Goodbye Lake Tahoe, So Long Big Bear: These High-Elevation Lakes Are Less-Crowded Beauties For Outdoor Fun

Tucked into the Eastern Sierra 100 miles south of Lake Tahoe, just before you reach the eerie lunar landscape of Mono Lake en route to the east entrance to Yosemite, is a cluster of idyllic, high alpine lakes that receive far fewer visitors than the popular destinations surrounding them. The Virginia Lakes Basin harbors a dozen glistening, emerald-green lakes, three of which you can drive to, with camping, fishing, and hiking galore. Rugged granite peaks tower over them, reflected in the exceptionally clear, mirror-like waters, which are largely undisturbed save for the occasional fisherman gliding by in a motorless craft. "Easily the most beautiful campsite I've been to," wrote one Redditor after stumbling on Virginia Lakes on a motorcycle tour of Highway 395.

Nestled in an overlooked corner of the vast Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, which spans Eastern California and Western Nevada, this destination is easy to reach, yet off the beaten path. With the main trailhead and Lakeshore Campground sitting at just under 10,000 feet, this is a great escape from summer heat in Nevada or California's Central Valley, but its relative isolation keeps the crowds away. Virginia Lakes Basin is around four hours from Sacramento, five hours from Las Vegas, and just shy of three hours from Reno.

This is the kind of secret mountain destination where families build generational memories recreating together, and it's not uncommon to find reports of people reminiscing about childhood visits. When you arrive, you can't help but vibe with the classic, nostalgic nature of the place, which seems to exist outside of time. This is also hands-down one of the best places in California for a hike to see fall color, with a kaleidoscope of shimmering reds and oranges as the aspens tremble in the breeze.

The Virginia Lakes Trailhead is the gateway to the region, with options for all levels. The hike to Frog Lakes is a short 3.4-mile excursion that nonetheless takes you to no fewer than five glistening mountain lakes. Be prepared for high-altitude hiking, because it's not just the beauty of the scenery that will leave you breathless here. If you're in shape and up for a day-long excursion gaining over 2,500 feet of lung-busting elevation on what one AllTrails user calls "nicely graded switch-backs," continue on the same trail to Summit Lake, well above 11,000 feet. Here you'll reach a high pass where, according to another hiker and camper writing on TheDyrt, "you get a spectacular view on the other side looking towards Yosemite." This longer trek also makes an excellent weekend backpacking trip. 

Anglers can access Trumbull, Big Virginia, and Little Virginia lakes by car, making it easy to launch a kayak or float tube. These larger, lower lakes are all stocked with rainbow, brook, and brown trout for the season, which runs from late April through Mid-November — opening day is a celebratory event known as "fishmas." Early in the season, the lakes will still be slushy with melting ice.

A short hike to any of the nearby lakes and creeks yields access to natural trout, and the clear, icy waters make them easy to spot. "It was the best trip I've had fishing wise ever," wrote one Redditor from Las Vegas after a week-long family trip camping and fishing. "So good in fact I'm calling today to book next year's trip ... I love hiking for those natural fish, but you can't beat excellent fishing in the morning, drink and eat in the afternoon, and then excellent fishing in the evening."

Trumbull Lake Campground is rustic, small, and charming, with just 24 sites nestled under lodgepole pines, several right on the water. You'll find bear boxes and vault toilets here, but no RV hookups, making this an intimate escape perfect for tent camping, quiet days fishing for trout, and hiking. Hard to believe all this solitude is just a short, six-mile detour off Highway 395, aka "California's most scenic drive." You can actually walk to three lakes from camp, as well as the region's main trailhead. 

Prospective boondockers can camp for free at two primitive sites, Upper and Lower Virginia Creek Campgrounds, lower down on Virginia Lakes Road, before you reach the lakes. Both are unreserved, with pit toilets and bear boxes, and can accommodate small RVs, vans, and tents.

If you're after a classic mountain lake lodge experience, the nostalgic and rustic Virginia Lakes Resort has camping, quaint wooden cabins, a restaurant, and a market. Built in 1923, it remains totally off the grid. Want to get the kids away from their screens? This place has no cell service or internet. It'll get you away from your own modern conveniences, too, as it has no ATM and is cash-only. Even if you're not staying, it's worth stopping by. "We had breakfast at this little cafe/store and it was like going back in time," wrote one Google reviewer. You'll also be surrounded by wildlife. "Deer and a couple bears walked around freely every night which was really cool entertainment," writes another Google reviewer who spent the night. If you don't fancy camping or want more dining options, you can always make the unspoiled California town of Lee Vining, 25 minutes south, or the underrated fall getaway town of Bridgeport, 25 minutes north, your base camp.