Kayaking Serene Lakes
Cruise through mirror-like waters and camp-y environs in this high-elevation community
About Serene Lakes
Serene Lakes are the lakes you hardly ever hear about. If you’ve spent time on Donner Summit, you’ve probably seen the turnoff for this community of second homes. You might even have stayed here on a Sugar Bowl ski trip. But paddled them? Swam them? Even most locals haven’t gotten around to making the short trip to these aptly-named pools.
Lake Dulzura and Lake Serena – once dubbed the Ice Lakes as they were among the main source’s of ice used in San Francisco for refrigeration. Once upon a time, Mark Twain may have visited and coined their current names. Today, they’re ringed by houses and trees.
Paddling Serene Lakes
Are you planning a trip to Tahoe? Depending on the season, you may want to add Serene Lakes to you itinerary. As you can see in the photo above, this area gets a lot of snow. A lot…even for Tahoe. And that means you may have to wait until summer to paddle these two connected lakes.
If you’ve arrived in summer, you have plenty of options to get your boat in the water. At first glance, Serene looks like a lake you’re not supposed to touch. Its sandy-shored beach club is for home owners and their guests exclusively. However, these lakes are surrounded by free neighborhood parking, open space, and public docks a plenty. Take your pick, unload your boat, and get started!
When you dip your paddle in the water, you’ll quickly notice that these former ice lakes are surprisingly warm. With a maximum depth of just 35 feet, once these lakes thaw they reach enjoyable temps quickly. Swimming is permitted in Duzura, but not Serena, to protect the local water supply.
Whether you’re on a kayak or a paddleboard, the Serene Lakes are smooth, almost mirror-like, and enjoyable to explore. They have a laid back, camp-y vibe. I mostly paddled along the edges, checking out the comfortable, un-landscaped shoreline and the variety of styles of homes. You’ll notice that most of these homes have small docks and healthy assortments of kayaks, SUPs, and other water toys of their own. I assume this means you’ll have lots of company on busy holiday weekends – but Serene Lakes were incredibly quiet when I visited, especially compared to nearby Donner.
There are a couple small islands on Serene, but their coasts looked shallow and muddy, so I didn’t hop off to explore. My paddle was a late afternoon excursion, and I enjoyed that magic hour as I finished my trip, packed up my boat, and watched the alpenglow light up the hillside.
Recommendations for Kayaking Serene Lakes
Kayak Rentals
Bring your own kayak or SUP to Serene Lakes. Rentals are not available.
Serene Lakes Camping
You can’t camp on Serene Lakes. To make Serene Lakes your base for a weekend’s exploration, consider a vacation home. (or head to Donner Lake)
Kayaking with Kids
These lakes are warm and swimmable, and if you’re renting a house here they’ll certainly enjoy this! However, the main sandy beach is reserved for homeowners, making this a tougher choice for families.
When to Go
Paddle summer or fall. It takes a while for these lakes to melt out.
Build Your Serene Lakes Weekend
After your paddle, stop by the Soda Springs General Store for surprisingly tasty sandwiches and head over to the heavily-graffitied Donner Summit Train Tunnels for a picnic.
What's Next?
Donner Lake is just around the corner and offers a bigger, busier, and more granite-filled vibe. Or, visit Lake Tahoe and stick your boat in the water at Speedboat Beach and other North-Shore locales.