Silver Lake is one of several pretty bodies of water sprinkled along the south side of Highway 88 in the Carson Pass Area. At 7,200 feet elevation the water is always pretty too look at but too cold for prolonged swimming.
Several nearby campsites in the Eldorado National Forest are available to overnight visitors, as is the dog-friendly Plasse's Resort and others that don't accept pets.
The many hiking trails in the area lead to spectacular viewpoints and other lakes and streams. Silver Lake is noted for its fishery of rainbow, Mackinaw and German brown trout.
Boat launch facilities are available.