Anne Lake

Anne Lake sits at roughly 9,600 feet in the Ansel Adams Wilderness, just south of Yosemite's boundary, reached after a long day of hiking from the Fernandez Trailhead in Sierra National Forest. It's usually mentioned in the same breath as nearby Rutherford Lake — a few hundred feet higher, at about 9,730 feet — but the two feel nothing alike once you arrive: Rutherford is rugged and exposed, while Anne Lake is calmer, greener, and a far better place to pitch a tent.

Getting There

From the Fernandez Trailhead, the route follows the Fernandez Pass Trail for roughly three miles before a branch trail splits off toward the lakes — the full approach runs about eight miles one-way. The final push to Anne Lake is short but memorable: the trail narrows along an exposed rocky ledge before a steep, rugged drop down to the water's edge.

At the Lake

• Shallow water framed by rocky cliffs on the west side
• A flat, tree-lined shoreline that's easy to walk and camp along
• Multiple good, sheltered campsites — better protected than what you'll find at Rutherford Lake nearby

Permits

Overnight trips require a wilderness permit booked through recreation.gov. The Fernandez Trailhead daily quota is 13 permits six months in advance and 8 permits two weeks out, with a $6 non-refundable reservation fee plus $5 per person. This is genuine backcountry, not a maintained day-hike route, so come with a map, navigation skills, and a way to treat water.