Star Lakes

Star Lakes sits in the Sierra National Forest just outside Fish Camp, a pair of small alpine lakes tucked below the summit of Mount Raymond. There's no maintained park trail here — you reach it on a rough forest road that doubles as an OHV route, which is exactly why it stays quiet while Yosemite's marquee trails fill up a few miles away.

Getting There

Access starts on Sky Ranch Road (Forest Road 10), off Highway 41 near Yosemite Forks, then continues on forest spurs toward Harts Meadow, where the route to the lakes and Mount Raymond's summit begins. The road itself is narrow and rough — a high-clearance 4WD vehicle is the safest way to drive it, and it's shared with OHVs. Hikers cover it as a moderate out-and-back, roughly 5.5 miles round trip with about 1,500 feet of elevation gain, typically 3 to 3.5 hours.

What's at the Top

The lakes themselves are small, undeveloped backcountry pools with no facilities or signage — bring your own map and don't count on a marked tread the whole way. From Mount Raymond's summit, the views open up to the south and west across miles of Sierra National Forest; dense trees block the sightline north, and the lakes stay hidden from the summit itself.

Good to Know

• This is Sierra National Forest land, not Yosemite National Park — no park entrance fee or reservation applies, but there's also no ranger station nearby.
• Expect no cell service and no reliable water source along the route.
• Because the road carries OHV traffic, hikers should stay alert for vehicles on the narrower stretches.