Young Lakes

Overview

Sigh. The High Sierra lake. So many of them lie scattered across the Range of Light that it’s next to impossible that any one soul will ever get to see them all.  Each lake shimmers in a pristine azure reflection of the brilliant Sierra sky, and yet no two lakes are ever the same. Each lake is a miracle of time, climate, and geology, and that one can spend a lifetime in the Sierra and never see them all is both reassuring and a tiny bit tragic at the same time.  While summit ascents are generally more of a chore/obligation for me (I’m looking at you, Half Dome. Never again.), a trip to a lake basin is always a source of excitement and anticipation. Thus, this hike to the Young Lakes, which delivers three unique lakes shining in a beautiful alpine setting, stands out as such a wonderful experience. And while the lakes themselves are a fantastic destination, this hike delivers a number of other highlights that typify the Yosemite backcountry experience: dense forests, massive meadows, sweeping views of glaciated peaks, and even a healthy dose of solitude. Backpacking You can attack this route either as a dayhike or an overnight trip/three-day weekend. If you wish to backpack, you can reserve permits up to 24 weeks in advance and no more than two days from your hike. The Yosemite Conservancy handles the permit reservations through an online portal, through which you can select your starting trailhead, and you can choose either the Young Lakes via Dog Lake trailhead or the Young Lakes via PCT trailhead. Either trailhead will get you there, but note that this write-up is designed to lead you from the Dog Lake Trailhead on a counter-clockwise loop. Once you obtain your permit reservation, you can then pick up your paper permit from the Tuolumne Meadows Wilderness Center on the day before your hike.    Safety Considerations The trailhead does feature food storage lockers that will allow you to store your food safely from bears. However, the Young Lakes themselves do not feature bear lockers. You will have to either br

Trail Stats

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