Serene Lakes

Serene Lakes is a collection of five lakes that range from Ice Lakes with a great lodge and numerous homes around the lake to Cascade Lakes which take a good SUV or Pick-up to reach. Then there's Long Lake that can only be reached with a portage from Cascade.

...for Cascade and Kidd Lakes it’s almost pure solitude.

 

Long Lake is a doable portage...

 

DESCRIPTION:

The other two lakes are Palisades which is on private land with several summer homes along the lake shore. Kidd Lake features a PG&E maintained campground for groups. Except for Ice Lakes, each lake requires some hefting to get kayaks or canoes to the water. But then, for Cascade and Kidd Lakes it’s almost pure solitude. Long Lake is a doable portage and well worth the effort. Devils Peak in the background makes for a wonderful picture.

Ice Lakes Lodge sits on the south end of Ice Lakes. The warm log structure is a fairly new structure. Lodging, fine dining, a great bar and deck are worth more than one evenings fun.

Several "cabins" are available for rent by the home owners in the Serene Lakes subdivision around Ice Lake.

Elevations 6872’/6620’. Season June - October, except Cascade and Kidd Lakes are drawn down to little more than mudholes by late summer.

DIRECTIONS:

To Serene Lakes

Take Soda Springs exit and follow Old Highway 40 west to Soda Springs Road. Turn right (south) and after 1 mile turn right (west) on Pahatsi Road (which turns into Kidd Lake Road at the end of the pavement) and follow signs to Kidd Lake. Continue west to Cascade Lakes where the road ends. Approaching Cascade, the road gradually deteriorates, with the worst over the last mile.

Long Lake is a decent portage from the most southern arm of Cascade Lake.

See North Fork American River or Donner Summit Maps

ACTIVITIES:

Camping (Rating: Good)

Kidd Lake Group Campground (Pacific Gas & Electric Accommodates up to 100, ten people per site. For reservations, call 530-386-5164; fees required.

Fishing (Rating: Good)

Better paddling than fishing, but trout to catfish can be caught. Some rainbows and brooks, but Long Lake is better and prettier since it’s a natural lake not drawn down as a reservoir.

Boating - Motorized (Rating: Good)

No motors at any of the lakes. Kidd and Cascade can be fun for flat water paddlers, depending on how hard you want to work to get to the water, and then only during late spring and early summer before water is drawn down to mud hole levels.

NEARBY LOCATIONS:

Campgrounds

Communities

Lakes

Trails

Winter