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Best Lake Hikes in California

We track 183 routes that match this search in California. They average 5.0 km and 261 m (856 ft) of ascent, with the longest running to 86.8 km.

That is 17 percent of the 1,097 routes we map in California. They are shorter than the local average, 5.0 km against 13.6 km, which is what makes this a practical shortlist for a half day. They also climb less than the area average, 261 m (856 ft) against 458 m (1,503 ft), so they suit a recovery day or a group with mixed fitness.

Lake routes give you a natural halfway point, somewhere to swim in summer, and the calmest reflections of the whole week if you get there before the wind picks up. The mix is broad: 32 are rated easy and 12 are hard or harder, so there is something here whether you have two hours or a full day.

Trails

Hackelia mundula , pink stickseed, in Sequoia/Kings Canyon, Fresno County, California.
Expert

Rae Lakes Loop

California · United States

Distance
57.6 km
/ 35.8 mi
Elevation gain
2,081 m
Typical duration
16 hr
  • Lake
  • Mountain
  • Canyon and gorge
Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus lateralis). Photo taken near Dingleberry lake in the CA eastern Sierra at an elevation of about 10,500 feet
Expert

North Lake South Lake Loop

California · United States

Distance
86.8 km
/ 53.9 mi
Elevation gain
2,788 m
Typical duration
24 hr
  • Lake
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
@ Whitney Portal, California
Hard

Meysan Lakes Trail

California · United States

Distance
7.4 km
/ 4.6 mi
Elevation gain
1,235 m
Typical duration
3 hr 23 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Slender wheatgrass is common right along the JMT from montane parkland into the subalpine and occasionally alpine. Lengths of lemmas awns and degree of secund arrangement of spikelets are variously developed throughout these elevation zones
Moderate

Rock Creek Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
5.4 km
/ 3.3 mi
Elevation gain
291 m
Typical duration
1 hr 33 min
  • Lake
  • River
  • Mountain
The view goes on forever after topping out at Koip Peak Pass, which is sort of a back door out of Yosemite and into the Ansel Adams Wilderness . The prominent red peak beyond the lakes is San Joaquin Mountain, which hides Mammoth Mountain s
Hard

Alger Lakes Trail

California · United States

Distance
15.7 km
/ 9.7 mi
Elevation gain
1,129 m
Typical duration
4 hr 59 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Inyo County star tulip ( Calochortus excavatus ) on Tyee Lakes Trail
Moderate

Tyee Lakes Trail

California · United States

Distance
10.4 km
/ 6.5 mi
Elevation gain
753 m
Typical duration
3 hr 18 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Mineral King Valley, California
Moderate

Monarch Lakes Trail

California · United States

Distance
6.5 km
/ 4.0 mi
Elevation gain
824 m
Typical duration
2 hr 35 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
View of Earth taken during ISS Expedition 38.
Moderate

Summit Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
3.3 km
/ 2.0 mi
Elevation gain
117 m
Typical duration
51 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
View of Earth taken during ISS Expedition 47.
Hard

Birch Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
8.7 km
/ 5.4 mi
Elevation gain
1,463 m
Typical duration
4 hr
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep, Ovis canadensis sierrae, Mt. Langley Herd. Listed as threatened under California Endangered Speciaes Act since 1974. Uplisted to endangered in 1999 by Califonia Fish and Game Commission. Listed as endangered by
Moderate

Soldier Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
4.3 km
/ 2.7 mi
Elevation gain
556 m
Typical duration
1 hr 44 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
This image was taken at the Minarets observation site ( Minaret Summit ). Most of the Minarets (peaks) have been informally named. The largest and tallest (Clyde Minaret) is identified in this image. Michael Minaret is where Norman Clyde fo
Moderate

Starkweather Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
3.9 km
/ 2.4 mi
Elevation gain
35 m
Typical duration
52 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Temple Crag, seen from the Big Pine Lakes region to the north.
Moderate

Black Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
2.6 km
/ 1.6 mi
Elevation gain
47 m
Typical duration
37 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Boiling mudpot located near Little Hot Springs Valley in Lassen Volcanic National Park
Moderate

Ridge Lakes Trail

California · United States

Distance
1.7 km
/ 1.1 mi
Elevation gain
302 m
Typical duration
49 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Blue Lake in the morning Location: Inyo National Forest, about 2.5 miles from the lake Sabrina trail head.
Moderate

