The Lakes Basin Recreation Area, straddling Sierra and Plumas counties, contains dozens of great fishing lakes, most of them accessible by hiking and horse trails. Gold Lake, the largest, has a boat landing and nearby stables. A number of quaint lakeside lodges in the area offer rustic accommodations and fine dining.
Formed by glaciers and filled with reminders of the 19th-century mining days, the Lakes Basin area offers pristine camping and hiking—all of it dog-friendly—as well as popular mountain-biking trails. The most prominent feature on the landscape is the Sierra Buttes, a series of jagged peaks reminiscent of the Swiss Alps, with a hiking trail to the top.
The Gold Lake Highway through the Lakes Basin area is not plowed during the winter, making it a popular playground for snowmobilers and cross-country skiers.
