Highland Lakes - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

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About Highland Lakes

Highland Lakes are located at the end of Highland Road, about 6 miles south of Highway 4. It is set in a spectacular high alpine valley, close to the top of the Ebbetts Pass National Scenic Byway at an elevation of 8,600 feet. These two lakes are unique in that they are headwaters for

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Attractions Near Highland Lakes

Ebbetts Pass

Ebbetts Pass

5.84km from Highland Lakes

The Ebbetts Pass National Scenic Byway is one of only seven nationally designated byways in California and 151 in the nation.Ebbetts is the eastern of two passes in the area traversed by State Route 4. The western pass is the Pacific Grade Summit. The pass is registered as a California Historical Landmark. The Pacific Crest Trail, a 2,650-mile long National Scenic Trail crosses State Route 4 at Ebbetts Pass.

Carson-Iceberg Wilderness

Carson-Iceberg Wilderness

6.51km from Highland Lakes

The Carson–Iceberg Wilderness is a federal wilderness area located 80 miles northeast of Stockton, California. It encompasses 160,000 acres and was designated by the California Wilderness Act of 1984. It protects an area of High Sierra landscape with elevations from 4,800 feet to 11,462 feet along the Sierra Mountains from Ebbetts Pass to Sonora Pass in the south. The wilderness supports large herds of mule deer and there is also good habitat for black bear

Highland Peak

Highland Peak

6.95km from Highland Lakes

Highland Peak is a sharp summited peak located near Ebbetts Pass on California State Route 4, one of the trans-Sierra routes that is closed during the winter. Although it ranks as the 680th highest summit in California, it ranks 36th highest of those with at least 500 meters of topographic prominence. Highland Peak has a subsidiary South Peak, with one-half mile separation between summits. The Pacific Crest Trail traverses the western foot of this mountain, providing an approach option.

Kinney Reservoir

Kinney Reservoir

6.97km from Highland Lakes

Kinney Lake is a wonderful fishing destination hidden away back in the woods about a mile from Highway 4. Easily accessed via a network of hiking trails that provide spectacular views of the surrounding peaks and Ebbetts Pass. Half the fun for anglers is driving historic Highway 4 to Kinney along the Ebbetts Pass National Scenic Byway that connects Arnold to Markleeville for an unparalleled fishing experience.

Disaster Peak

Disaster Peak

7.6km from Highland Lakes

Disaster Peak a grey colored, and at first sight, unimpressive looking pile of rocks located in the Carson - Iceberg Wilderness. There are several taller and more impressive looking peaks in the area. The climbers trail is faint and easy to lose, so one often needs to rely on cross country travel. The summit “block” is composed of piled rock and boulders, some a bit loose.

Bull Run Lake

Bull Run Lake

9.94km from Highland Lakes

Bull Run Lake is a reservoir, an impoundment of the Bull Run River in the U.S. it rates highly as an oligotrophic lake, a very clean source of water. The lake basin receives more than 110 inches of rain annually due to its location in the Cascade Range. Water from the reservoir first flowed into the Portland water system on January 2, 1895. President Theodore Roosevelt restricted entry to all but government agents and water company employees and banned stock grazing on April 28, 1904.

Discover More Attractions in Alpine County, Home of Highland Lakes

Alpine County

Alpine County

52 attractions

This is the least populous county in California state. There are no incorporated cities in the county.

Location of Highland Lakes

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For more information about Highland Lakes, visit: https://scenic4.org/the-route/points-of-interest/highland-lakes/