Five Lakes Basin

Overall, these trails are well-maintained and easy to follow through the lakes at the beginning. Start the hike on the Round Lake Trail. Round Lake Trail extends east from Feeley Lake passing Island, Long, Round, and Milk Lakes along the way. There are several excellent campsites near Island Lake, a picturesque lake surrounded by rock knolls and scattered patches of timber. Several rocky islands give the name to this, the largest of the lakes in the group. Summer visitors often swim to these islands to enjoy the sun and the scenery. Milk Lake, a deep blue lake, has campsites near the east and west ends. The south shore is steep, rising sharply to the ridge where Grouse Ridge Campground is located. From Round Lake Trail, take the turnoff toward Glacier Lake and continue to follow signs for Glacier Lake for the remainder of the trail. The trail on the way out out is a bit of a descent so expect a little uphill on the way back to the trailhead. Beautiful views of the beautiful Tahoe National Forest!At a certain point, we went off the trail to find our campsite in Five Lakes Basin. You can stay on the trail and find some other nice campsites as well. The whole hike is very moderate and can be a a day hike or a nice and easy backpacking trip.