Epic mountain views? Check. A pristine emerald lake? Check. The biggest glaciers in the Sierra? Check. All of the crowds that you think would accompany such a magical spot? Not so much. Finger Lake is the type of hidden gem that showcases the breadth of amazing locations that California has to offer for those willing to explore off the beaten path.
Posts Tagged With: Backpacking
Fall at Finger Lake: Backpacking the Big Pine South Fork Trail
Categories: Trip Report
Tags: Backpacking, Beauty, California, Dogs, Hiking, Nature, Sierra Nevada, Wilderness
30 Comments
Hiking the Baboon Lakes in Lake Sabrina Basin
A little off-trail can go a long way, and the Baboon Lakes are a perfect example of that. Only a few hours drive from LA, this area remains an oasis for people looking to escape the beaten path while keeping their day job.
Categories: Trip Report
Tags: Baboon Lakes, Backpacking, California, Dogs, Hiking, Inyo National Forest, Lake Sabrina, Mountains, Sierra Nevada
15 Comments
Horseshoe Meadows to Shepherd Pass: Circling the Western Side of Mount Whitney
Hiking on the west side of Mount Whitney gives an entirely different perspective on a popular region dominated by the lower 48’s highest mountain. Jagged 14,000 foot peaks, crystal clear lakes, sprawling alpine meadows, and beautiful mountain basins dot a vast landscape that is seldom visited by hikers outside of the narrow confines of the JMT.
Categories: Trip Report
Tags: Backpacking, California, Hiking, Mount Whitney, Sequoia National Park, Sierra Nevada
24 Comments
Hiking the North Fork of Big Pine
This trip was the two year anniversary of Callie’s first backpacking trip and the launch of CaliTrails. We celebrated the occasion by taking our first backpacking trip of the year on one of the Sierra’s best dog friendly trails.
Categories: Trip Report
Tags: Backpacking, California, Dog, Hiking, John Muir, Landscape Photography, Sierra Nevada
48 Comments
The Failed 2013 Sierra Expedition
Our grand adventure for the year came to a sudden halt as July monsoons wreaked havoc in the Sierra.
Categories: Trip Report
Tags: Backpacking, California, Dogs, Fire, Hiking, Landscape Photography, Nature, Sierra Nevada, Smoke, Wildfire
11 Comments
North Lake to Lower Lamarck and Wonder Lakes
The Wonder Lakes near Bishop lie in a bucolic offtrail Sierra basin with easy weekend access. Quite wonderful indeed.
Categories: Trail Guide
Tags: Backpacking, California, Dog, Hiking, John Muir Wilderness, Landscape Photography, Sierra Nevada, Trail Guide
17 Comments
Big Pine South Fork to Brainard Lake
This trip turned out to be a bit of a disaster. The entire point of the hike was to make it up to Finger Lake and check out Middle Palisade towering above the South Fork drainage, but we never made it that far.
Categories: Trip Report
Tags: Backpacking, Big Pine, Dogs, Hiking, Inyo National Forest, John Muir Wilderness, Photography, South Fork
15 Comments
Onion Valley to Matlock Lake: The Great Escape
Taking advantage of another dry winter, Callie and I went on an early season Sierra trip up to Matlock Lake.
Categories: Trip Report
Tags: Backpacking, California, Dogs, Hiking, John Muir Wilderness, Kings Canyon, Landscape Photography, Matlock Lake, Nature, Onion Valley, Photography, Sierra Nevada
21 Comments
Quartz Mountain to Chain Lakes: Yosemite Weekender
The Chain Lakes in the southwestern area of Yosemite National Park is an easy place to achieve some solitude in one of America’s busiest parks.
Categories: Trail Guide
Tags: Backpacking, California, Hiking, Mountains, National Parks, Nature, Photography, Sierra Nevada, Travel, Yosemite
17 Comments
Lake Ediza and Thousand Island Lake: Like Old Times
After a 20 year hiatus, my dad and I finally got back into the Sierra to rekindle an old father and son tradition.
Categories: Trip Report
Tags: Ansel Adams Wilderness, Backpacking, Camping, Dogs, Hiking, Outdoors, Photography, Sierra Nevada
36 Comments
CaliTrails 