicon Trail, which offers picturesque images of the lake if you venture off the forested trail a little bit for the views. Along the way you will hike past granite rocks and hills as the trail is a gateway to Desolation Wilderness. This hike is purely about the scenery and not much of a challenge, as the trail is nicely maintained.
I hiked in 4.1 miles to the Pleasant Campground sign and made that my turnaround point. If you venture on into Desolation Wilderness, you will need a free permit to enter, which you need to fill out at the trailhead.
At the time of this writing, parking cost $8, as the National Forest Service was in the process of handing management of the developed recreation area over to a private company.
Directions: From Sacramento, take Highway 50 East to Ice House Road. Take Ice House Road for 29 miles to Red Fir Access and turn right and follow it to the Loon Lake Campground.
The Skinny:
Trail: Loon Lake
Trailhead Coordinates: 38.982417, -120.314683
Trailhead Elevation: 6474 Feet
Distance: 7.6 Miles – Out and Back
Level of Difficulty: 🟡
Average Grade: .4%
Steepest Grade: 5.9% over .2 Miles
Ascension: 897 Feet
Trail Condition: 🟢🟢🟢
Scenery: 🟢🟢🟢🟢
Nearest Town: Pollock Pines
Challenges: None
Trail Traffic: 🥾
Highlights: Scenery, Lake Views
Best Time: Spring, Summer, Fall
Hazards: Temperatures higher than 90 degrees Fahrenheit
Wildlife Concerns: Bears, Mountain Lions
Would I Do This Hike Again?: Yes
Parking: $8 at the time of this writing
Restrooms: Vaulted toilets at the trailhead in the parking lot