Upper Salmon Lake Trail to Salmon Lake Lodge

Upper Salmon Lake is a reservoir in the Lakes Basin Recreation Area in Sierra County, California. This is a scenic place for picnicking, swimming, kayaking, boating and fishing. Hiking around the lake gets tricky at the south side, but is easy on the north side, where the Upper Salmon Lake Trail connects Salmon Lake Road with the Salmon Lake Lodge. In the beginning, the trail takes you well above the lake. To the left of the rock wall in the picture, the trail goes down to lake level and, after passing the Lodge area, continues on to the small Horse Lake and to Deer Lake, from where further trails connect with the Pacific Crest Trail and the Packer Lake Lodge area.

Getting there
From the Bassetts Station (between Sierra City and Sattley) on Hwy 49 along the North Fork of the Yuba River, take Gold Lake Highway. Go past Packer Lake Road and turn left on Salmon Lake Road. As soon as you can see the reservoir in front and to the left, look out for the Upper Salmon Lake Trailhead on the right side of the road. The hiking distance to the Salmon Lake Lodge area is a little more than one mile and from there to Horse Lake is 1/8 mile. Horse Lake to Deer Lake adds another mile.