Lakes good for 8 people (4 tents) camping

[oleander]

Wow, you guys are FULL of superb information.

On the possible locations,

Yosemite: We deliberately want to take this group to somewhere other than Yosemite. Most of them have been to Yosemite and Tahoe but not yet to other parts of the Sierra.

That said, the Hoover Wilderness entries east of Yosemite are in contention. Point taken on Barney Lake being overburdened, so I have crossed that one off. Does anyone remember how permitting works at Hoover? I would love to take them to Saddlebag but if the snow is slow to melt, there's some chance our mid-July dates might be too early to start a hike at 10k and go uphill from there. I will check out East Lake, and the Virginia and Lundy entries. (Anyone have an opinion which is the prettiest?) I vaguely remember one of these entries is hard to access if you don't have a 4wd.

Trail to Chewing Gum - hmmmm, I don't remember that as a tough climb. But will check out my topo maps. I do want to make this easy for my people.

Carson-Iceberg: Not sure I have been to those lakes, I'll check them out.

Middle Velma: Funny, I've camped there once and my recollection is that it was moderately tricky to find campsites. It's a big lake, so maybe we were on the wrong side. (We camped about midway along the south shore.) There must be a section of Middle Velma with better camping?

Twin Lakes (Desolation): Roomy but really rocky with sharp rocks? That's how I remember it. What's the best part of that basin to camp in?

Pear Lake area: Will skip. I'd like to save my next trip there for another trek into Tablelands. Not for a beginner group.

Chickenfoot (Little Lakes Basin): sounds good. However, this is the highest-elevation of all the lakes we're looking at, so we're a little concerned that if we pop $40 for our permit 6 months in advance, we're taking our chances that a lakes basin at 10,700 feet is (not) melted out by July 13. What are our chances?

Hilton Lakes - same area - I like that they are slightly lower in elevation. Are they as pretty?

June Lakes loop/Agnew & Gem Lakes, I recall not much caring for that trail, but not sure why.

Duck Pass: Haven't camped on the shores of Pika Lake and I hear it's stunning. Unfortunately that is farther than we want to hike in a day. We don't want to cross to the other side of Duck Pass. I'm thinking of starting at George Lake, hiking to some lake near the head of (but BEFORE) Duck Pass, then going to Deer Lake on day 2. Heard the cross-country to Deer Lake is not hard. But I don't remember what the camping situation looked like on the north side of Duck Pass for our first night. I have a sinking feeling these lakes are overused.

Lake Aloha, thought of that too, how much does that boat shuttle cost nowadays?

Chain Lakes (south of Yosemite), nice idea. I forgot entirely about those trailheads down there. Could work.

Bishop Creek is too far to drive for us, 7-8 hours.

Mineral King: Eagle Lake or Mosquito Lakes: Nobody has a comment? I sure think that area is gorgeous...

Thanks again, keep 'em coming!

- Elizabeth

[tim]

I thought about Hilton Lakes also, but quotas are too low for our group (we have 10 in total).

The Echo Lake boat is $10 pp each way. The extra hiking distance if you dont want to pay both ways isn't too bad, especially once acclimatized on the way out. Parking on weekends can be tough.

My recollection of the Skelton Lake basin (Duck Pass) was that there was enough room around the lake to find decent camping on the far side, but I haven't investigated in detail - I'd also appreciate input on that from anyone who has tried it. If I'm remembering correctly, that lake has nice sandy beaches also. We'd plan to go there on Day 1 from Coldwater campground then cross Duck Pass to Pika Lake on Day 2. The walk back (5 miles downhill) would be easy (even with a 5 yr old & 7 yr old in our case).

Pika Lake.jpg

Note that with the new Inyo NF booking system you only lose the booking fee not the whole reservation cost if you cancel - good option for early season/large group bookings.

[AlmostThere]

AT.. you should reread what you wrote.. 50' isn't good enough away from the water..

The Yosemite rangers demolish fire rings that are too close to the water. There are campsites within 60-70 feet of Ostrander with very large well established fire rings that remain from year to year, where other years newer ones are removed. And if you want to stick to the 100 foot rule, there are still plenty of spaces there.

