Best day hikes Eastern Sierra (I'll give advice about hiking in Chamonix, France)

[dbolland]

Hello, I'm new here. I'm french and plan to do two day hikes in the Eastern Sierra in August 2026 or 27. Could you help me to choose? I'm used to hiking and I'm looking for the most spectacular hikes, excluding Mount Whitney. I will never come back there in my life (budget wise it's tough) so I don't want to miss the absolute best. I know that "best" is subjective and depends on one's tastes but you see what I mean. I'm ready to wake up very early if it's very crowded hikes and ready to walk further than the crowd.
To give back, if someone's interested, I can provide detailed advice about hiking in the Chamonix area in the french Alps. Thank you so much!

[SSSdave]

Please provide more information on your expected fitness level as strong hikers can challenge much more than most of us.

For average folk, up on Rock Creek from the road end Mosquito Flat trailhead that starts high at 10.3k. From there one hikes due south to Morgan Pass. Not a long hike, but plenty of short worthwhile easy off trail diversions exploring lake areas. Lots of big peaks and lakes.

From that same trailhead, one can instead target Mono Pass and end at either the Summit Lake zone or continue down to say Fourth Recess Lake if more capable. If just hiking to the summit zone, one would at the 11.9k elevation wander out northwest to the grand view west above the Trail Lakes. And would on the return enjoy the short side trip to Ruby Lake.

https://caltopo.com/map.html#ll=37.4121 ... 8&z=15&b=t

Another easy trail starting at high elevations is a loop out of Saddlebag Lake counterclockwise across Lundy Pass. Lots of small lake diversions just off the main trail with big peak views.

https://caltopo.com/map.html#ll=37.9838 ... 6&z=15&b=t

[balzaccom]

I would also add South Lake to the lakes below Bishop Pass, and Sabrina Lake to any of the lakes in that basin.

[dbolland]

Thank you. Here is what I can say about my fitness level: I am 47 years old, lift weights seriously four times a week, and walk about 5 miles daily in my everyday life. I only hike in the mountains during summer. Last summer, the most challenging day hikes I did included 4,430 feet of elevation gain in about 4 hours and 30 minutes, reaching 8,455 feet. Another hike began at an altitude of 4,692 feet and ended at 7,717 feet, with 3,025 feet of elevation gain in 3 hours.

The highest mountains I’ve hiked were around 9,843 feet. I don’t do climbing or glacier hiking.

A friend accompanying me has slightly less training than I do. There is also the question of altitude acclimatization. We will have landed in Los Angeles about a week earlier, so we will not have done any activities at high altitudes before the hike.

I'll be arriving from Los Angeles and will spend maybe 3 days/4 nights either in Lone Pine, Big Pine or Bishop or a combination of some of these places. I read about Big Pine Lakes and Little Lakes Valley. Why not mentioning them?

[c9h13no3]

World's probably gonna end by 2025, so there's that.

I'd say Big Pine Lakes & the Mammoth Crest Loop just off the top of my head. They'll take up most of the day, but pleasantly so for most folks.

I assume you're coming in summer, late July to Labor Day.

I'd love to take my kids to Chamonix, the lift access there means they can experience the mountains without having to trick a toddler into climbing 2000 vertical feet.

[thegib]

Bonjour dbolland, Big Pine and LLV are excellent choices. If you go with LLV you should visit the many lakes just off trail, the hiking is easy and you'll get away from all the people. I'll suggest the Lake Sabrina basin trailhead above Bishop. The first lake is less than 3 miles in. If you start early enough you might make it all the way to Moonlight lake - a particularly gorgeous alpine area. You might also consider visiting the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest in the mountain range immediately east of the Sierra - 4800 year old trees that are quite amazing - there's nothing like it in Europe.

[dbolland]

Thank you. Yes I come in August. Is the mosquito season over in August in the high Sierra? The Ancient Bristlecone Pine forest is already on my list. What I'm not sure of is the hikes in the Sierra. I can do only two and I'll never come back so I want to do the right choices. SSSDave gave me some interesting ideas but I wonder if it's better than very popular hikes like Big Pines Lakes or Little Lakes Valley. And how do the last two compare? What about Kearsarge Pass?

[Gogd]

I read about Big Pine Lakes and Little Lakes Valley. Why not mentioning them?

In fact Dave did mention Little Lakes Valley. Rock Creek is the water way flowing through Little Lakes Valley. Below Is a image taken just a bit up from the trailhead, that should provide insight to the beauty of the area. By Sierra standards this is a very popular (lots of hikers) trail, but one can avail to many of the side hikes and get away from the crowds.

Above: Introducing my great nephew and great niece to backpacking along Rock Creek.

As for Big Pine Lakes, that would be an excellent option. It is less crowded than Rock Creek. You'll have a low intensity XC trek to reach Lake 7. If you are in real good shape the large mesa on the north side of Cloudripper can be reached, via the scree slope leading to the saddle north of Lake 7. from there send a class 3 traverse, due west, along the north side of the ridge leading to Cloudripper. From this destination you can peer down to the headwaters of three separate watersheds: the South Fork of Bishop Creek; Baker Creek; and the North Fork Big Pine Creek. If you attempt to reach the mesa, bring a light source and warm clothes, in case you end up completing your trip back in the dark. Also, do not attempt the trek above Lake 7 if rain is a possibility, as the scree will be dangerously slick, and the names of the nearby landmarks clearly indicate the hazards of stormy weather in that location.

Above: Lakes 5, 6 and 7, with Temple Crag, center frame. To get an idea of scale, Temple Crag, about 3 miles (4.8km) from where this picture was taken, is 2200' (670m) from base to summit.

Paul (balzaccom) mentioned day hiking the trail from South Lake that follows the South Fork Bishop Creek. If you opt for this walk, by all means continue on the trail to Bishop Pass, as that also offers a pretty epic view of the South Fork Bishop Creek watershed.

View looking North for Bishop Pass: upper lakes basin of South Fork Bishop Creek.

Ed

[dbolland]

Amazing reply Ed, thank you! The end of Big Pine Lakes seems too hard and complicated for me. According to you, if I want to walk not more than 4 hours from the trailhead, which lake can I reach on this hike? I don't run but I'm not slow neither.

[paul]

I will cast a vote for South Lake to Bishop Pass. Not only beautiful on the way up but great views to the west from the pass. I would also consider North Lake to Piute Pass, which is maybe shorter and easier, with big views from the pass, and from the pass you can either go straight north off the trail for even bigger views, or walk over to Muriel Lake.