Summit Lake and Buckhorn Summit Trail

Yielding unrivaled scenery and a diversity of flora and fauna, the Summit Lake and Buckhorn Summit Trail packs a punch! While the terrain is manageable along this beautiful hike, the elevation gain is significant, so this route is ideal for intermediate hikers and families with older children! Make sure to bring along a water filter or plenty of water to stay hydrated and dress in layers. Note: the mosquitos are relentless, so bug spray is a must! Though not necessary, the trail GPS may prove useful when navigating overgrown and unmarked sections of the hike.

Embark on your adventure from the trailhead off Boulder Lake Road. Take the leftmost trail along the north shore of Boulder Meadows Reservoir. Leaving the wooded shoreline, you will progress up a rocky ridge to Boulder Lake. From here, you will wander along the southern shore of the alpine lake framed by the ridges of Boulder Mountain and the Twin Peaks. Entering a meadowland, you will soon confront an intersection and take the Kennally Creek Pack Trail. Hike west, and at the subsequent intersection, veer left and begin the final push up to Buckhorn Summit.

Mind your footing on the vertiginous terrain and revel in the beauty and grandeur of the mountainous landscape that surrounds you from the shoreline of Summit Lake. Marvel at the scenes of the lakes and lush forestlands below, then head back down the path the way you came to the trailhead.