Upper Sardine Lake — Attraction in Portola

STUNNING lake in the Tahoe National Forest. While the lower lake does NOT allow swimming, the upper lake is great for it. Sure, there’s a little algae on the bottom (spoiler: it’s a natural lake) but the water is cool, crisp, and deep. I swam all over the first half and it was so refreshing.

The road starts off quite mild but there are some large rocks which make a high clearance 4x4 mandatory. Multiple spots actually. My buddy has a stock Tundra and it would have been challenged due to the long wheelbase.

But if you can get most (if not all) of the way up the road, there are 2 secret campsites along the stream that leaves the lake. We wish we had known about these before camping at the campground. These are right next to the upper lake and would allow almost constant views of the mountain during...

The lake and area are beautiful. Well worth the visit. Know before you go. To think any 4x4 can make the drive up the service road is not accurate this season as of 2023 July. Standard height vehicles should anticipate undercarriage scrapping or damage and potential reasons to back down. Short of it, stop and walk the 1/2-mile. That said, as posted on the service road sign, short wheel base vehicles recommended. This such as Jeeps and Toyotas. Of course modified vehicles built with intent to maneuver over rocks and odd angels no problem. Watched to many standard height 4x4’s and full sized vehicles try, only to hit the .3 mile mark and have to back down. It’s very beautiful lake at the top and make smiles by walking up if ya got just a...

Upper sardine Lake is worth the hike. Although you can drive your capable 4 by 4 up the road, I would highly recommend against it. Unless you're really drunk or stupid. The Upper Lake is bigger than the Lower Lake, and is dramatically less crowded. And in my opinion it is far more beautiful. It's a strange experience moving from Sand Pond to the Lower Lake to the Upper Lake. Everybody's crammed into the Sand Pond area, and it becomes less populated As you move from the Lower Lake to the Upper Lake. Do yourself a favor and pack yourself a backpack, and camp at the Upper Lake. It can't get windy so you'll need stakes and...