The Best Boating Lakes on Carson Pass
A number of lakes along Carson Pass are popular with boaters. Only two - Lower Bear River Reservoir and Silver Lake - are open to all kinds of boating, including water skiing and wake boarding. Caples Lake and Blue Lakes have 5 MPH speed limits that make them best for fishing or kayaking.
Resorts at Lower Bear River Reservoir, Silver Lake, and Caples Lake rent small fishing boats, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and canoes. Launch ramps are found at all the larger lakes.
Lower Bear River Reservoir Boating
Fishing, water skiing, and boating are all popular at Lower Bear River Reservoir. Just 3 miles off Highway 88, 40 miles east of Jackson, the lake is to access for day outings or overnight stays. With an elevation of 5,800 feet, it is free of snow long before other lakes farther up the pass.
Lake Facts: 727 surface acres, 9-mile shoreline
Activities: Fishing, water skiing, sailing, all types of boating
Launch Ramps: Improved launch ramps at dam and at resort marina, unimproved at Pardoes Point Campground
Lodging: 4 National Forest campgrounds, Bear River Lake Resort
Bear River Lake Resort
Bear River Lake Resort operates a marina at the lake with a launch ramp, gas, a store, and boat rentals.
Bear River Lake Resort
Silver Lake Boating
Silver Lake boating is mostly small motorized fishing boats, canoes, and kayaks. The lake rests at an elevation of 7,300 feet, 52 miles east of Jackson on Highway 88. Treasure Island near the southern end of the lake is a third of a mile long.
Silver Lake is operated by the El Dorado Irrigation District. They charge a day-use fee for their boat ramp and their day-use areas there, Sandy Cove and Ferguson Point. Day use fees are $5 per vehicle and $10 per boat launch (which includes the day use fee). The same pass is also good at EID's day use areas at Caples Lake and Sly Park.
Lake Facts: 1.5 miles long, 385 surface acres, 5.5 mile shoreline
Activities: Fishing, sailing, boating
Launch Ramps: Launch ramps at either end of the lake
Lodging: 1 National Forest campground, 1 EID Campground, Plasse's Resort, Kit Carson Lodge
Kit Carson Lodge
Kit Carson Lodge at the north end of the lake rents small boats. They also have a beach and swimming area next to their dock. Kit Carson Lodge
Kit Carson Lodge Boat Rentals
Motor Boats - Half Day (4 hours) $110, Full Day (8 hours) $210
Kayaks, Paddle Boards, Kayaks, Canoes, Peddle [pedal] Boats - 1 hour $25, 2 hrs. $40, 3 hrs. $55, 4 hrs. $70, 5 hrs. $85, 6 hrs. $100, 7 hrs. $115, 8 hrs. $130
All boats must be returned by 5:00 PM.
Plasse's Resort
Plasse's Resort at the southern end of the lake rents small boats.
Plasse's Resort
Boat Rentals: Canoes, Kayaks, and Stand-Up Paddleboards
Rates: $50 for 4 hours, $75 for all day
Day Use Parking: $10
Boat Launch & Gate Fee: $18 daily, $30 weekly, $75 monthly
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Caples Lake Boating
Caples lake is at an elevation of 7,800. Trout fishing is the most popular activity of boaters on the lake. Afternoon winds make it a good place for sailing. The lake is operated by the El Dorado Irrigation District (NID). The company maintains a boat launch ramp, day use area, and restrooms for public use, usually open from May through October. Parking and picnicking fees are $5 per day; boat launch is $10 (which includes parking).
NID Caples Lakes
Caples Lake Resort
Caples Lake Resort, located right along the highway, has a store and marina where they rent small boats. No overnight parking is allowed at the marina. Complimentary launching and docking for resort guests. Caples Lake Resort
| Boat | Seats | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| *plus 1 child. | |||||||
| 12' Motorboat | 3 | ||||||
| 14' Motorboat | 4 | ||||||
| Single Kayak | 1 | ||||||
| Double Kayak | 2* | ||||||
Caples Lake Resort offers daily parking ($10), boat launching ($15), and overnight buoy tie-ups.
Boat Launch Hours: Weekends 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM, Weekdays 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Blue Lakes Boating
Lower and Upper Blue Lakes are found 12 miles south of Hope Valley at the end of Blue Lakes Road. They are at elevations of 8,000 feet and 8,100 feet and often are not accessible until July because of snow.
Lake Facts: Lower Blue Lake - 0.8 miles long, Upper Blue Lake - 0.9 miles long.
Activities: Fishing, boating (small fishing boats, kayaks, canoes)
Launch Ramps: Lower Blue Lake has an unimproved ramp; Upper Blue Lake has two ramps, one near the dam and the
other at the campground on the north end of the lake.
Lodging: 4 PG&E campgrounds
Other Carson Pass Lakes
A number of smaller lakes along Carson Pass are accessible for car-top launching of small, non-motorized craft. Among these lakes are Kirkwood Lake, Woods Lake, Red Lake, and Twin Lake. For more about Kirkwood Lake and Woods Lake, see Caples Lake Area Camping.
Caution should be taken at Red Lake. It currently (2022) has dangerous algae toxins which can harm people and kill animals. Do not touch water or eat fish from the lake. Red Lakes Wildlife Area
Twin Lake is one mile west of Lower Blue Lake on a rough gravel road. Again, car-top launched non-motorized boats can be used there.
Activities: Fishing, non-motorized boating
Camping: Kirkwood Campground, Woods Lake Campground, and several Blue Lakes campgrounds.
Lodging: Kit Carson Resort, Plasse's Resort, and Caples Lake Resort.