In some parts of the park, there are established campsites (thinking here of Vogelsang backpacker campsites) that are clearly within 100 feet of a water source. And the entire heavily used Rancheria Falls campsite area is spitting distance from the creek - yet they insist you camp in the same heavily used sites to avoid causing further impact.

[Wandering Daisy]

I would not take a 5yr old and 8yr old to Deer Lakes. The cross country travel is not bad IF you know the route, but there is lack of water and a potential to get lost. I do not consider it a kid-friendly route. Pika Lake is great. I ran across a family camped there last year. There is limited camping at Duck Lake.

Reconsider driving to Bishop. Nice trails out of Sabrina Lake- Hungry Packer Lake- nice 2-day trip to get there. The lakes east of Bishop Pass are also great. Or go out of North Lake to Piute Lake. If you are willing to go to Little Lakes Basin, it is only about 20 minute more drive to Bishop.

[oleander]

My group does not have any kids; just adults who are (mostly) new to backpacking. Nonetheless, point taken about the potential to get lost going to Deer Lakes. I am a good orienteer, but I don't want to create more stress or uncertainty for the group, so will stick to trails. Some in my group will be very slow walkers; Pika Lake is an option for Night 2.

I didn't realize the drive to Rock Creek is almost as far just going to Bishop Creek. It's been 10 years since I've been to Rock Creek. Thanks for the heads-up.

- Elizabeth

[markskor]

Couple of suggestions: trips that I took my then 6-year-old son on, way back when -

1) Onion Valley trailhead lakes, (Too far?) - lots of easy lakes below the pass...Make it a loop or -

2) Not a lake but good fishing and an interesting route for newbies: How about Yosemite Creek trail from 120 to the Valley? Maybe 14 miles total....good for 3 nights, almost all downhill, and there are some nice fish in the pools of Yosemite Creek...Plus, you get to see the big fall from the very top.
When down, stay Valley BP (yes, it is the Valley ) and next morning, one adult can take the morning shuttle and pick up car as the rest hang, back down by 11.

3) Chain Lakes makes a fine destination.

4) Desolation out of Echo always nice too but it gets crowded - permit hassles.

[SSSdave]

By July am guessing you mean the 4th holiday as that is the date the inexperienced usually get surprised with still wet and snowy conditions. Note some lakes in your title post list and some of the suggested lakes are more than 5 miles hikes. And it would be a stretch to reach Rock Creek in 6 hours driving. Am guessing you are planning a short 3 or 4 day trip? Since your friends are newbies, I'd recommend keeping the total vertical climb to under 1500 feet that eliminates some suggested destinations also. When introducing people of average physical condition to backpacking, the prime directive if one has an interest in ever taking them out again is to make your choices as pleasant as possible:

--------------------------
Distance and vertical climb should be EASY.
The destination ought to be scenic and inspiring to show the value of getting out in the backcountry.
If the weather is foul, do not backpack, do not backpack, and instead car or motel camp per a Plan B.
Avoid mosquitoey destinations because they are miserable to some people even if they have repellant.
A really long drive for a short 3 day trip will gnaw at a new person's patience for such activity.
--------------------------

Of those mentioned, East Lake is probably your best choice. All the choices may have more mosquitoes early July than are pleasant. I have a suggestion that doesn't fit your criteria:

Out of the Stanislaus NF across Cherry Lake at Shingle Springs Trailhead is an easy trail to a magnificent lower elevation granitoid glacial body of water at 6550 feet in Yosemite National park, Kibbie Lake.

http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=38.05282,-119.84758&z=15&t=T

So why bring 8 newbies to Kibbie?

A short easy drive.
A short 3.5 miles hike with an easy 800 feet of vertical.
There are likely to be far fewer mosquitoes about that lower well dried elevation by early July than higher up at the elevation you noted above 8k.
Lots of nice level granite flats for tenting, most with shade for near lake legal camping.
Easy to obtain the non-quota wilderness permit from Stanislaus National Forest.
Good naturalized self sustaining rainbow trout fishery.
Scenic lake with many glacially carved vertical cliffs plunging right into the lake.
In early July good numbers of wildflowers.
Good dayhikes around parts of the lake.
Nice places to jump in the cool waters and then lay out on smooth clean granite.

