Hiking the Angora Lakes Trail in Lake Tahoe, California
Distance (Roundtrip): 1.5 miles / 2.4 km
The Angora Lakes Trail, on the California side of Lake Tahoe, is a very short out-and-back day hike that leads to two beautiful alpine lakes near Fallen Leaf Lake, just outside South Lake Tahoe!
That said, both Upper and Lower Angora Lakes are renowned for their fishing, swimming, and paddling opportunities, with Upper Angora Lake largely being the favorite among most visitors, as it is located against a beautiful and dramatic granite backdrop beneath Echo Peak!
Now, what all this doesn’t say is that the Angora Lakes Trail is a very popular summer destination, both among day hikers and those with lodging reservations for one of the rustic cabins at the Angora Lakes Resort. This is why I recommend visiting first thing in the morning to experience and enjoy both lakes before they inevitably become more crowded throughout the day, which is common during the busy summer travel season!
Angora Lakes Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Angora Lakes Trail is located in a paid parking area at the very end of Angora Ridge Road, similar to the Bayview Day-Use Area, which serves both the Maggie’s Peak Trail and the Cascade Falls Trail a few minutes away.
I mention these other trails because, like the Bayview Day-Use Area, federal recreation passes are not valid in lieu of the small parking fee.
Google Maps Directions: Angora Lakes Trailhead
Hiking Checklist - Lake Tahoe
The Lake Tahoe Basin is Black Bear country, and, as with any area that is home to Black Bears, hiking with or without bear spray is up to your own discretion and comfort level.
With that in mind, here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in the Lake Tahoe Basin.
Hiking the Angora Lakes Trail
The Angora Lakes Trail begins from the upper parking lot, where the trail follows the unpaved portion of Angora Ridge Road to both lakes.
The Angora Lakes Trail is a very gradual uphill adventure, gaining roughly 230 ft. (70 m) over 0.75 miles (1.2 km) to Upper Angora Lake.
That said, most of the uphill is from the trailhead to Lower Angora Lake, meaning the trail becomes much easier to hike from that point on!
The most important thing that those with cabin reservations should know is that private vehicles are not allowed past the paved parking area below.
This means that, even if you are staying overnight in one of the rustic cabins at either lake, everything you bring must be hiked in on the Angora Lakes Trail shown here!
This is about as steep as the Angora Lakes Trail ever gets!
After just over 0.4 miles (0.6 km), the Angora Lakes Trail passes the path that leads down to Lower Angora Lake on the left-hand side.
This is the short side trail down to Lower Angora Lake.
Lower Angora Lake
This is Lower Angora Lake, the far less popular of the two lakes, largely because it does not have a beach like Upper Angora Lake and, in my opinion, is simply not as beautiful.
Nevertheless, it is still very beautiful, and I recommend walking the short distance to see it, though it is hard to compare it with Upper Angora Lake, which sits directly beneath the dramatic granite cliffs of Echo Peak!
After Lower Angora Lake, there is not much elevation left to gain on the hike to the resort at the end!
Just before the end of Angora Ridge Road, the Angora Lakes Trail branches away from the road on the right-hand side.
Angora Lakes Resort
The very end of the Angora Lakes Trail is Angora Lakes Resort, a privately operated resort on National Forest land, where visitors can book one of nine rustic cabins located here and down at Lower Angora Lake.
That said, reservations for the resort are highly competitive, and those interested must apply for the waitlist for a chance to receive a reservation, which you can learn all about using the official booking link below.
Book Here: Angora Lakes Resort
Upper Angora Lake
This is Upper Angora Lake and the end of the Angora Lakes Trail!
Once here, visitors can go swimming and fishing and even rent kayaks and paddle boards from the resort—and don’t forget to try the resort’s fresh-squeezed lemonade, which is arguably the best part about visiting on a hot summer day!
Warning
In the summer of 2015, a man tragically died at Upper Angora Lake in a cliff-jumping accident on the far side of the lake.
I mention this not to discourage anyone from swimming in the lake, but to remind all to always check the depth of the water before attempting a jump here or elsewhere. This was certainly a preventable tragedy, as drugs and alcohol were not believed to be a factor in the accident.
California
Nevada
