A short five mile drive from Highway 50 in Meyers up Highway 89 will be the Big Meadow parking lot and trail head. This trail splinters off in a couple different directions to various lakes but we were headed to Round Lake. This is a popular summer hike for families and many we passed on the trail also had their dogs.
Nice little hike from Big Meadow to Round Lake
It is a good trail that starts at 7,240′ and rises to 8,040′ in elevation at Round Lake. One way distance is 3.25 miles. It took us about 1 hour and 50 minutes to hike up to the lake and a little less traveling back.
Blond scarab beetle opening up trying to fly.
Warm water, but not crystal clear
Round Lake is a great spot for picnics and fishing. While some are content to stop at the southern edge of the lake, I hiked up further to the granite outcropping on the northern end. I didn’t swim, but my son, who did go for a dip, said the water was unusually warm. The water is not crystal clear like Lake Tahoe even though it is fed with snow melt from mountain streams.
Intersection of Sierras and Carson mountain ranges
Hunk of consolidated cement rock from the Carson mountain range.
The mountains surrounding the lake are a stark contrast. On the west and northern end are the Sierras of solid granite. The eastern side is made up of the Carson mountain range which is a composite of consolidated metamorphic rock. After you pass through Big Meadow you will begin to notice large chunks of rock that look like cemented road base.
Consolidated cement of Carson
It wasn’t apparent until we reached Round Lake that all the boulders of consolidated cement had come from the towering peak to the east. One huge piece was the size of small house and must have created quite a rumble as it tumbled down the slope and came to rest next Round Lake.
Scarab beetles and Osprey
Even in early July we came across tiger looking butterflies in Big Meadow and a pretty blue feather like butterflies hovering around the edges of Round Lake. Before we got to the lake we helped a highly adorned scarab beetle right himself and cross the trail. We also got to see Osprey diving in Round Lake to catch fish. That was a pretty cool sight. There was even small mountain trout in the creek in Big Meadow that we coaxed to snap at some weeds they thought were flies on landing on the water.
Great day hike
Overall it is a pleasant day hike. I would rate it as moderate to strenuous depending on your condition and summer heat. With plenty of other trails to explore, I am sure we will be back for more hiking.
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Trail from Big Meadow parking lot up to Round Lake.