Name: Highland Loop
Rating: 3.8

“A moderate loop through the Loch Lomond Recreation Area featuring shoreline, redwoods, and knobcone pines.”

— Tilman Giese

Features Lake · Views

Loch Lomond Recreation Area is open daily from March 1 through Labor Day, and Saturdays and Sundays through the second full weekend of October. The trails are closed from mid-October to March.

Overview

This loop first leads you alongside Loch Lomond with great views of the lake and then enters higher ground with views of the San Lorenzo Valley before returning back to the lake.

Description

The run starts at the Loch View Picnic Area and closely follows the east bank of Loch Lomond. As you circle around the coves, you'll get great views of the lake and a particularly good look at Clar Innis, a small island in the lake that can only be reached by boat. After the last cove, the trail joins Loch Sloy Trail and continues alongside the lake.

Deer Flat Picnic Area (at 1.7 miles in) is a great spot for a break. After that, the trail leaves the lake and ventures up the hill to reach the Highland Trail. From there, it leads through pine forest along the eastern border of the Loch Lomond Recreation Area. This section of the loop is just a regular forest run, but you do get great views at roughly 3 miles in of the San Lorenzo Valley and Loch Lomond. Before the trail reaches the paved Loch Lomond Way, stay right toward Glen Corrie Picnic Area on the Nature Trail. Cross the parking lot and take Auchmar Trail back to the Loch View Picnic Area.