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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Horsetail Falls, Desolation Wilderness, Eldorado National Forest, July 2023 Set in the southern reaches of the Desolation Wilderness, Horsetail Falls is a local landmark visible to those driving along U.S. Route 50 between Placerville, California and Lake Tahoe. More of a series of tumbles than a sheer drop, the waterfall on Pyramid Creek drains many …
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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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Phantoms View, Phantom Falls Loop, North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve, January 2023 Each year, for a brief period—after recent rains in winter and early spring—the usually dry and dreary landscape of northern California’s North Table Mountain comes alive with color, flowing streams, and stunning seasonal waterfalls. And these are no run-of-the-mill cascades: as the flattops …
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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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Chilnualna Falls, Yosemite National Park, May 2022 Yosemite National Park is the land of towering waterfalls—although seeing them often comes with a price: contending with throngs of other visitors for the best look at the majestic drops. Yet this is not the case everywhere: lesser-known waterfalls such as Carlon Falls or Foresta Falls draw fewer …
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Mariposa Grove Trail, Yosemite National Park, May 2022 Though not the tallest, nor the widest, giant sequoias—found only in California’s Sierra Nevada—are the largest trees by volume in the world. The largest of three sequoia stands in Yosemite, Mariposa Grove is a top destination for visitors to California’s most popular national park. As with basically …
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Washburn Trail, Yosemite National Park, May 2022 There are many spectacular hiking trails in California’s Yosemite National Park—but the Washburn Trail is not necessarily one of them. Although the two-mile walk through a coniferous forest with some modest views is nice, the purpose of this trail is primarily utilitarian. From mid-May to late November each …
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Live and Let Hike 