Sword & Lost Lakes

Overview: This 6-mile round trip trail in the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness brings you to two alpine lakes while providing views of the Dardanelles and Spicer Meadow Reservoir. After climbing steeply from the County Line Trailhead, you will descend for a little over a mile and meander through a recently burned section of forest. At about the 2.7-mile mark, you will arrive at Sword Lake. To continue on to Lost Lake, follow the trail to the left until you get to a fork. Either direction brings you to Lost Lake, but the trails can be difficult to navigate. Climbing on top of one of the granite formations can give you a better view and help you get your bearings.

Notes: Both lakes offer opportunities for swimming, but Sword Lake is especially good. The water will be warmest in late summer/early fall. Being in a Wilderness area, this trail is off-limits to motorized vehicles and bicycles. There are campsites scattered around the two lakes, and the area is popular with backpackers. The trail can be very dusty in the late summer and fall, and the trailhead is accessed by an unpaved U.S. Forest Service road.

Season: Late spring through early fall (not accessible in winter)