High Sierra Topix

Quick overnighter up to Island Lake in Desolation Wilderness. The Twin Lakes parking lot and Wright's Lake campground were still closed, so we parked at the Equestrian camp. Arriving at about 10am on a Saturday, there were at least a hundred cars parked already. The walk from the Equestrian camp to the actual Twin Lakes trailhead added 1.1 miles each way. No snow on trail, a couple ravines filed with snow and snow banks up on the edge of Boomerang Lake and Island Lake. All of the stream crossings were very doable even early season. Tons of day hikers, but they thinned out quite a bit once we got over the ridge to Island Lake. Only 3.3 miles from the trailhead, we camped on the northern shore and enjoyed watching the clouds move quickly over Mt. Price across from us. The marshes around the lake froze overnight and we woke up to some light frost in the morning, but no wind and perfect reflections. We headed back on the trail and turned off the trail to stay close to the river to find the Enchanted Pools and Enchanted Falls. Finding our way downhill wasn't too bad as long as we stayed a little above the river to avoid bushwacking.

Eventually we reached the top of the falls and followed it through several emerald green pools, and this is when we also started to see lots of day hikers on their way up from the parking lot. All in all a great first trip of the season. Super short miles but nice to get out. Still no mosquitoes, a few by the river when temps warmed up. More photos, info and my GPS in my full trip report: https://www.backcountrycow.com/blog/bac ... twin-lakes

Thanks for the TR @nightowl, and the great photos! I have a permit for this same trip this coming weekend. Can you say more about the parking situation at Equestrian Camp? Did you struggle to find a spot?

Flamingo wrote: ↑Tue Jun 16, 2020 10:12 am Thanks for the TR @nightowl, and the great photos! I have a permit for this same trip this coming weekend. Can you say more about the parking situation at Equestrian Camp? Did you struggle to find a spot?

I got there about 10:45am on a Saturday and there were probably around a hundred cars parked already. Seemed like cars were just parked anywhere flat in a somewhat ordered fashion on the grass/dirt/between posts. It's a big informal makeshift lot, and can't imagine not finding a spot somewhere though. Have a great trip!

Thanks for the report! I forget how pretty of an area this is, but your wonderful photos are a great reminder.

Very nice. The snow conditions look like we're in early July instead of early-mid June. Where are the "Enchanted Fall and Pools"? Are these the falls and pools downstream of Island Lake? My distant memories (was last there around 1990 or so) seem to recall that there were particularly nice falls and pools in that area.

giantbrookie wrote: ↑Tue Jun 16, 2020 6:04 pm Very nice. The snow conditions look like we're in early July instead of early-mid June. Where are the "Enchanted Fall and Pools"? Are these the falls and pools downstream of Island Lake? My distant memories (was last there around 1990 or so) seem to recall that there were particularly nice falls and pools in that area.

Yup! They're along the South Fork Silver Creek downstream of where the Umpa Lake outlet stream merges in

Was going to do an Enchanted TR as I was just there twice. But will add my pics and information to this TR question.

Not down from Island Lake, rather Umpa Lake. Here's a map to give you the general idea of how to get there.

These pics are from June 5th where I had two water shoe crossings. Went again a week later with zero water crossings.

Just for fun on the second hike we climbed above the Twin Lake Falls, and discovered a lovely little no name lake.

We named it Secret Lake.