Walker Lake

Walker Lake sits in a stark alpine bowl on the eastern side of the Sierra crest, in the Ansel Adams Wilderness of Inyo National Forest just outside Lee Vining. It's one of the few lakes in this corner of the range you can drive most of the way to, then drop into on foot — a short, steep pitch that trades an easy approach for a real climb on the way back out.

Getting There

Access is via Forest Road 1S23, a dirt road that branches off Highway 395 south of Lee Vining and climbs to a small campground at road's end. From there, the trail crests a rise and Walker Lake appears below, with Mount Gibbs rising behind it. The drop to the shoreline is short but steep — the same grade you'll climb back up on the way out.

Bloody Canyon and Mono Pass

Walker Lake also marks the lower end of the Bloody Canyon Trail, a rugged historic route used for centuries by Native Americans and later by miners and settlers crossing the Sierra. Beyond the lake, the trail continues past Lower and Upper Sardine Lakes and Summit Lake before topping out at Mono Pass, where it crosses into Yosemite National Park's backcountry near Tuolumne Meadows. Following the full route is a long, demanding day.

Good to Know

• A small campground sits at the trailhead, at road's end.
• The lake often holds snow and ice well into late spring.
• The access road is dirt and can be rough — check conditions before driving it in a low-clearance vehicle.