Grizzly Lake Trail

Grizzly Lake Trail is a short, moderately steep out-and-back hike in the Sierra National Forest's Bass Lake Ranger District, just outside Fish Camp on the south end of the Yosemite corridor. At roughly 2.2 miles round trip with about 400 feet of elevation gain, it's a solid hour-or-so outing rather than an all-day commitment — good for travelers based in Fish Camp or Bass Lake who want real forest and a lake payoff without burning a whole afternoon.

What to expect

The trail climbs through mixed conifer forest typical of the Sierra Nevada's upper montane zone before reaching the lake itself. Trail databases consistently rate it moderate difficulty — enough grade to notice, but manageable for most hikers in decent shape, not a long grind. Because it sits on national forest land rather than inside the park boundary, it draws a fraction of the traffic you'll find on Yosemite's marquee trails.

Good to know

• Trailhead is in the Sky Ranch Road day-hike area of the Bass Lake Ranger District, Sierra National Forest.
• Out-and-back route; most hikers finish in about an hour.
• Pairs well with a Bass Lake day or other Sky Ranch Road area trails if you want to stretch it into a longer outing.