[oleander]

EAST LAKE (Hoover Wilderness): How is the road into the Green Creek/East Lake Trailhead? Ten years ago, we tried to go in there and were told that it wasn't advisable for a little car. We will probably not have a 4wd vehicle. Has it changed? And where is the best camping around East Lake?

GEM LAKE (from June Lake loop): Where is the good camping on the shores of Gem Lake? It loops very steep, from the photos. It's been 15 years since I passed through there, so I don't recall.

We are doing a 3-day, 2-night hike on the weekend of July 14-15.

- Elizabeth

[giantbrookie]

That said, the Hoover Wilderness entries east of Yosemite are in contention. Point taken on Barney Lake being overburdened, so I have crossed that one off. Does anyone remember how permitting works at Hoover? I would love to take them to Saddlebag but if the snow is slow to melt, there's some chance our mid-July dates might be too early to start a hike at 10k and go uphill from there. I will check out East Lake, and the Virginia and Lundy entries. (Anyone have an opinion which is the prettiest?) I vaguely remember one of these entries is hard to access if you don't have a 4wd.

Middle Velma: Funny, I've camped there once and my recollection is that it was moderately tricky to find campsites. It's a big lake, so maybe we were on the wrong side. (We camped about midway along the south shore.) There must be a section of Middle Velma with better camping?

Twin Lakes (Desolation): Roomy but really rocky with sharp rocks? That's how I remember it. What's the best part of that basin to camp in?

Chickenfoot (Little Lakes Basin): sounds good. However, this is the highest-elevation of all the lakes we're looking at, so we're a little concerned that if we pop $40 for our permit 6 months in advance, we're taking our chances that a lakes basin at 10,700 feet is (not) melted out by July 13. What are our chances?

Hilton Lakes - same area - I like that they are slightly lower in elevation. Are they as pretty?

June Lakes loop/Agnew & Gem Lakes, I recall not much caring for that trail, but not sure why.

Here's a few more answers. Regarding the Virginia-Green Creek-Lundy options. The three trailheads are all accessible by passenger car and do not require high clearance or 4wd. I think East Lake is the prettiest of all of those, although West is pretty stunning too.

Middle Velma. I've never camped there, but seem to recall seeing some good spots on the E side--opposite the trail and off the beaten track.

Twin Lakes. I think there are good sites to be had and one kind find other good places to camp aplenty between the Twins and Island Lake above, which also has lots of room.

Chickenfoot. Although high in elevation, lakes east of the crest thaw earlier than those west of the crest owing to distinctly less snowfall. July 13 will be fine even in a heavy snowfall year which this winter looks like it won't be. There are other good options in this basin. Long Lake has a very large number of good campsites, for example.

Given that the Little Lakes Valley lakes will be thawed by July 13, certainly the Hiltons won't be a problem. They are pretty, but not as classically scenic and alpine as those in Little Lakes Valley (ie Chickenfoot et al.).

June Lakes loop. I think I know why you don't like that trail. The first part to Agnew Lake out of Silver Lake is fairly steep and it can seem a bit harsh to start right off with that. That having been said, it is really not that far, nor is it that much elevation gain.

[giantbrookie]

EAST LAKE (Hoover Wilderness): How is the road into the Green Creek/East Lake Trailhead? Ten years ago, we tried to go in there and were told that it wasn't advisable for a little car. We will probably not have a 4wd vehicle. Has it changed? And where is the best camping around East Lake?

GEM LAKE (from June Lake loop): Where is the good camping on the shores of Gem Lake? It loops very steep, from the photos. It's been 15 years since I passed through there, so I don't recall.

We are doing a 3-day, 2-night hike on the weekend of July 14-15.

- Elizabeth

For East Lake, see previous post. The road is fine. There are a ton of campsites on the E side of the lake where the trail is and there may be some hideaways to be found on the NW side with some scouting (don't recall whether there is a 4-tent sort of room there. As for Gem, my recollection is that there are campsites along the NW margin. I recall the trail runs fairly high above the lake along much ofs northern shore. There is also room to camp at the two little lakes just W of Gem (called Billy's Lake). You get there just before the trail comes back down to Rush Creek.