Mono Lake State Natural Reserve, August 2023 Set in a volcanic basin just east of the Sierra Nevada, Mono Lake is a favorite stop for migratory birds and for humans flocking to or from Yosemite National Park. After the lake was partly drained by the city of Los Angeles in the early 20th century, it …
Thousand Island Lake, Ansel Adams Wilderness, Inyo National Forest, August 2023 Rising prominently above California’s Mammoth Lakes area, the Ritter Range boasts a clutch of spectacular peaks and majestic alpine lakes best reached on a multi-day backpacking adventure. The largest of the lakes is Thousand Island Lake, set in a basin below iconic Banner Peak …
Big Pine Lakes, John Muir Wilderness, Inyo National Forest, August 2023 The simple names—First Lake, Second Lake, etc.—belie the picturesque setting of Big Pine Lakes, nestled in a majestic valley across the High Sierra Crest from Kings Canyon National Park. Once a relatively well-kept local secret, the Internet and social media have turned the lakes …
Lower Lamarck Lake, John Muir Wilderness, August 2023 Named for a famous early 19th-century French biologist and naturalist, Lamarck Lakes are set below dramatic granite facades in the eastern Sierra Nevada and accessed by way of a steep and challenging trail in the vicinity of Aspendell and Bishop, California. The relentless climb ends at two …
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Lower Granite Lake, Yosemite National Park, August 2023 The out-and-back hike to Gaylor Lakes is a popular hike in the eastern reaches of Yosemite National Park; this is a pleasant, 2-hour trek with terrific views across Tioga Pass to Mount Dana and access to two trout-filled lakes below the Sierra Crest. It is nearby Granite …
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Winnemucca Lake, Mokelumne Wilderness, Eldorado National Forest, July 2023 Situated in the underappreciated section of the Sierra Nevada between bustling Lake Tahoe to the north and Yosemite to the south, the Round Top – Winnemucca Lake Loop is one of the more easily-accessible half-day hikes in the Mokelumne Wilderness. The two glimmering alpine lakes sit …
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Five Lakes Trail, Tahoe National Forest, July 2023 The cluster of subalpine tarns known as Five Lakes, nestled in a mostly wooded saddle northwest of bustling Lake Tahoe, are mediocre by area standards; they lack the dramatic granite backdrops or aquamarine hues that characterize some lakes in California’s Sierra Nevada. But on the short Five …
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Cataract Falls Trail, Marin Municipal Water District, Mount Tamalpais Watershed, April 2023 Described as “very rugged and demanding,” the stair-master challenge that is the Cataract Trail is nonetheless one of the most popular and rewarding hikes in the Bay Area’s Marin County. The well-trodden path follows the rumbling waters of Cataract Creek, which originates on …
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Eagle Lake Trail, Desolation Wilderness, August 2022 Nestled in a scenic drainage nearly 800 feet above Emerald Bay, the pristine Eagle Lake is one of the most popular day hike destinations in the Lake Tahoe area. Less than a mile’s walk into the Desolation Wilderness, the lake sits in a granite bowl surrounded by craggy …
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Medicine Bow Peak Trail, Medicine Bow National Forest, July 2022 At 12,013 feet, Medicine Bow Peak is the highest mountain in southern Wyoming’s Snowy Range, a small but exceptionally scenic slice of the broader Medicine Bow Mountains, which extend into northern Colorado. The peak is accessible via a relatively straightforward climb, with some decent elevation …
Continue reading Medicine Bow Peak Loop, including Lakes Trail (Medicine Bow National Forest, WY)
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