| Hike | Miles | Vertical | Time | Rating |
|---|
| Carson-Iceberg Wilderness |
 | Arnot Peak
|
11.0 |
2505 |
6:55 |
9 |
| Fantastic views of the Carson Iceberg Wilderness, provided you're
willing to work for it going cross-country.
|
 | Heiser and Bull Run Lakes
|
7.8 |
2120 |
10:24 |
8 |
| A 3-day backpacking trip to little Heiser Lake and beautiful Bull Run Lake in the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness.
|
 | Folger Peak
|
2.4 |
1150 |
3:16 |
8 |
| Great views for not much effort.
|
 | Hiram Peak
|
2.4 |
1110 |
2:52 |
8 |
| Views that are better than from Folger Peak, but slightly more difficult.
|
 | Duck Lake
|
3.3 |
520 |
3:07 |
7 |
| A walk up a short climb through the forest, then down to pretty frozen Duck Lake.
|
 | Asa Lake
|
4.2 |
585 |
2:24 |
6 |
| Get eaten alive by mosquitoes.
|
 | Highland Lakes Trip
[trip report] |
| A great 3-day Sierra trip with a great campground right next to
beautiful Upper Highland Lake. Includes day hikes to
Asa Lake, Folger Peak, Hiram Peak, and Arnot Peak.
|
| John Muir Wilderness |
 | Little Lakes Valley
|
9.2 |
1360 |
5:40 |
9 |
| Beautiful hike to 4 alpine lakes right next to the trail, plus
a few others just off the trail.
|
 | Duck Pass Trip
|
38.5 |
8550 |
32:26 |
9 |
| A 6-day backpacking trip over Duck Pass, visiting
several pretty alpine lakes, including Duck Lake, Pika Lake, Ram Lake, and Franklin Lake.
|
 | South Lake to Long Lake
|
4.2 |
1060 |
4:55 |
9 |
| Great hike through the snow past aspens near South Lake to beautiful Long Lake.
|
 | Lake Sabrina To Blue Lake
|
6.1 |
1460 |
7:27 |
9 |
 | Heart Lake
|
2.8 |
440 |
4:22 |
9 |
| A short hike through a beautiful valley past two gorgeous lakes to
a third gem and a view of beautiful snow-covered mountains in the distance.
|
 | Lower Lamarck Lake
|
5.4 |
2010 |
6:33 |
8 |
| Deceptively short but tough hike through the snow to a nice lake with great
views of the surrounding area along the way. Probably much easier in the summer.
|
 | Ruby Lake
|
4.0 |
1020 |
6:06 |
8 |
| Deceptively short but tough hike through the snow to a nice lake with great
views of the surrounding area along the way. Probably much easier in the summer.
|
 | Treasure Lakes
|
6.0 |
1480 |
4:41 |
8 |
| Easy hike to a couple of nice alpine lakes.
|
 | Chocolate Lakes Loop
|
7.7 |
1720 |
5:31 |
8 |
| Moderate loop hike to several alpine lakes.
|
 | North Lake to Grass Lake
|
4.4 |
870 |
4:44 |
8 |
 | Arrowhead and Skelton Lakes
|
3.5 |
900 |
3:56 |
7 |
| Easy hike to a couple of nice alpine lakes.
|
 | McGee Canyon
|
3.5 |
720 |
4:14 |
7 |
| A gradual climb up the canyon with aspens lining the creek on the left, majestic mountains rising in
front.
|
 | Corbett Lake
|
6.3 |
1660 |
4:16 |
7 |
| A moderate climb up to a 9000+ foot elevation alpine lake, with a good chance at solitude.
|
 | Rock Creek
|
3.5 |
430 |
3:11 |
6 |
| A snowshoe hike parallel to Rock Creek.
|
| Kaiser Wilderness |
 | Twin Lakes
|
7.9 |
1400 |
5:43 |
8 |
| A pretty climb up to Potter Pass, then a visit to small Lower Twin Lake and
beautiful Upper Twin Lake. Wildflowers, meadows, and lakes, what more could
you ask for?
|
 | Nellie Lake
|
9.0 |
1940 |
6:15 |
7 |
| A moderate climb up to Nellie Lake, just under 9000 feet elevation.
|
| Other Eastern Sierra |
 | North Lake to South Lake
[Eastern Sierra Nevada
] |
58.4 |
10410 |
47:19 |
10 |
| A 7-day, 58-mile classic Sierra backpacking trip from North Lake to South Lake.
