San Leonardo Lake
3.0 mi
Distance
1 hrs 13 min
Time
terrain
2,064 ft
Elev Gain
Overview
This is a moderate one way trail to San Leonardo Lake in Carson National Forest.
This trail goes by San Leonardo Lake.
Sights to See
Rate this Hike
★★★★★
The high road area is really having issues the past few years with vandalism, so please be careful parking in this area.. Penasco and surrounding areas (Chamisal, El Valle) are villages that are currently suffering from a terrible influx of crime fueled by heroin and meth. A friend of mine had all the windows smashed out of his Subaru at Trampas Campground (one of the places to park for San Leonardo Lakes hike). The road up to the higher parking area for San Leonardo is entirely impassable if there's been snow or rain - I was stuck there once. That higher parking lot makes me nervous because it's so remote. The hike to the lakes is wonderful although my more elderly and knee-sore family wasn't able to make it to the top because it was too strenuous at this altitude. The last mile and a half is truly steep. Also, there are so many cows on this trail, and in 2020 there was a very large bull with them, and he was displeased -- we felt rather trapped in the narrow canyon. And, the 10 miles of washboard dirt road from the highway also was too much for me. I won't be going back here. Too remote, too steep, too risky. Going to stick with Windsor Trail if I want to get up that high.
★
If you love wildflowers and lush trails this is not the trail for you. You will be heartbroken by the devestation inflicted by the herds of cows that wipe out every bit of vegetation they can reach from the thimbleberries and raspberries to the red elder and twin berry to the maples and young aspens. They stomp through and muck up all the springs. The influx of humans also has taken its toll with stupid "survival shelters" popping up, dog poop in plastic bags sitting on the trail, trash, human feces.... This aint your Granny's wilderness any more, sorry to report.
★
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