High Sierra Topix

Hello!

I will be driving up the 395 from Los Angeles on June 10th with my sister, and we want to do a 2 night backpacking trip on the way up to Tahoe.

3 years ago on this same drive We did a loop from Rush Creek TH to Thousand Island Lake, Waugh Lake, and Gem lake. Thousand Island is incredible, but I've been twice and want to do something different.

Ideally we are looking for a starting trailhead within an hour-ish of the 395 in Lee Vining (it would be nicer to have a shorter drive up to Tahoe on the day we hike out). Loop is highly preferred over an out-and-back, and some beautiful lakes along the way would be great.

I was looking into Minaret Lake to Cecil, Iceberg, and Ediza, but seems like that stretch between Minaret and Iceberg is too sketchy for us, especially in mid-June.

Any recommendations? If there is no such thing as a beautiful 2 night loop (~20-30 miles) where we can see lots of lakes and not have to drive a ton to make it to South Lake Tahoe after hiking out, I'm open to out-and-backs.

Thanks in Advance

virginia lakes and or green creek area

It'd be helpful to know what kind of snow travel you're comfortable with. In June, if you don't want to walk on *any* snow you'll be limited.

I think Ediza is a good early season destination. There are no creeks you *have* to cross, and it is mega-scenic with lots of day trip options. Permits are weekends only, so you'd wanna scheme an exit to June Lake or something similar.

A loop up to Mule Pass and down Little Slide canyon could be good, but I suspect you'd have to walk on some snow crossing the Sierra Crest twice.

You can get up to Vogelsang/Fletcher/Ireland lakes area in a day, and you don't have to cross any passes. Assuming 120 is open anyways. Last year the road opened *exactly* on June 10th, and we've got a similar snowpack. You won't know until likely a day or two before whether the trip will go.

Gazelles’ Green Creek and Virginia Lakes were the first two I also though of. And if Tioga Road is open, getting a Glen Aulin pass through permit is usually easier than a Glen Aulin permit. With a pass through, simply continue past Glen Aulin and camp at LeConte or Waterwheel falls. There’s also Lyell Canyon, which will be muddy, but probably not too many people that early in the season. My other suggestion for June is Little Lakes Valley. The crossing of Rock Creek between Box Lake and Long Lake may be rather dicey, but you can follow the trail on the west side of the creek up to Long Lake. On June 10, you’ll get snow out of Virginia Canyon, Green Creek, or Little Lakes Valley. If Tioga Road is open you’ll get snow on Rafferty Creek, but probably not to Glen Aulin, though you may have to wade.

Yeah, it is probably worth repeating the usual early season caveats: anything called a "meadow" on the map is probably a shin-deep swamp in early season. Crossing named creeks could be sketchy without a bridge, anything steep & north facing above ~10K will have snow. Trail crews haven't come through and cleared the deadfall from winter. You're just going to be slower and have your skills tested more in the shoulder season.

I would also suggest that if permits are a concern (they shouldn't be in June, but you never know) Saddlebag Lake and 20 Lakes Basin gives you lots of choices for wandering around for a couple of days.

I have done Saddlebag Lakes 4th July weekend years ago and it was the worst mosquitoes I have ever encountered. It will be soggy end of June, even in a normal snow year. It is a buggy place almost any time of the year.

We based in Upper McCabe Lake and day-hiked around Shepherd Crest. It was a climbing trip - we used ice axes.

Why not just go into Desolation Wilderness when you get to Tahoe?

If you';re worried about mosquitoes, June is not your month anywhere in the Sierra...