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Shaver Lake
- Family trip to Shaver Lake, Huntington Lake and the Kaiser Wilderness.
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We wanted to have a long weekend to explore the Sierra but without backpacking or car camping. We had been to Shaver Lake and Huntington before, but only a couple times. We felt like there was a lot to explore. While we didn't make it to Mono Hot Springs, Vermilion Valley Resort (or Mono Creek) or into Dinky Lakes, we did enjoy a real summer time vacation at several high mountain lakes.
SHAVER LAKE
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| Log Cabin we stayed in at Shaver Lake Village Hotel |
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| Float time, Shaver Lake |
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| Lazy view looking up |
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| Hot summer day at Shaver Lake |
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| Brilliant sunsets |
Highlights
- 80s and 90s temps made beach and lake time a real treat. Lots of time in and on the water, Pepper swam further than she ever had fetching sticks.
- Many, many hours playing volleyball and peppering. Pepper no pepper!
- Even with the intense weekend crowds, we found great spots. One on the north side along Road 2 and on the south near Camp Edison.
- Skies sometimes threatened rain, but only got a sprinkle. Mostly clear or with typical Sierra gathering clouds.
- Liked the convenience of Shaver Lake for food and groceries. Huntington Lake (and the Huntington Lake Resort) was our family favorite. Such a beautiful spot.
- 80s and 90s temps made beach and lake time a real treat. Lots of time in and on the water, Pepper swam further than she ever had fetching sticks.
- Many, many hours playing volleyball and peppering. Pepper no pepper!
- Even with the intense weekend crowds, we found great spots. One on the north side along Road 2 and on the south near Camp Edison.
- Skies sometimes threatened rain, but only got a sprinkle. Mostly clear or with typical Sierra gathering clouds.
- Liked the convenience of Shaver Lake for food and groceries. Huntington Lake (and the Huntington Lake Resort) was our family favorite. Such a beautiful spot.
TWIN LAKES
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| Wildflowers everywhere |
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| Minarets from Potter Pass |
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| Wilderness sign selfie! |
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| Lower Twin Lake |
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| Upper Twin Lake |
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| Tiger lily |
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| Trail sign back |
Highlights
- The first attempt to hike to Twin Lakes ended after only a short way up. One of us was feeling sick and after a break we all decided it best to turn around. We tried again on a later day, felt much better, and made it!
- The waters of Upper Twin lake were refreshingly cold - and not in a sarcastic, jump in and catch your breath kind of way, but rather in a let's keep jumping back in kind of way. The float or swim to the island, and exploring it, was a real joy.
- Lots of crowds of hikers and campers on the trail and at the lakes. A few mountain bikers on the way up to the pass.
- We did a lollipop loop at the end to check out a meadow and the California Riding and Hiking trail however it was not well maintained and a large blowdown was quite an obstacle.
- The first attempt to hike to Twin Lakes ended after only a short way up. One of us was feeling sick and after a break we all decided it best to turn around. We tried again on a later day, felt much better, and made it!
- The waters of Upper Twin lake were refreshingly cold - and not in a sarcastic, jump in and catch your breath kind of way, but rather in a let's keep jumping back in kind of way. The float or swim to the island, and exploring it, was a real joy.
- Lots of crowds of hikers and campers on the trail and at the lakes. A few mountain bikers on the way up to the pass.
- We did a lollipop loop at the end to check out a meadow and the California Riding and Hiking trail however it was not well maintained and a large blowdown was quite an obstacle.
TWIN LAKES RECAP
- Location: Twin Lakes, Kaiser Wilderness via the Twin Lakes trailhead.
- Date: July 2022.
- Stats: 7+ total mileage with 1,600+ ft elevation gain
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| Route map Gaia GPS | © OpenStreetMap Contributors |
| Twin Lakes Trailhead |
What a fun in the sun get away!