Dardenell's Lake is some distance south-west of Lake Tahoe. Last year (1996) I joined my wife and my mother on this long, but gorgeous hike. I don't remember exactly where it begins, but at the beginning of the hike is a short ascent to a huge beautiful meadow known simply as Big Meadow. I remember a small creek running through it and small fish in the creek. Once through the meadow, the hike is more of a hike again. There were some very steep climbs and some easy movement along ridges. The hike is about an eight mile round-trip. The lake itself is truly beautiful. At the lake you feel as though you're at the top of the world. The sky is HUGE. As you approach the lake looking left is an enormous cliff that meets the lake. Moving right, the water meets with granite rock and Fir and Pine trees. As with most alpine lakes the water is crystal clear and very cold.