Adopt A Trail

The club's Adopt A Trail is the Snake Lake Trail, located in the Tahoe National Forest near the Lakes Basin Recreation Area between Graeagle and Basset Station. This area is a popular recreation area for outdoor enthusiasts of all types, including several other OHV trails that are maintained by other clubs.

Directions

There are three recommended routes for reaching the area:

Highway 49 via Grass Valley, Downieville, and Sierra City

Highway 70 via Oroville, Quincy to Highway 89 at Graeagle

Highway 89 via Truckee

From Highway 49:

At Basset Station, just a few miles east of Sierra City, turn north on the Lakes Basin Highway. Proceed over the summit towards Gold Lake. Turn left at the road to the Gold Lake Boat Launch, and proceed to the trailhead for the Gold Lake Jeep Trail.

From Highway 89:

At Graeagle, turn south on the Lakes Basin Highway. Proceed up the canyon towards Gold Lake. Just beyond the lake, turn right at the road to the boat launch, and proceed to the trailhead for the Gold Lake Jeep Trail.

If you're traveling from Truckee, you have the option of proceeding to Graeagle on Highway 89, or taking Highway 49 to Basset Station. Either are suitable routes and will take about the same time.

At the Gold Lake Jeep Trail staging area:

Air down here, then follow this trail around the lake and to the summit. You'll find Summit Lake on the left, and an OHV trail to the right (north) that runs along the ridge. Follow this trail until you reach a branch trail to the left. The Snake Lake Trail proceeds straight ahead (north) from this junction. Look for the Adopt A Trail sign at this intersection.

Trail Rating

The trail has different ratings depending on your direction of travel. If you choose to travel down Snake Lake Hill from the trailhead discussed above, the trail is rated as moderate. If you are going to climb Snake Lake Hill, it is rated difficult.

Trail Description

The trail is characterized by it's three sections. The following discussion traverses the trail from the above trailhead to it's intersection with the Gold Valley Road.

The first third of the trail runs north along the ridge. It parallels the Pacific Crest Trail for just over a mile. There are several scenic overlooks of Gold Lake as you drive along the ridge. Near the end of this section is a Y intersection. To the right is a short trail that deadends at a hiking trailhead. The 4WD trail proceeds to the left, meandering through some squeezes between trees and around small meadows. The trail skirts Oakland Pond and soon reaches Snake Lake Hill. Oakland Pond has a meadow that you might be tempted to drive onto and camp, but this area has been closed by the Forest Service. Please respect this closure--there are many other equally nice campsites.

The middle third of the trail is the steep, loose rock hill named Snake Lake Hill. It descends almost 500 feet in only one quarter mile. The top presents an initial challenge of a sharp right turn between a rock and a tree. Full size rigs will need to back up to attack this squeeze, and most Jeeps will need two turns to be properly positioned. You'll soon break out of the trees and have a sweeping view to the northwest. Below you is the remainder of the hill with Snake Lake at the bottom. The next stretch goes over several boulders which invariably produce some air time, and ends with a squeeze between two trees and a switchback. The remaining section is very loose rock through a series of switchbacks to the lake. Snake Lake offers a good area for a lunch stop and the opportunity to watch others attack the climb up the hill. The ascent is best attacked with a lockered vehicle. Those with anything less will soon bog down in the loose rock.

The lower third begins by winding along the Snake Lake shoreline and proceeds towards the junction with the Little Deer Lake Trail. Continuing to the right will keep you on the Snake Lake Trail. You will continue to lose altitude as you travel over a rock strewn trail. The last section consists of downhill travel on a loose dirt trail to the Gold Valley Road. This road can be taken south, back towards the Sierra Buttes and Highway 49, or north towards Plumas Eureka State Park and Graeagle.

Vehicle Recommendations

This trail is suitable for 4WD vehicles of all sizes. Large rigs will find the squeezes between trees very tight, but they will get through. Lifted suspensions are recommended, and lockers (recommended) or limited slips in excellent condition are valuable for climbing Snake Lake Hill if you choose to travel in that direction. Vehicles going down Snake Lake Hill only will encounter no traction problems.

Camping

The area has many suitable campsites. The most popular is the OHV campground at the west end of Gold Lake. There are several campsites along any of the trails, and Gold Valley offers a number of areas along a stream.

Other Area Trails

As a recreation area, there are a number of other OHV trails nearby:

Gold Lake Jeep Trail

Deer Lake Trail

Little Deer Lake Trail

Gold Valley Trail

Butcher Ranch OHV Trail

Other Facilities

Gas, groceries, ice and other supplies can be found at Downieville, Sierra City, Basset Station, and Graeagle.