|
 | Mt. Whitney Trail Crest
[Inyo National Forest] |
17.0 |
5416 |
19:40 |
9 |
 | Matterhorn Canyon Loop
[Eastern Sierra Nevada
] |
55.0 |
11362 |
44:48 |
8 |
| A 6-day backpacking trip to several alpine lakes and up
Matterhorn Canyon.
|
 | Crystal Lake 2017
[Inyo National Forest] |
3.1 |
820 |
2:11 |
8 |
| A short hike with a fair amount of climbing to a beautiful alpine like, with great
views of Lake George below.
|
 | Leavitt Meadows to Virginia Lakes
[Eastern Sierra Nevada
] |
75.9 |
14540 |
59:16 |
8 |
| An 8-day, 76-mile backpacking trip from Leavitt Meadows (highway 108)
to Virginia Lakes (near Highway 395), starting and ending in the Hoover
Wilderness but with large portions in northeastern Yosemite.
|
 | Crystal Lake
[Inyo National Forest] |
2.6 |
850 |
5:04 |
8 |
| A short hike with a fair amount of climbing to a beautiful alpine like, with great
views of Lake George below.
|
 | TJ Lake
[Inyo National Forest] |
1.8 |
410 |
2:55 |
8 |
| A short hike starting at one beautiful alpine lake, and stopping at two
more.
|
 | Convict Lake Snowshoe Hike
[Inyo National Forest] |
2.9 |
320 |
2:57 |
7 |
| Short snowshoe hike around snow-covered Convict Lake.
|
 | Parker Lake (2016)
[Ansel Adams Wilderness] |
4.9 |
620 |
3:30 |
7 |
| A short hike to a beautiful alpine lake, in the spring with
occasional patches of snow.
|
 | Green Lake
[Eastern Sierra Nevada
] |
6.0 |
1200 |
3:43 |
7 |
| Medium hike to an alpine lake.
|
 | TJ Lake
[Inyo National Forest] |
1.8 |
380 |
1:31 |
7 |
| A short hike starting at one beautiful alpine lake, and stopping at two
more.
|
 | Sherwin Lakes
[Inyo National Forest] |
5.8 |
970 |
4:21 |
7 |
| A moderate hike with steady climbing up to an alpine lake; nothing
spectacular, but close to the town of Mammoth Lakes.
|
 | Convict Lake
[Inyo National Forest] |
3.6 |
420 |
4:32 |
7 |
| A loop hike along the shore of Convict Lake, exploring the aspens at the far end of the lake.
|
 | Second Falls
[Big Pine Creek
] |
2.4 |
750 |
4:47 |
7 |
| A hike along a creek with two rushing waterfalls and a glimpse of the Palisades.
|
 | Parker Lake
[Ansel Adams Wilderness] |
3.8 |
620 |
3:41 |
7 |
| A short hike to a beautiful alpine lake.
|
 | Devils Postpile and Rainbow Falls
[Devils Postpile National Monument] |
3.5 |
680 |
3:20 |
7 |
| A short hike past impressive displays of columnar basalt, through a
burned-out forest, and a stop at a roaring waterfall.
|
 | South Tufa Reserve
[Mono Lake] |
1.0 |
25 |
0:45 |
7 |
| A short walk amongst the tufa formations of Mono Lake.
|
 | McLeod Lake
[Inyo National Forest] |
1.0 |
330 |
1:03 |
7 |
| A very short hike to a beautiful alpine lake.
|
 | South Tufa 2022
[Mono Lake] |
1.1 |
20 |
0:43 |
7 |
| Short stroll to see tufa formations at the edge of Mono Lake.
|
 | Rush Creek Trail
[Ansel Adams Wilderness] |
3.5 |
840 |
3:01 |
6 |
| Short out and back toward Agnew Lake stopped by steep snow.
|
 | Glass Flow Trail System
[Inyo National Forest] |
1.7 |
150 |
2:38 |
5 |
| An easy snowshoe hike on groomed cross-country trails to nowhere in particular.
|
 | 2022 Eastern Sierra Trip
[trip report] |
| A 5-day trip to the Eastern Sierra for day hikes and visiting Bodie, Manzanar, and Red Canyon Petroglyphs. |
 | Eastern Sierra Trip 2009
[trip report] |
| A 10-day trip to the eastern Sierra Nevada, featuring 7 great hikes, 6 of them to one or more
beautiful alpine lakes.
|
 | Eastern Sierra Fall 2019
[trip report] |
| A 4-day fall trip to the eastern Sierra Nevada with two hikes to some pretty lakes.
|
 | Eastern Sierra Fall 2009
[trip report] |
| A 4-day fall trip to the eastern Sierra Nevada for some short hikes and fall color.
