Antelope Lake-Taylor Lake Trail

The Antelope Lake-Taylor Lake Trail is an easy to moderate 10-mile loop hiking trail in Northern California. While not as popular as some of the other trails in the area, it is an amazing hike for anyone who has at least five hours and plenty of energy. You are invited to bring your little fur buddy with you for the walk as long as you use a leash throughout. 

The trail starts at the Antelope Lake Dam on Genesee Road and Antelope Lake Road where you can leave the car and walk down the dirt road to the trailhead. Be sure to use the restroom and fill up those water bottles for you and your pup before you hit the trail because there is no water or restroom access on the trail.

The abundant shade is provided by the mature fir and pine trees that blanket the area, although you can get out in the sunshine by stepping out onto any of the 15 miles of shoreline along Antelope Lake. This is a popular fishing lake for anglers in the area where you can catch bass, bluegill, trout, and sunfish. There's also a wide variety of waterfowl and other birds that nest in the Plumas National Forest.

You will cross Indian Creek, Middle Creek, and Hungry Creek along the way, and each of these pawesome waterways have their own species of wildflowers. Some of the more common flora that you will see include the bluebell, yucca, red fritillary, yellow mule’s ear and bush monkeyflower, purple, yellow, and blue lupines, Indian paintbrush, and the pink Indian rhubarb. 

Approximately five miles into the Antelope Lake-Taylor Lake Trail, you will reach a crest where you can see the Mountain Meadows Reservoir, Lake Almanor, Honey Lake Valley, and the Skedaddle Mountains. On your way back, you will see Taylor Lake at the base of Kettle Rock where you and your pup can stop and take a break or have a snack. You are sure to enjoy this furtastic hike and will be wanting to go back again and again.