Trip Advice: Virginia lakes to return lake 2 night backpacking trip

[mxoyez]

Hey, I had some quick questions about a trip I might do on weekdays in mid july.

Would it be feasible to day hike from virginia lakes to summit lake, set up basecamp there, and then explore the return lake area the next day before heading back one day later? Would I need a permit to enter yosemite for a dayhike? Would the crowds be heavy/is there camping? Thank you!

[lvray]

Yes very doable. Note - if you are camping in the wilderness, you are backpacking and not day hiking. You will need a permit for that. Get your backpacking (wilderness) permit from Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest - Bridgeport office: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/htnf/hom ... rdb5238673. They are now using Recreation.gov to handle permit reservations. The permit will cover entering into Yosemite.
Not a fan of Summit Lake. Always over run with people. Would be fewer down in Virginia Canyon. Return Lake is very nice.

[mxoyez]

Yes very doable. Note - if you are camping in the wilderness, you are backpacking and not day hiking. You will need a permit for that. Get your backpacking (wilderness) permit from Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest - Bridgeport office: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/htnf/hom ... rdb5238673. They are now using Recreation.gov to handle permit reservations. The permit will cover entering into Yosemite.
Not a fan of Summit Lake. Always over run with people. Would be fewer down in Virginia Canyon. Return Lake is very nice.

ok, thanks for the advice. Is it legal to camp in yosemite with only a wilderness permit? That's why I was planning on camping at summit lake.

[lvray]

Yes. You get permits from the administrative agency where the starting trailhead is located (in this case Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest - Hoover Wilderness) and that covers crossing into other regions if you state that is where you are going on the permit. Quotas are based on starting trailhead and date.

[mxoyez]

Yes. You get permits from the administrative agency where the starting trailhead is located (in this case Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest - Hoover Wilderness) and that covers crossing into other regions if you state that is where you are going on the permit. Quotas are based on starting trailhead and date.

Ok, I got a wilderness permit that allows me into Yosemite as you said, thanks for the advice! A quick trail question: Can I expect return creek to be flowing?

[wildhiker]

The open meadowed area in Virginia Canyon below Return Lake is a much nicer place to camp than Summit Lake, with a cascading creek (yes, should still be running) in flowery meadows and marvelous views of the Shepherd Crest. It is only 2 miles further in than Summit Lake. We easily made it all the way to Virginia Canyon from the Virginia Lakes trailhead in one day.
-Phil

[mxoyez]

Thanks phil! I'll stay at that meadow. Are there any places you would recommend exploring in a dayhike from the meadow (leaving my tent as basecamp)? I realized just going to return lake and back wouldn't be too ambitious.

[Carne_DelMuerto]

We did this route with packs a few years ago. (We dropped packs west of Grey Butte.) The high point above Spiller Lake affords one a great view. The route down from Soldier Lake is a pretty consistent slab for 2/3 of it — I was wearing the wrong shoes and it ripped up my toes. YMMV.

[mxoyez]

We did this route with packs a few years ago. (We dropped packs west of Grey Butte.) The high point above Spiller Lake affords one a great view. The route down from Soldier Lake is a pretty consistent slab for 2/3 of it — I was wearing the wrong shoes and it ripped up my toes. YMMV.

return-route.png

That sounds awesome! Can I ask what class climb it is to the point?

[Carne_DelMuerto]

That sounds awesome! Can I ask what class climb it is to the point?

Class 2. Perhaps you could work hard at the very top and find a Class 3 move.

Trail report: http://highsierratopix.com/community/vi ... =1&t=14888