Twin Lake and Meadow Lake Trail is a 5.1 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Markleeville, California that features a lake and is good for all skill levels. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from May until October. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.
SEASONAL ROAD CLOSURE: Roads leading to this trailhead are subject to seasonal closure. For more information, please visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/htnf/alerts-notices. 4x4 Road from Lower Blue Lake to Meadow Lake that is great for hiking/biking or off road driving. Features day use areas at Twin Lake. Meadow Lake has no facilities. Surrounding area is pristine mountain peaks with forest, abundant wild flowers and native Sierra mushrooms.
Twin Lake has restrooms and day use areas. Meadow Lake has no facilities.
Road can be driven, hiked or mountain biked depending on your preference.
Look for signs at the Lower Blue Lakes day use area.
December 6, 2020The Blue Lake entrance appears to be closed for OHV. About 1/4 mile off Hwy 88.
October 4, 2020Escaped the smoke in the valley and was happy to see that the gate was closed at the Blue Lake end of the trail, which meant we didn't need to worry about dodging vehicles. The water level at Meadow Lake was pretty low but still very nice, and as we arrived a man landed a beautiful rainbow trout! Climbing back up we scrambled over boulders in the creek and found some pretty cascades along the way. Only saw 3 people on the trail, plus 3 fisherpersons, and 2 deer!
September 25, 2020Amazing!
August 29, 2020Excellent hike - out of the smoke from all of the wild fires. Highlight was circumnavigating around Meadow Lake.
August 16, 2020July 19, 2020The only thing that did not make this 100% outstanding is that the trail is a road. We had, a few times, to jump out of the way of the trucks and dune buggies going by, sometimes too quickly. So gorgeous, ton of wildflowers, beautiful lakes, we had a lovely mild thunderstorm action. amazing!
July 8, 2020The lakes were beautiful and the flowers were gorgeous! I don't think that the mileage is accurate though. Possibly the parking area is new and closer to Twin Lake now. We hiked, but bikes would be lots of fun and I think kids could easily handle this terrain.
August 8, 2019We took an off-road adventure bike up to the lake and then hiked down. It’s a long hike on 4WD Road The lakes are both stunning! The wildflowers, at the lakes we’re beautiful today, August 8 2019
July 29, 2019A great lake to day camp and picnic/grill. Fishing, kayaking, bathroom. I've been here several times and each time it's been very quiet with almost no other visitors. Water levels have always been high. Getting to the lake from the highway is a bit rough. All times had to 4x4. It is quite buggy, and has a decent amount of "sandy" (mostly pebbles) area to sit and enjoy the view. Last few years there was a beautiful couple of Eagles nesting and fishing, was awesome to watch. The hiking felt very natural, no man made trails. Peaceful.
July 20, 2019Relatively easy/moderate hike. Gorgeous wildflowers all along the trail and both lakes are very pretty with great views. The trail is more of a fire road than a trail. It was closed to. Bricks traffic which made for a peaceful hike. Overall, the trail was in pretty good shape - some snow berms after Twin lake but easy to get over.
August 17, 2018Beautiful back country dirt road. I used to camp between meadow lake and twin lake as a kid and it's still as beautiful as ever. Meadow lake has leeches. Just FYI. not sure about Twin lake. Theres a few more lakes up in the mountains that are between the blue lakes and twin lake.
July 31, 2018Was there on 7/28/2018. Trail was open by this time. Twin Lake and Meadow Lake are beautiful little lake. A short 1/4 mile to get to Meadow Lake from the end of the 4x4 trail. - John
June 24, 2018The 4x4 road to Meadow Lake was closed off so we didn’t get to try it out. The other trail has big boulders in the path. Definitely need a lift for proper clearance. Beautiful area though! Lots of families fishing and swimming. Looks like tons of fun for that!
March 1, 2018Drove it and fished the lakes with my Dad on a camping trip. The only time I was and will ever be in the area. Beautiful area....
September 16, 2017
First to ReviewNice easy hike, can also driven or mountain biked easily depending on weather.
August 29, 2020August 18, 2020July 19, 2020June 20, 2020August 4, 2019July 21, 2019July 20, 2019July 6, 2019June 29, 2019
