I recently had a chance to visit Sardine Lake – a pair of lakes which provide an astonishing view of the Sierra Buttes (a very prominent mountain summit). It is about 1 hour north west from Truckee and about 2 hr. 45 min. north east from Sacramento, in the Tahoe National Forest.

I planned to stay in the Sardine Campground for just one night after my hike up to the top of the Sierra Buttes. I booked my stay at the last minute (sites are reservable) and the only available site was #27 which was by the bathroom and dumpster but was still a decent spot. If it had been hotter and the wind went in the wrong direction, I might change my mind! The campground has running water although there was an issue with the pipes early in the summer so I brought lots of water with me just in case. Like most campgrounds in the area it has vault toilets, provides bear boxes and has access to trails nearby. Though the lack of shower facilities meant that my afternoon swim at Gold Lake would double as a nature bath!

From the campground you can see many of the rocky hills and mountains nearby. To get a good look at the Sierra Buttes, you need to visit Lower Sardine Lake or go up on the hills a bit.

The campground was pretty full although it didn’t seem crowded. Several families brought their dogs. I wonder if that kept the bears away, as I did not see or hear any during my short trip.

During quiet periods it was nice to just sit back and listen for birds. The birds were quite hidden in the trees and bushes but using the Merlin Bird ID app on my phone I was able to see who my avian neighbors might be.

There is a large pond (which seemed to me like a mini lake) called Sand Pond a short distance from the campground. It receives water from Lower Sardine Lake. The depression in the land which forms the basin of the pond was created by gold miners and the tailings of their work still remain in the pond – perhaps you’ll find some gold! The water temperature in the pond is warmer (but still on the refreshing side) and I saw several families playing in the water and along the shore. Kids were chasing minnows and frogs while others floated on stand up paddle boards, inflatable boats or inner tubes. Swimming is not permitted in Upper or Lower Sardine Lakes, so this pond is the best spot for nearby water play. Gold Lake and other lakes are also within a 10-15 minute drive.

There is a small resort located at the lower lake which has cabins, a restaurant and offers boat rentals. I walked near the area but it I didn’t feel like snooping too much so I didn’t go to check out the facilities. The restaurant is open to the public but does require reservations.

Inspiration: I first heard about Sardine Lake and the Sierra Buttes in the book “52 Weekend Adventures in Northern California” by Tom Stienstra. This book is a treasure for adventure ideas and I highly recommend picking up a copy for yourself.