Initial trail marking October 1991 by members of the Nordic Voice (Ski Touring Section, Loma Prieta Chapter, Sierra Club), the Nordic Skiers of Nevada county, and other generous volunteers. Original guide by Curtis Oldenburg. Website guide by Marcus Libkind.
Difficulty:
Intermediate with good backcountry skiing skills
Length:
8 miles (14 km) round trip
Starting Elevation:
6100 feet
Cumulative Elevation Change:
+1250 feet, -1250 feet round trip
Navigation:
Road, marked trail and map. The marked trail begins 0.7 mile from the trailhead at Troy Crossing.
Time:
Most of a day
Season:
Mid-December through early April
USGS Topo:
7.5' series, Soda Springs
Trailhead:
Intersection of Troy Road and Old Highway 40. Exit Interstate 80 at Kingvale, turn west (left) onto Old Highway 40 (located on north side of the interstate), drive 0.5 mile to Donner Trail School, continue 0.1 mile to Troy Road, turn left onto Troy Road, and park. The tour begins on the south side of the interstate which is accessible by an underpass.
Established in 1991 by volunteers, the High Loch Leven Lake Trail climbs from Interstate 80 near Kingvale and then crosses a high plateau before reaching its terminus above High Loch Leven Lake. The climbing, considerable at first, is an investment that pays off when you ski across the rolling, sometimes open, sometimes forested terrain of the plateau. The openness along this tour make it a poor choice in foul weather. But pick a clear, crisp day and you will enjoy not only the touring, but also the grand views to the south.
Miles 0.0 - 0.1
Elevation change +50 feet
From the trailhead (1) ski southwest on the snow-covered road for 0.1 mile until you reach a road junction (2). This junction may be difficult to see if the railroad has plowed this first section; look carefully above the berm for a road heading south (left). Don't be discouraged if this first section is in poor condition; the snow-players do not venture farther.
Miles 0.1 - 0.7
Elevation change +250 feet
Turn south (left) and follow the road for 0.6 mile until you reach the railroad tracks (3). Unless you are looking hard, you will not notice that you pass one road on your right in this section.
Take off your skis and cross the railroad tracks. Be aware that in heavy snow years the berm on the south side of the tracks can be difficult to climb up.
After crossing the tracks, locate the extension of the road on which you have been skiing. This is Troy Crossing, it is marked with a sign indicating the start of the marked High Loch Leven Lake Trail.
Miles 0.7 - 0.9
Elevation change +50 feet
Ski on the road for 0.2 mile until you reach an obscure road junction (4). However, just beyond the junction is one of Royal Gorge Cross Country Ski Resort's warming huts.
This tour follows the lesser road to the southwest which is marked with an arrow. You may also find a Royal Gorge sign indicating that the lesser road is part of the Rainbow Interconnect (trail). This road, even if groomed, is open to public travel.
Miles 0.9 - 1.2
Elevation change +150 feet
Turn west (right) onto the lesser road and climb southwest for 0.3 mile until you reach a flat area (5) where the marked backcountry ski trail and the Rainbow Interconnect split. The Rainbow Interconnect veers to the northwest (right) and the High Loch Leven Trail veers to the southwest (left).
Miles 1.2 - 1.9
Elevation change +300 feet
Leave the road and follow the marked trail to the southwest for 0.7 mile until you enter a clearing (6).
Miles 1.9 - 2.7
Elevation change +200 feet
Ski southwest across the clearing, staying close to the trees to the north, and then veer south for a total of 0.8 mile until you intersect a road (7) to the west of a horseshoe-shaped pond. In this section you must exercise patience in locating each successive trail marker. They are few and far between.
Miles 2.7 - 3.3
Elevation change -100 feet
Turn west (right) onto the road, and ski west for 0.4 mile and then north for 0.2 mile until you reach a road junction (8).
Miles 3.3 - 3.4
Elevation change -50 feet
Turn west (left) and ski 0.1 mile until you reach a flat, open area (9) where the road turns south (left).
Locate the marker that indicates where the marked trail leaves the road to the southwest.
Miles 3.4 - 3.8
Elevation change +50,-50 feet
Leave the road and ski southwest, following the markers, for 0.4 mile until you reach the end of the marked trail above High Loch Leven Lake (10). In this section the marked trail takes a circuitous route through a maze of trees and rocks.
There are other exceptionally good tours in this area. Several are described in Ski Tours in the Sierra Nevada, Volume 1, Lake Tahoe, Second Edition. One leads to Fisher Lake Overlook which is a short version of the High Loch Leven Lake tour described here.