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Photos Maps Summary: This is an excellent loop hike in Plumas County that is generally snow-free a little earlier than other alpine hikes because it doesn't get above 7,500'. There are numerous lakes in the area with many different route choices to make and many options for extended trips. Wildflowers are numerous near the beginning of the hike and some can be found on the PCT at the viewpoint over Pauley Creek Canyon. For a shorter hike, check out our other Plumas Lakes Basin Loop description.Distance: 8.30 miles totalElevation Gain/Loss: 1,350' totalSeason: mid-June through OctoberFees & Permits: NoneFinding the Trailhead: 39.69298 N, 120.65632 W (Gold Lake Lodge Trailhead). From the CA-70/89 intersection north of Graeagle, follow CA-89 south for ~2.7 miles and turn right onto the Gold Lake Highway. Follow this southwest for ~7.6 miles and turn right toward Gold Lake Lodge. The small parking area is ~350' off of the highway. From the south (CA-49/Gold Lake Highway intersection at Bassetts), follow the Gold Lake Highway north for ~7.8 miles and turn left toward Gold Lake Lodge. The trail begins off the western end of the small parking area (pit toilets provided).
The Hike: The trail begins by heading southwest on the edge of a meadow where a bunch of Corn Lilies were growing. At ~0.2 miles the first loop junction is reached. The right trail leads to Big Bear Lake. Staying left here, we walked through an open area before beginning to climb in the trees. The trail then broke out of the trees and came to a decent viewpoint of Big Bear Lake to the north (~1.0 mile). We continued to the southwest and trail moved in and out of sparse trees and small meadows. At ~1.4 miles we reached the eastern end of a small pond. The trail continued to climb in the mostly open area with lots of granite and sparse trees. At ~1.8 miles the trail reaches the old Round Lake Gold Mine remains and a nice view over Round Lake. A side-trail leads down to Round Lake. Continuing up the rocky slopes to the south you'll encounter better views north over Round Lake and southeast over Gold Lake. At the southernmost point on this hike the PCT is reached (~2.6 miles). To the south (left), the PCT heads towards the Sierra Buttes. Turning right (north) here, continue climbing to a great view of Gold Lake (~2.65 miles) before reaching more great views (~3.0 miles) looking over Pauley Creek Canyon to the west. Here, we found quite a few wildflowers including Mule Ear, Wallflower, and Phlox. This is a great place to take a rest and take in the views. From this viewpoint you can see Oakland Pond, Little Deer Lake (slightly), and Snake Lake as well as Hawley Meadow to the west. The Sierra Buttes loom to the south. The trail moves north and to the east side of the ridge and offers the best view of Gold Lake for this hike. From there, the trail reaches its high point (where we found some lingering snow drifts) and a nice view of Mt Elwell above Long and Silver Lakes (~3.15 miles).
The trail descends to the northwest and switches to the western side of the ridge before descending into the trees. This section of the trail was particularly peaceful and quiet as it made its way through the trees to the junction with the Silver Lake Trail (~4.6 miles). At this junction, the PCT continues straight (south). Turn right here to follow the Silver Lake Trail to the north and northeast. This part of the trail resembles and old road and eventually starts a small creek. Early in the season there will most likely be some snow here and you'll probably lose the trail. As long as you continue following this small creek to the northeast you'll be fine. When the creek abruptly turns to the east, continue to the northeast and you should either pick up the trail or find the four-way junction with the Mt Elwell Trail (~5.05 miles). At this junction, the Silver Lake Trail continues to the right (southeast) and the Mt Elwell Trail continues straight (north) or to the left (west) to rejoin the PCT. From this junction we followed a use-trail to the northeast and found a nice spot (~5.2 miles) to stop for lunch overlooking Mud and Long Lakes. Back at the Mt Elwell/Silver Lake Trail junction we followed the Silver Lake Trail to the southeast. A longer alternative would involve following the Mt Elwell Trail north and northeast to a four-way junction with the Mud Lake (right/south) and Long Lake (straight/northeast) Trails. The Mt Elwell Trail continues to the north from this junction. Back on the Silver Lake Trail, descend steeply over rocky terrain and a few springs. At ~0.35 miles from the Silver Lake/Mt Elwell junction a great overlook of Mud and Long Lakes is reached. Shortly after this, the trail begins to climb steeply to the south and then turns to the southeast to approach Hellgrammite Lake and its similarly-sized neighbor. Here, is another nice view of Mt Elwell over these small waterbodies. Just east of here the junction with the Mud Lake Trail is reached (~1.0 mile from Mt Elwell/Silver Lake junction). Stay right to continue on the Silver Lake Trail as it descends to the east to the northern shore of Silver Lake (~1.3 miles from Mt Elwell/Silver Lake junction) and a junction with a connector trail. Here the Silver Lake Trail ends and the connector trail heads southeast around the eastern shore of Silver Lake toward Round Lake and the PCT. Turn left at this junction to follow the connector trail north to a great viewpoint of Long Lake (~1.4 miles from Mt Elwell/Silver Lake junction) and then east to the junction with the Bear Lakes Loop (~1.45 miles from the Mt Elwell/SIlver Lake junction). Turn right to follow the small loop trail to the southeast toward Cub Lake (~0.2 miles from the loop junction).
The northern shores of Little Bear and Big Bear Lakes are reached ~0.4 and ~0.6 miles from the loop junction respectively. Here you'll really start to notice the mosquitoes. For this reason we did not stick around for very long. At ~0.8 miles from the loop junction a junction with a connector trail leading back toward the Gold Lake Lodge Trailhead is reached. Turn right here (left leads back to Elwell Lodge Trailhead) and cross the outlet from Big Bear Lake where there is a nice view over the lake to the south. Continue following the connector trail to the east where it heads into some trees on the edge of a small meadow. After ~0.4 miles from leaving the Bear Lakes Loop Trail a small trail splits off to the left (northeast). Ignore this small trail and continue following the connector trail as it swings south and then east to close the loop (~0.5 miles from the Bear Lakes Loop Trail) just west of the trailhead. Turn left (east) and follow the Round Lake Trail back to the Gold Lake Lodge Trailhead (~0.7 miles from Bear Lakes Loop Trail).
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