Silver Lake (Carson Pass)
Carson Pass (Hwy 88, Eldorado NF) · near Kirkwood / Jackson · Sierra Nevada / Yosemite
Kayaking & SUP
At a glance
- Best season
- June–September · Calm mornings · Cold alpine water
Permits and booking
- Permit
- No permit. Eldorado National Forest. Public launches on Hwy 88 at Carson Pass. Historic resorts (Kit Carson Lodge, Kay's) provide access and lodging. Quieter than Tahoe, 45 minutes south.
What is here
- Wildlife
- Trout · Ospreys · Bald eagles · Marmots on the granite · Deer
Worth knowing
- Good for a first timer
- Yes
Kayaking & SUP detail
- Nickname
- Treasure Island Alpine Picnic
- Water types
- alpine-lake
- Exposure
- sheltered
- Sup friendly
- Yes
- Wetsuit
- Cold alpine water. Summer paddlers often skip the wetsuit for short outings; carry a dry bag and layers for the mountain setting (7,200ft).
- Tidal note
- No tides; sheltered by pine-ringed shores. The 525-acre lake has 7 miles of shoreline to explore, plus Treasure Island in the center — an idyllic boat-in picnic spot. Afternoon winds can build at elevation; mornings are best.
- Intl tip
- Silver Lake is on Hwy 88 over Carson Pass, one of the Sierra's most scenic drives. Caples Lake and Kirkwood ski area (skiing guide) are just up the road; the Carson Pass hiking (wildflowers in summer) is superb. Combine with a Gold Country or Tahoe trip for a quieter alpine paddle.
The guide
Silver Lake, on the scenic Carson Pass corridor (Highway 88) in the Eldorado National Forest, is a beautiful 525-acre alpine re…
In the Guidebook
Everything above is yours for free. The written guide to Silver Lake (Carson Pass) — what it is actually like, and what we would tell a friend before they went — comes with the Guidebook.
Getting there
- Coordinates
- 38.674, -120.118