|
 | Eastern Sierra Trip
[trip report] |
| My first real visit to the Eastern Sierra. Three short day
hikes and some nice drives.
|
 | 2013 Eastern Sierra Trip Report
[trip report] |
 | Eastern Sierra Fall 2012
[trip report] |
| A 4-day fall trip to the eastern Sierra Nevada with two hikes to some pretty lakes, along
with a fall color drive.
|
 | Eastern Sierra Fall 2011
[trip report] |
| A 4-day fall trip to the eastern Sierra Nevada with some hikes through some early snow and not much color.
|
 | 2005 Mammoth Lakes Trip
[trip report] |
| Two short day hikes to pretty alpine lakes, and some fall foliage.
|
 | Eastern Sierra Fall 2010
[trip report] |
| A 4-day fall trip to the eastern Sierra Nevada for some great lake hikes and fall color.
|
| Bridgeport Trip
[trip report] |
| A medium day hike followed by a 6-day backpacking loop
including Matterhorn Canyon and several alpine lakes.
|
 | Eastern Sierra Trip Winter 2010
[trip report] |
| A five-day winter trip to the Eastern Sierra with two snowshoe hikes
and a visit to pretty Convict Lake.
|
| Tioga Pass / Saddlebag Lake Area |
 | Steelhead Lake
[Hoover Wilderness
] |
2.9 |
440 |
4:38 |
10 |
| A hike through an amazing series of beautiful alpine lakes backed by snow-covered mountains,
the only downside being the hordes of other hikers.
|
 | Tioga Lake
[Inyo National Forest
] |
1.2 |
70 |
1:58 |
8 |
| A short hike along the peaceful western shore of beautiful Tioga Lake starting
from the campground, with Mount Dana behind it.
|
 | Gardisky Lake
[Inyo National Forest
] |
1.5 |
840 |
4:52 |
8 |
| A short but very steep hike through the forest to a beautiful alpine lake below Tioga Peak.
|
 | Shell Lake
[Inyo National Forest
] |
2.7 |
620 |
4:56 |
7 |
| A short hike past an old mining site (with a couple of structures to be explored) to
a quiet alpine lake.
|
| Other |
 | Emigrant Wilderness
[Emigrant Wilderness] |
24.0 |
4195 |
21:42 |
9 |
 | Emigrant Wilderness 2012
[Emigrant Wilderness] |
47.0 |
7500 |
42:18 |
8 |
| A 6-day, 47-mile backpacking trip in the Emigrant Wilderness including a dozen lakes.
|
 | Iceland Lake Backpacking
[Emigrant Wilderness] |
25.1 |
5550 |
20:15 |
8 |
| A 4-day backpacking trip with an off-trail portion to Iceland
Lake.
|
 | Lakes Basin Loop
[Plumas National Forest] |
3.3 |
535 |
3:00 |
8 |
 | Sierra Buttes
[Tahoe National Forest] |
5.2 |
1715 |
4:01 |
8 |
 | Eureka Peak
[Plumas-Eureka State Park] |
3.0 |
1230 |
4:58 |
7 |
| Steep hike up to a peak above a pretty lake.
|
 | Lake Alpine
[Stanislaus National Forest] |
2.7 |
200 |
3:07 |
6 |
| A short out-and-back hike along the southeastern shore of frozen Alpine Lake.
|
 | Sand Pond Interpretive Trail
[Tahoe National Forest] |
1.2 |
80 |
2:13 |
6 |
| Short stroll to a crowded swimming hole.
|
 | Rancheria Falls (Sierra National Forest)
[Sierra National Forest] |
1.6 |
230 |
1:19 |
6 |
| A short hike to a 150-foot high waterfall.
|
 | Indian Pools
[Sierra National Forest] |
1.6 |
140 |
1:30 |
6 |
| An easy stroll along a creek to some pretty pools.
|
 | Bear Valley Winter 2011
[trip report] |
| A 4 day trip to the Bear Valley area, hoping for cross-country skiing and
snowshoeing, but settling for a couple short hikes because of lack of
snow.
|
 | Lakes Basin 2007 Trip
[trip report] |
| A 4-day 3-night car camping trip with one peak hike, one short lake hike,
and one hike cut short by weather.
|
 | Lakes Basin Trip
[trip report] |
 | Huntington Lake Trip 2013
[trip report] |
| A 5-day camping trip to Huntington Lake (in the Sierra Nevada between Yosemite and Sequoia/Kings Canyon), with day hikes in the area to lakes, pools, and a waterfall.
|
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