Last minute trip…Close-ish to Tahoe suggestions?

May be too late for you, but head out of Carson Pass to Winnemucca/Round Top Lake, down to 4th of July Lake, and then continue down Summit City Creek to the Mokelumne River, then up to Squaw Ridge and back to Silver and Caples Lake.

I doubt you'll see many people on the route, and there is some nice country in there…

Just to update this- I had been looking at Frog to Winnemucca lakes as my kids' first backpacking trip and I had eyed the trail Paul suggested before so it was a no brainer to put this hike together. Permits in the Moke Wilderness are free and I picked mine up on the drive. I parked at Carson Pass and hiked past Frog, Winnemucca, Round top and 4th of July lakes before descending down into Summit City Canyon. In the middle of this loop there are a few miles of un-maintained trail but navigation in not an issue since you are in a canyon. I slept on a ledge above the creek just before the confluence with the Mokelumne River. The next day I hiked down to Camp Irene and then up to Squaw Ridge where I followed a jeep road to Horse Canyon and then off trail Past Melissa Coray Peak where I tied back into the trail near Round Top and then back to my car. The hike was a bit rushed since I had little time so I'll likely go back again with a little more time so I can explore the Moke river more extensively. I give it two thumbs up.