Lakes Basin Recreation Area

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.

For more information on the Lakes Basin, contact the Eastern Plumas Chamber of Commerce or Sierra County Chamber of Commerce.