Kidney Lake

Kidney Lake sits in a high alpine basin above Lee Vining, reached by continuing past Gibbs Lake on the trail that climbs into the Ansel Adams Wilderness. The lake takes its name from its curved shape, set in a rocky cirque between the flanks of Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs. Because it demands extra effort beyond Gibbs Lake, the shoreline stays quiet even on busy summer weekends.

Getting There

Drive about a mile south of Lee Vining on US-395, then turn onto dirt Forest Service Road 1N16 toward Upper Horse Meadow. Follow it roughly 3 more miles to the trailhead at road's end — a high-clearance vehicle is recommended for this stretch. From there, the trail climbs through Gibbs Canyon to Gibbs Lake before continuing roughly a mile farther with almost 1,000 additional feet of climbing to reach Kidney Lake. The Gibbs Lake segment alone runs about 9 miles round trip with 2,240 feet of elevation gain, so plan for a full day if you're pushing on to Kidney Lake, and be ready for sustained climbing above 9,500 feet.

What to Expect

This is backcountry terrain in the Inyo National Forest rather than a maintained park trail — expect a use trail, loose talus in stretches, and no services once you leave US-395. Afternoon thunderstorms build fast over this part of the Sierra crest in summer, and the exposed upper basin is a bad place to get caught in one, so start early and watch the sky. Day hikes here don't require a wilderness permit, but overnight camping in the Ansel Adams Wilderness does, year-round.