Stephano Zoig: Tahoe Rim Trail - Round Lake

About three weeks ago, we took this same trip (see ’Tahoe Rim Trail - Dardanelles Lake - 7/27/2025), but this time we were determined to see Round Lake because some people we spoke to on the previous trip told us that it was their preferred lake.

So, we found ourselves back in the Lake Tahoe Basin and, once again, parked in the Big Meadow Trail Head parking lot. We arrived early, around 8am, so there were plenty of parking spots. We performed our usual routine: sunscreen, hats, and preparing our packs. Then we ventured down the scenic trail toward highway that we had to venture across.

It was a lovely morning, cool air and only a few puffy clouds decorating the deep blue sky. We were in the area that I previously described as a sort of “demolition” looking atmosphere of boulders, fallen trees, and scattered plant life.

Then we crossed the bridge that led to a lovely meadow that was, once again, very inviting. Some people ahead of us wandered through the meadow to climb a large rock, but we continued on course into the wooded expanse.

I had forgotten that the path to the lakes was mostly uphill, though not difficult. We reached the junction that led us toward Round Lake and a brand new experience of landscape that was unknown to us.

The lake was not too far from the junction, though we encountered a group of boisterous young men that appeared to have spent the night out there and were headed back. We reached the lake and found that were the only ones there for about ten minutes. The light was quite nice and there was a pigeon hanging out on the shore.The lake itself was beautiful, perhaps not as breathtaking as Dardanelles Lake, but that is just an opinion.

We ate our sandwiches and took in the scenery, then a chipmunk revealed itself on a nearby rock. After a while, the pigeon meandered over toward the chipmunk and I caught a photo of the two, though the chipmunk was more interested in the bird.

Retracing our steps backward, we found that quite a few people heading our way on foot and on bicycle. Everyone was friendly, even if they weren’t talkative. We were curious about the strange rocks that looked like old roads with cement.