54 for Dave

Little Lakes Valley

  • Miles 7.5
  • Elevation Gain 633 Feet
  • Highest Elevation on Trail 10,863 Ft / Lowest Elevation 10,230
  • Total miles so far for the 54 for Dave pledge 35.7!

Little Lakes Valley is an excellent hike.  This hike has almost everything you want to see in the Sierra. Majestic views, not one but five lakes, beautiful streams and cascades, and plenty of alpine meadows. That may be the reason I have walked this hike multiple times.

It is a popular hike so mid-day there will be lots of folks on the trail. I like to get an early start in the summer that means hitting the trail around 5:30 AM. It is tough to get up but well worth it as there is a good chance there is no one on the trail in front of you.

The trail head is located of the parking lot of Mosquito Flats. There is a lovely picnic area and Rock Creek flowing down the canyon. The first part of the hike is up a hill but when you crest you get a spectacular view. There is a quote that says “God speaks to you in silence.” The last time I did this hike and hit this point a stopped to set up my tripod to take a picture. While I was setting up I slowly realized I could see for miles but there was absolutely no sound. No birds, no wind, no rustle from a stream nothing but complete and total silence. I will never forget that moment for as long as I live.

The trail puts you a hundred feet above Mack lake, the first lake on the trail. Then you descend down a hill and come to Marsh Lake. You can take a short use trail to the left to get an amazing scene of the lake and the Sierra in one view.

You gain some more altitude and then come down a grade to Heart Lake. The first look at the alpine meadow surrounding the lake is stunning. There are a couple of inlets into the lake that cross the trail. There are foot bridges for you to cross and let you stand right over the stream as you enjoy the view.

On the far side of the lake there is another use trail that goes off to the left that takes you to the lakes inlet. At this time of the year it was flowing well. There was a small mound in the trail and if you go up and over that you are treated to a wonderful cascade in Rock Creek rushing down from Box Lake.

The trail then gains altitude again and you walk well above the shoreline of Box Lake. As you descend down there is a small meadow that, on this hike, was flooded. It was eerily beautiful. Almost like it was preserved in formaldehyde.

There are lots of little feeder streams all along the trail. You will come across so very still tarns every once in while as well.

You ascend up to Long Lake and its breathtaking views. It was windy this hike so the water was fairly choppy. On the previous hike when I walked up to the shoreline three big trout, literally 12 inches long, slowly swam out from under the bank. So I have to assume fishing can be good here.

Many use this as the turn around point but there are other lakes ahead. You continue to gain altitude and you reach a signed junction point for Chickenfoot Lake. The lakes perimeter when seen from above resembles a chicken foot. While I did not go there on this hike I have included an image so you can see what it looks like. This time I wanted to push further to Gem Lakes and maybe Morgan Pass.

Unfortunately, I hit the snow line. I had not brought my clamp ons so was not really prepared for hiking in the snow. When you hike by yourself it is always wise to be super conservative!

The entire hike up I has only seen Dad and his young son coming down from an overnight. It was wonderful. On the way back there were more hikers going up the trail than I could count. Little Lakes Valley is a wonderful way to spend a morning.

 

35.7 miles in the books over half way there! 18.3 more miles to go!  Here is to you Dave!

Thank You(s)

Thank You - Rick and Lori Jackson, Thank You - Mike and Monica Barnett, Thank You - Ed Nash, Thank You - Pam Eye, Thank You - Emily Aguto. Thank You - Rob Wynner, Thank You- Matt Garelik, Thank You - Jim Langlois, Thank You - Brad and Karen King, Thank You - Anita Sobel  -Thank You -Jeff and Brenda Bissett

We have already reached $795 of our $2,500 goal.  Awesome!  Feel free to share this blog link to anyone who would enjoy the images and stories. Maybe enough to donate