Eagle Lake is a significant natural freshwater lake located in Lassen County, California, at an elevation of 5,100 feet. This region is characterized by a diverse landscape, featuring pine and fir forests, sagebrush hills, and prominent volcanic formations, with surrounding mountains rising nearly 3,000 feet above the lake. The area offers opportunities for several outdoor activities, including hiking and road cycling, set against a backdrop of unique ecological transitions where different forest types meet.
13
Routes
4.3
(8)
Average rating
149
People visited

4.3
(3)
36
hikers
3.80km
00:57
0m
0m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

7
hikers
2.75km
00:42
0m
0m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

740m
00:11
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Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

695m
00:11
0m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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5.0
(1)
13
riders
46.6km
01:51
90m
90m
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

7
riders
56.3km
02:10
130m
130m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

9
riders
69.6km
03:14
220m
220m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

8
riders
37.3km
01:29
120m
120m
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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The Eagle Lake region offers diverse outdoor activities, primarily hiking and road cycling. The area features various routes suitable for different skill levels. More than 200 visitors have rated activities in the region with an average of 3.79 out of 5 stars.
Popular hiking options include the 7-mile (11.3 km) South Shore Trail, suitable for walking or biking. The Eagle Lake Recreational Trail is a paved, accessible route within Lassen National Forest. Additional hiking opportunities exist on surrounding Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Forest Service lands.
Yes, the Eagle Lake Recreational Trail is a paved route within Lassen National Forest, suitable for families and beginners, and is wheelchair accessible. For more options, the guide Easy hikes around Eagle Lake provides further details.
The South Shore Trail is ideal for bicycles. For road cyclists, the Eagle Lake Road (Lassen County A1) on the west side of the lake provides a relatively straight route. The guide Road Cycling Routes around Eagle Lake offers more information.
Eagle Lake is the second largest natural freshwater lake entirely within California, situated at 5,100 feet (1,554 m) above sea level. It is an endorheic alkaline lake, meaning it has no natural surface outlet. The lake is renowned for the Eagle Lake Trout, a native subspecies adapted to its alkaline waters.
The region is rich in wildlife, offering opportunities to view bald eagles and osprey, from which the lake gets its name. Other birds include white pelicans, western grebes, great blue herons, and various diving ducks. Valley quail inhabit the brushy and grassy areas.
The landscape surrounding Eagle Lake is diverse, featuring pine and sage around the lake itself. The northern and middle sections have sagebrush hills, while the southern end is forested with pine and fir, including cedar forests. Volcanic land formations are prominent, with granite found at Gallatin Peak.
Komoot offers several guides for the Eagle Lake region. These include Easy hikes around Eagle Lake, Hiking around Eagle Lake, and Road Cycling Routes around Eagle Lake.
Yes, the Eagle Lake Recreational Trail, a paved route within Lassen National Forest, is suitable for families, beginners, and is wheelchair accessible. It offers scenic views of the lake and surrounding mountains.
The primary official resource for the Eagle Lake region is the Lassen National Forest. The official website is fs.usda.gov. For information, the Eagle Lake Ranger District can be contacted at 530-257-4188.

