California's Overlooked Tahoe National Forest Reservoir Is Ringed By An Easy, Accessible Trail To Swim And Camp

In addition to its gorgeous natural lakes, like Lake Tahoe and Mono Lake, the Sierra Nevada mountain range has several artificial reservoirs that came from large-scale infrastructure projects. Despite their artificial nature, these reservoirs tend to be just as stunning as their natural neighbors, with excellent recreational opportunities to match their scenery. For example, California's French Meadows Reservoir is an under-the-radar Sierra Nevada stop for camping and lakeside views. However, the stunning Sugar Pine Reservoir has a strong claim to being the single most enchanting reservoir in the Sierra Nevada region, and maybe one of the best overall.

About 90 minutes to two hours from the Reno and Sacramento Airports, California's Sugar Pine Reservoir is a smaller, yet magnificent, mountain lake in the heart of magical Sierra Nevada scenery. The reservoir, created by the damming of Shirttail Creek under California's Central Valley Project, is a roughly 165-acre lake nestled in the tree-covered hills of the western Sierra Nevada. Surrounded by picturesque alpine forests, Sugar Pine Reservoir is essentially a mini version of Lake Tahoe, only without the latter's infamous heavy crowds. The lake is part of the Foresthill Divide Road section of the Tahoe National Forest, itself one of the most underrated public lands in the Sierra Nevada. With dense forests, historic sites, rugged canyons, pristine rivers, and nearly 200 named mountains, Tahoe National Forest provides quite the backdrop for the Sugar Pine Reservoir!

With few crowds and a heavenly setting, Sugar Pine Reservoir is the perfect destination for relaxation, fun, and family-friendly activities in one of California's most beautiful areas. Small as the lake is, you can actually walk around its entirety in one single, scenic day-hike, courtesy of the Joshua M. Hardt Memorial Trail. The trail, which covers the lake's entire shoreline, is a fairly flat and easy 4.1-mile loop. Conveniently, the Joshua M. Hardt Memorial Trail begins and ends right next to the lake's parking area, and with minimal elevation gain or challenging sections, most hikers can complete the trail in under two hours (not including time spent stopping to take in the scenery). Sugar Pine Reservoir also features a handicap-accessible picnic area, where visitors can relax and enjoy the breathtaking scenery without any hassle or arduous backcountry treks. If you're looking for more thrills, the Sugar Pine Staging Area is a great starting point for OHV and ATV adventures through the surrounding woods.

Sugar Pine Reservoir is also ideal for water-based recreation. The lake features a convenient boat ramp complete with a floating dock and tie-ups. From here, you can enjoy a day zipping around on a motorized boat or experience an intimate kayaking excursion across its entire surface area. And not only does the lake have a great swimming area, but it's also frequently used as a freshwater scuba diving site! Sugar Pine Reservoir has four main recreation areas and three campsites: the Shirttail Campground, the Forbes Group Campground, and the Giant Gap Campground. If you want to extend your adventure, just 17 miles away is the quaint and beautiful California Gold Rush town of Foresthill, where you can find additional accommodations and plenty more outdoor adventures. And if you're looking to explore more of Lake Tahoe's shorelines, you can also find nearby hidden gems like the chic Nevada town of Incline Village, just a two-hour drive away.