Summary 
| Difficulty | 3 Intermediate |
| Length | 2.1 miles round trip |
| Starting Elevation |
6450 feet |
| Cumulative Elevation Change |
+400, -400 feet |
| Navigation | Marked trail, road and map |
| Time | Several hours |
| Season | Late December through early April |
| Snowmobiles Use | Not permitted [Please report illegal use of snowmobiles in this area.] |
| USGS Topo | 7.5' series, Loon Lake |
| Start | Loon Lake Chalet at Loon Lake. From Highway 50 turn north onto Ice House Road. Drive 24 miles to the intersection where you must turn right to stay on Ice House Road. Turn right and continue for 5.3 miles until you reach the Loon Lake Chalet. |
Description
Though short, variety is the buzz word for this loop tour. It begins with the standard route to Berts Lake. It then descends a steep slope to where it intersects the road that leads to Chipmunk Bluff. It ends by following the road back to Loon Lake Chalet where the tour began. Along the route you are treated to grand views of Chipmunk Bluff, Tells Peak and the Crystal Range, and of course Loon Lake.
Berts Lake and Chipmunk Bluff
Tells Peak and the Crystal Range
Loon Lake
But that's not all. Two short extensions are also possible. One is to the summit of Peak 6836 that commands an impressive 360-degree panorama. The second is the gentle tour out to Chipmunk Bluff. Put it all together for an outstanding day of backcountry skiing.
Mileage Log
Numbers in parentheses
correspond to mileage points on map
There are two trailheads adjacent to the Loon Lake Chalet. This tour begins at the SMUD rain gauge on the southwest side of the the Chalet and ends where the road leaves the Chalet to Chipmunk Bluff.
Waypoint 1 to 2
Miles: 0.0 - 0.2
Elevation change:+50 feet
From the trailhead (1) ski southeast a short distance toward the nearby power lines and before reaching them turn and ski southwest for a total of 0.2 mile until you reach the point where the marked trail crosses under the power lines (2). This point is at the base of a steep rise.
Rain gauge, power lines and first blue diamond marker
Waypoint 2 to 3
Miles: 0.2 - 0.3
Elevation change: +50 feet
Ski slightly east of south for 0.1 mile until the marked trail reaches the edge of an open area (3).
Waypoint 3 to 4
Miles: 0.3 - 0.4
Elevation change: +50 feet
Ski southeast through open and near level terrain for 0.1 mile until you reach the location where a blue diamond marks where the trail enters the woods again (4). If you are lucky the El Dorado Nordic Ski Patrol has placed a couple of posts with blue diamond markers in the open area; look for them. If no markers are visible, ski southeast through the open area being careful not to gain very much elevation.
Waypoint 4 to 5
Miles: 0.4 - 1.1
Elevation change: +150 feet
Traverse around Peak 6836 for 0.7 mile until you reach Berts Lake (5). The marked trail in this section stays level until it is east of the peak and then climbs. Peak 6836 is 0.1 mile and 100 feet above to the northeast.
Waypoint 5 to 6
Miles: 1.1 - 1.3
Elevation change: -250 feet
Ski to the north end of Berts Lake and then pick the best route down to the southwest for a total of 0.2 mile until you reach the road to Chipmunk Bluff (6). Chipmunk Bluff is 0.5 mile southwest (left) on the road.
Waypoint 6 to 7
Miles: 1.3 - 2.1
Elevation change: +100, -150 feet
Ski north (right) on the road for 0.8 mile until you reach Loon Lake Chalet (7).
