Eastern Sierra
Thousand Island Lake ↗
A backcountry destination below the Ritter Range for experienced hikers planning a wilderness trip.
TRY THIS River Trail approach ↗Hike-in lakes in the Sierra Nevada
A first look at backcountry lake travel, with planning resources for your route.
Find the trip that fits you.
Choose a route that matches your fitness and backcountry experience. Check permit quotas, weather, food-storage requirements, and snow conditions. Lake-center map pins are not navigation instructions.
An introductory selection from our 150 profiles, grouped by activity rather than ranked. Confirm current access with the official sources on each lake page.
11 places to start exploring
Open directory filters ↗Sierra Nevada
May Lake ↗
A compact high-country hike through forest and granite to a lake below Mount Hoffmann.
TRY THIS May Lake Trail ↗Sierra Nevada
Upper Cathedral Lake ↗
A longer Yosemite outing along the John Muir Trail, with Cathedral Peak rising beyond the water.
TRY THIS Cathedral Lakes Trail to Upper Cathedral ↗Eastern Sierra
Emerald Lake (Mammoth) ↗
Follow the Coldwater Creek corridor into the Ansel Adams Wilderness for a smaller backcountry lake outing.
TRY THIS Coldwater Creek to Emerald Lake ↗Shasta Cascade
Echo Lake (Lassen) ↗
Climb through fir forest and manzanita to quiet blue-green water, with a Lassen Peak view along the way.
TRY THIS Echo Lake from Summit Lake ↗Shasta Cascade
Snag Lake (Lassen) ↗
Plan a backcountry hike to Snag Lake through the eastern Lassen landscape and return by your selected approach.
TRY THIS Snag Lake backcountry approach ↗Eastern Sierra
Parker Lake ↗
Follow the trail from the sagebrush approach into the mountain basin for a lake-centered hike.
TRY THIS Parker Lake Trail ↗Eastern Sierra
Blue Lake (Bishop Creek) ↗
Climb the Sabrina Basin trail to Blue Lake for granite scenery and a lake destination above the road.
TRY THIS Lake Sabrina to Blue Lake ↗Eastern Sierra
Long Lake (Bishop Creek) ↗
Follow the Bishop Pass route to Long Lake for a destination before the higher pass country.
TRY THIS South Lake to Long Lake ↗Eastern Sierra
Duck Lake (Mammoth) ↗
Climb past smaller basin lakes toward Duck Pass, with Duck Lake as the destination beyond it.
TRY THIS Duck Pass approach ↗Eastern Sierra
Garnet Lake ↗
Plan the Shadow Lake approach toward Garnet Lake for a deeper Ansel Adams Wilderness adventure.
TRY THIS Garnet Lake via Shadow Lake ↗