Lake Alpine Recreation Area

Lake Alpine Recreation Area

4000 Hwy. 4
Arnold, California 95223
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Local Phone: (209) 753-6350

Lake Alpine is a High Sierra gem sitting in a forested bowl at 7,350 feet just below Ebbett's Pass on Highway 4 in Alpine County.

Next to Lake Alpine Resort’s private boat dock is a wheelchair-accessible public boat launching ramp for those who bring their own boats. No fee is required.

A speed limit of 10 mph is in effect on Lake Alpine. Motorboats, rowboats, canoes and kayaks are available for rent from the resort, which also boasts a restaurant with a dog-friendly deck.

No overnight mooring is permitted, and motorized boats are not allowed on the lake at night. Two small, sandy beaches are situated near the resort boat dock. Many enjoy swimming out to the granite rock islands in the lake. This is a fun way to spend the day.

The lake is ringed by six campgrounds open in summer only. Lake Alpine, Pine Marten, Silvertip, Silver Valley, Backpackers and Lodgepole Overflow are all first-come, first-served and dog-friendly.

 A four-mile trail circumnavigates the lake, with a spur leading to Inspiration Point for beautiful views.

There’s lots of dog-friendly nearby territory to explore, including a segment of the Pacific Crest Trail at the summit of Ebbett’s Pass. Some campsites can accommodate RVs up to 27 feet. Interpretive programs geared to many interests are offered in July and August at Lake Alpine Campground.

Photo Credit: kpucster (CC)
Photo Credit: kpucster (CC)
Any time’s a good time to head up Highway 4 to the hip and happening town of Murphys, but if you can be there in October, so much the better. That’s when the annual Grape Stomp Competition and Gold Rush Street Fair fills downtown streets with vendor booths and lots of people with bewildered dogs on the other end of the leash. It’s probably the first time Duke and Daisy (and maybe you?) have witnessed a bunch of people stomping around in wine barrels, so go figure! more »
Arnold Rim Trail. Photo Credit: Lisa Boulton
Arnold Rim Trail. Photo Credit: Lisa Boulton
Highway 4 in Calaveras and Alpine counties is one of our favorite routes for a summer road trip, offering way too many attractions and diversions for a mere weekend. A better bet: settle in for a week at a pet-friendly vacation rental. They’re plentiful around Angel’s Camp, Murphys and Arnold, and you’ll find dog-welcoming hotels, B&Bs and other lodging in the area, too. more »
Camping! Photo BIlly Goodman
Camping! Photo BIlly Goodman
Rise above the summer heat at these high-elevation campgrounds. more »
Lou the dog by lake in calaveras county
Lou in Calaveras. Photo by DK (CC)
Mark Twain slept here. So did Western adventure writer Bret Harte. You’ll see their names plastered on b usinesses, schools and street signs all over Calaveras County, where dog-friendly communities like Angels Camp and Murphys don’t hesitate to play up their Gold Rush-era legacies. more »
Lake on Ebbett's Pass If you’re visiting Angels Camp, Murphys, Columbia or other Gold Country destinations in the vicinity of the Highway 4 corridor, you owe it to yourself to explore the Ebbetts Pass National Scenic Byway at least as far as its 8,730-foot summit.  more »
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