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Best Lake Hikes in California

The directory currently contains 188 quality-checked routes matching this guide in California. Their average mapped distance is 4.9 km and average recorded ascent is 258 m (846 ft); the longest route in the set is 86.8 km.

This subset represents 17% of the 1,083 quality-checked routes in California. Its average distance is 4.9 km, compared with 13.8 km across the full local set. Average recorded ascent is 258 m (846 ft), versus 464 m (1,522 ft) for all quality-checked routes in the same area.

Every route in this set carries a lake tag in the directory. Whether the mapped line reaches the shore and whether swimming is allowed must be checked locally. Within this set, 33 routes (18%) are rated easy, 12 (6%) are rated hard or expert, and 7 (4%) are recorded as loops. Ratings are computed from available distance and elevation data and do not establish current terrain or access.

Data refreshed September 2026

Choose by the details

How do these routes differ?

A closer look at the first 6 routes in this page’s default ordering. These comparisons describe this sample, not the entire destination or a field-tested recommendation.

Shortest mapped distance in this sample

2.5 km

Mill Creek Falls Trail

Compare the climbing too; shortest does not necessarily mean easiest.

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

134 m

Mill Creek Falls Trail

6 of 6 have ascent data. Missing measurements are excluded.

Return logistics

2 recorded loops

Check start and finish for every option. An unknown shape does not mean a loop, and a loop does not establish access to its start.

Plan the return journey →

Distances follow stored route lines; ascent and time are estimates. Current access, surface and technical difficulty need separate checks. How to turn a comparison into a shortlist.

Trails

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
The Sierra Nevada is a mountain range in the U.S. states of California and Nevada, between the California Central Valley and the Basin and Range Province. The Sierra runs 400 miles (640 km) north-to-south, and is approximately 70 miles (110
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
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
Moderate

Mill Creek Falls Trail

California · United States

Distance
2.5 km
/ 1.6 mi
Elevation gain
134 m
Typical duration
44 min
  • Waterfall
  • Lake
  • River
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
A north-facing photo of the rugged southern face of Empire Mountain, taken from the Crystal Lakes - Monarch Lakes trail in the Mineral King area of Sequoia National Park. The rock is jagged and has a unique red hue.
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
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
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
view across Soldier Lake The Rock Creek wildfire was started by an abandoned campfire within a meadow, at approximately 11,000-ft. elevation in the backcountry of Sequoia National Park. Because of the lateness of the season, the high altitu
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
Moderate

Dawn Falls Trail

California · United States

Distance
2.2 km
/ 1.4 mi
Elevation gain
266 m
Typical duration
51 min
  • Waterfall
  • Lake
Moderate

Starkweather Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
3.9 km
/ 2.4 mi
Elevation gain
35 m
Typical duration
52 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Moderate

Tokopah Falls Trail

California · United States

Distance
3.1 km
/ 1.9 mi
Elevation gain
188 m
Typical duration
55 min
  • Waterfall
  • Lake
Moderate

Black Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
2.6 km
/ 1.6 mi
Elevation gain
47 m
Typical duration
37 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Moderate

Ridge Lakes Trail

California · United States

Distance
1.7 km
/ 1.1 mi
Elevation gain
302 m
Typical duration
49 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Moderate

Baboon Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
2.0 km
/ 1.2 mi
Elevation gain
213 m
Typical duration
44 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
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
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
Moderate

Ruby Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
2.7 km
/ 1.7 mi
Elevation gain
292 m
Typical duration
1 hr
  • Lake
  • Mountain
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
Moderate

Donkey Lakes Trail

California · United States

Distance
1.5 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
86 m
Typical duration
27 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Mildred Lake valley and metamorphic cliffs, looking south from high ridge at 3,157 m (10,358 ft) between Lakes Genevieve and Dorothy. John Muir Wilderness, Sierra Nevada, California USA.
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
Moderate

Pika Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
2.1 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
98 m
Typical duration
35 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
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
Skelton Lake, Mammoth Lakes, 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
Leavitt Lake Area Toiyabe National Forest 2014
Moderate

Leavitt Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
2.6 km
/ 1.6 mi
Elevation gain
37 m
Typical duration
36 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Lupine meadow in foreground, granite ridge behind. From trail near lowest of Marie Lakes, near Rush Creek. Ansel Adams Wilderness, Sierra Nevada mountains, California.
Moderate

Marie Lakes Trail

California · United States

Distance
2.6 km
/ 1.6 mi
Elevation gain
274 m
Typical duration
57 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Rainbow Falls in Mammoth Lakes
Moderate

Rainbow Falls Wagon Trail

California · United States

Distance
1.8 km
/ 1.1 mi
Elevation gain
90 m
Typical duration
31 min
  • Waterfall
  • Lake
Rainbow Falls in Mammoth Lakes
Easy

Rainbow Falls-Reds Cutoff

California · United States

Distance
0.6 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
36 m
Typical duration
10 min
  • Waterfall
  • Lake
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
Meadow paintbrush (Castilleja lemmoni), group of dark pink flowers in meadow near stream. In meadow at head of Chickenfoot Lake, Little Lakes Valley, John Muir Wilderness, Sierra Navada 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
Emerald Lake
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
Easy

Fourth Lake Cutoff

California · United States

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

Hobbler Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
2.7 km
/ 1.7 mi
Elevation gain
38 m
Typical duration
37 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Picture Peak from Hungry Packer Lake
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
Easy

Muriel Lake Trail

California · United States

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

Crumbaugh Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
4.2 km
/ 2.6 mi
Elevation gain
22 m
Typical duration
54 min
  • Lake
Moderate

Summit Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
4.7 km
/ 2.9 mi
Elevation gain
594 m
Typical duration
1 hr 52 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
Mammoth Mountain (3362m) at evening, looking down canyon of the Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River at 9540ft on the River Trail from Thousand-Island Lakes. Ansel Adams Wilderness, Sierra Nevada USA.
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

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
Mill Creek Falls TrailCalifornia2.5 km134 m44 minModerateJune to October
Rock Creek Lake TrailCalifornia5.4 km291 m1 hr 33 minModerateJuly to September
Alger Lakes TrailCalifornia15.7 km1,129 m4 hr 59 minHardJuly 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

Rae Lakes Loop, North Lake South Lake Loop, Highland Lakes - Arnot Creek Loop currently rank highest in this filtered set according to the directory score. Open an individual route to inspect its mapped line, elevation profile, data source and planning caveats. Check live access, conditions and local rules with an official source before travelling.

Frequently asked questions

Plan with more confidence

All planning articles →

Choosing a route

How to choose a hike beyond the difficulty label

Compare distance, climbing, route shape and missing information to build a shortlist that fits your day.

Read article →

Understanding the map

Read an elevation profile without misreading the climb

Understand total ascent, net height change, profile scale and the section breakdown on each mapped route.

Read article →

Planning your day

Build a hiking time plan with room for your own pace

Separate moving time, climbing allowance and stops, then explore how changing your assumptions changes the plan.

Read article →

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