Baboon Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
2.0 km
/ 1.2 mi
Elevation gain
213 m
Typical duration
44 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Marmota flaviventris , or a Yellow Bellied Marmot, on a rock in the Tuolumne Meadows Yosemite National Park, California, United States.
Moderate

Dog Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
3.8 km
/ 2.3 mi
Elevation gain
323 m
Typical duration
1 hr 16 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Lake Sabrina before sunrise
Moderate

Grass Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
2.1 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
185 m
Typical duration
43 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Little Lakes Valley, Sierra Nevada , California , USA
Moderate

Little Lakes Valley Trail

California · United States

Distance
5.3 km
/ 3.3 mi
Elevation gain
240 m
Typical duration
1 hr 28 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Linanthus pachyphyllus in Little Lakes Valley, eastern Sierra
Moderate

Ruby Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
2.7 km
/ 1.7 mi
Elevation gain
292 m
Typical duration
1 hr
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Peaks beyond Yosemite from Glacier Point
Moderate

Sunrise Lakes Trail

California · United States

Distance
4.2 km
/ 2.6 mi
Elevation gain
189 m
Typical duration
1 hr 9 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
McGee Pass Lake, snowfields, and view south - from trail at about 10,800ft, near McGee Pass. John Muir Wilderness, Sierra Nevada USA.
Moderate

Big McGee Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
0.6 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
9 m
Typical duration
9 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Blue Lake in the morning Location: Inyo National Forest, about 2.5 miles from the lake Sabrina trail head.
Moderate

Donkey Lakes Trail

California · United States

Distance
1.5 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
86 m
Typical duration
27 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Red Slate Mountain , Sierra Nevada , California . Image taken from Lake Mildred.
Moderate

Dorothy-Bighorn Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
2.1 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
125 m
Typical duration
37 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Trail south of Duck Pass, above Duck Lake - framed mountain view along path with Pinus albicaulis . John Muir Wilderness, CA, near John Muir Trail.
Moderate

Pika Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
2.1 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
98 m
Typical duration
35 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus lateralis). Photo taken near Dingleberry lake in the CA eastern Sierra at an elevation of about 10,500 feet
Moderate

Topsy Turvy Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
0.5 km
/ 0.3 mi
Elevation gain
62 m
Typical duration
12 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Barney Lake (foreground) and Mammoth Mountain (background), seen looking northwest from Duck Pass, John Muir Wilderness, California.
Moderate

Woods Lakes Trail

California · United States

Distance
1.5 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
86 m
Typical duration
27 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
  • Forest
The Emigrant Wilderness of Stanislaus National Forest is a wilderness area in the Sierra Nevada. It is bordered by Yosemite National Park on the south, the Toiyabe National Forest and the Hoover Wilderness on the east, and State Route 108 o
Moderate

Leavitt Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
2.6 km
/ 1.6 mi
Elevation gain
37 m
Typical duration
36 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Streptanthus tortuosus (shieldleaf), between rocks: stem-pierced leaves, flowers, seedpods
Moderate

Marie Lakes Trail

California · United States

Distance
2.6 km
/ 1.6 mi
Elevation gain
274 m
Typical duration
57 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
(1 in a multiple picture album) I drove up Rock Creek Road in the Sierra Nevada looking for the first signs of Fall in the tree color. At about 6,000 feet I found scenes sunch as this with the Aspens glowing gold. They are usually the first
Moderate

Hilton Lakes Trail

California · United States

Distance
8.8 km
/ 5.4 mi
Elevation gain
279 m
Typical duration
2 hr 15 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Mount Dade (on the right) taken from Treasure Lakes, Little Lakes Valley, Sierra Nevada , California , USA
Easy

Chickenfoot Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
0.7 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
49 m
Typical duration
13 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Blue Lake in the morning Location: Inyo National Forest, about 2.5 miles from the lake Sabrina trail head.
Easy

Emerald Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
0.5 km
/ 0.3 mi
Elevation gain
15 m
Typical duration
8 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Mount Dade (on the right) taken from Treasure Lakes, Little Lakes Valley, Sierra Nevada , California , USA
Easy

Gem Lakes Trail

California · United States

Distance
0.7 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
8 m
Typical duration
9 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Banner Peak, Mount Davis, and 1000 Island Lake in Ansel Adams Wilderness, California , USA
Easy

Thousand Island Lake

California · United States

Distance
2.5 km
/ 1.5 mi
Elevation gain
21 m
Typical duration
33 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Temple Crag, seen from the Big Pine Lakes region to the north.
Easy

Fourth Lake Cutoff

California · United States

Distance
0.6 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
29 m
Typical duration
10 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Near Hobler Lake
Easy

Hobbler Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
2.7 km
/ 1.7 mi
Elevation gain
38 m
Typical duration
37 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus lateralis). Photo taken near Dingleberry lake in the CA eastern Sierra at an elevation of about 10,500 feet
Moderate

Hungry Packer Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
1.9 km
/ 1.2 mi
Elevation gain
125 m
Typical duration
35 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Photograph of Mount Humphreys , Sierra Nevada , California.
Easy

Muriel Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
1.7 km
/ 1.0 mi
Typical duration
21 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
BumpassHell 8345
Moderate

Crumbaugh Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
4.2 km
/ 2.6 mi
Elevation gain
22 m
Typical duration
54 min
  • Lake
Mt Ritter and Banner Peak seen past Summit Lake, at Agnew Pass. In Ansel Adams Wilderness, Sierra Nevada, California.
Moderate

Clark Lakes Trail

California · United States

Distance
6.0 km
/ 3.7 mi
Elevation gain
351 m
Typical duration
1 hr 46 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Fumaroles in the Devils Kitchen hydrothermal area, Lassen Volcanic National Park, in late July 2020
Moderate

Bench Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
4.0 km
/ 2.5 mi
Elevation gain
56 m
Typical duration
56 min
  • Lake
(1 in a multiple picture album) This is NOT taken in Yellowstone. Bumpass Hell is a surprising feature in California's Lassen Volcanic National Park. You hike through pine forests with snow on the ground for some time. Then as you top a hil
Moderate

Sifford Lakes Trail

California · United States

Distance
2.4 km
/ 1.5 mi
Elevation gain
18 m
Typical duration
31 min
  • Lake
Devils Postpile from base
Moderate

Sotcher Lake Feeder Trail

California · United States

Distance
1.4 km
/ 0.8 mi
Elevation gain
49 m
Typical duration
21 min
  • Lake
Sevehah Cliff, composed of folded metamorphic rock, behind Convict Lake , Sierra Nevada , California , USA
Moderate

Convict Lake Loop

California · United States

Distance
3.1 km
/ 2.0 mi
Elevation gain
95 m
Typical duration
48 min
  • Lake
Native species were planted along the lake bottom to supplement natural revegetation.
Easy

Dream Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
0.4 km
/ 0.3 mi
Elevation gain
9 m
Typical duration
6 min
  • Lake

The shortlist, side by side

The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.

Distance, ascent, walking time and difficulty for the top routes
RouteDistanceAscentTimeDifficultyBest season
Rae Lakes LoopCalifornia57.6 km2,081 m16 hrExpertJuly to September
North Lake South Lake LoopCalifornia86.8 km2,788 m24 hrExpertJuly to September
Highland Lakes - Arnot Creek LoopCalifornia32.2 km1,081 m8 hr 51 minExpertJuly to September
Meysan Lakes TrailCalifornia7.4 km1,235 m3 hr 23 minHardJuly to September
Rock Creek Lake TrailCalifornia5.4 km291 m1 hr 33 minModerateJuly to September
Alger Lakes TrailCalifornia15.7 km1,129 m4 hr 59 minHardJuly to September
Eastern Brook Lakes TrailCalifornia0.6 kmflat8 minEasyJuly to September
Tyee Lakes TrailCalifornia10.4 km753 m3 hr 18 minModerateJuly to September
Monarch Lakes TrailCalifornia6.5 km824 m2 hr 35 minModerateJuly to September
Summit Lake TrailCalifornia3.3 km117 m51 minModerateJuly to September

If you only have time for one, start with Rae Lakes Loop, North Lake South Lake Loop, Highland Lakes - Arnot Creek Loop. Those are the routes people come back to. Every route on this page links through to a full guide with the map, elevation profile, seasonal advice and what to bring.

Frequently asked questions

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