Big Meadow trail: Scott’s Lake, Dardanelles Lake and Round Lake

Updated 7 September 2023

The Big Meadow trailhead is on Hwy 89, ten miles south of South Lake Tahoe. From here you can hike to Big Meadow, then to Dardanelles Lake and to Round Lake, both of which are among the loveliest lakes in the south Tahoe region. The trails are filled with wildflowers, impressive trees and interesting rock formations. There are several possibilities, including:

1. Hike to Big Meadow (1.5 miles round trip, 250 feet elevation gain)
2. Hike to Scott’s Lake (7.0 miles round trip, 1000 feet elevation gain)
3. Hike to Dardanelles Lake (8.6 miles round trip, 1496 feet elevation gain)
4. Hike to Dardanelles Lake and Round Lake (9.6 miles round trip, 1693 feet elevation gain)
5. Hike to Showers Lake (19.0 miles round trip, 2900 feet elevation gain)
6. Hike northeast from the Big Meadow trailhead to a scenic overlook (8.0 miles round trip, 1200 feet elevation gain)

A map and some photos are shown below.

Parking is usually available at the trailhead, but on very busy days you may need to park along Hwy 89 (but do not park in the No Parking zone where the trail crosses the highway). No wilderness permit is required to hike here, but camping requires a California Campfire permit, available here (although note that in recent years wood and charcoal fires are prohibited in the Tahoe area — backpacking stoves only).

Here is a map of a hike from the Big Meadow trailhead to Dardanelles Lake and to Round Lake, before returning:

This is Big Meadow, certainly an apt name:

This is Scott’s Lake, which is on a trail that branches off from the main trail at Big Meadow:

This is a spot along the trail heading to Dardanelles Lake:

The Dardanelles Lake trail crosses three lovely streams, which have nicely placed rocks for crossing:

Hikers on the trail:

Dardanelles Lake has my vote for the single prettiest lake in the Tahoe region. It really is as beautiful as it looks here:

This is another view of Dardanelles Lake:

Round Lake has steep cliffs on the east side, and an interesting blue-green tint:

This is a view of Pyramid Peak, taken from the Tahoe Rim Trail heading northeast from the Big Meadow trailhead:

Here is a large boulder field along the trail: