Eastern Sierras Part Four: Hike to Treasure Lake

Sunday again, so while some of us watch football, others of us can just take a hike. Literally.

South Lake Trailhead

My hike for the day was the Treasure Lakes Trail, starting at the end of South Lake Rd. via Rt. 168 heading west out of Bishop. I found the hike on Modern Hiker, which has a great detailed description of the trail, including topographical maps.  I started at about 10:00 in the morning and the weather was perfect for hiking - about 60 degrees I think, with strong sun all the way.

The trail is 5.3 miles roundtrip, and much of it is rocky underfoot, so it requires ones full attention. The scenery is beautiful every step of the way, so it's very tempting to gaze around while walking, but not so safe. In my usual style, I take about 10 steps and stop to look around.

The trail crosses what I believe must be Bishop Creek a few times.

The elevation gets up to over 10,500 ft. so I began to slow down considerably. I wasn't bothered by the altitude except that hiking got harder. 

I had read in the Modern Hiker that this ledge was near the top. I kept thinking that surely over the next rise I'd see the lake. 

 But no. At this point you're really up high in the rocks, and more rocks.

Looking back to South Lake (which is very low now). The parking lot for the trailhead is by that dam.

Finally the lake and a break!

As I sat on a rock on the shore, I could watch the golden trout, California's state fish. Pretty cool.

Like many alpine lakes, Lower Treasure Lake sits in a bowl surrounded by mountains. I know their names but not which one is which: Hurd Peak, Mt. Goode, Mt. Johnson and Mt. Gilbert are all visible from here.

There are plenty of nice flat rocky spots surrounding the lake to rest or picnic or fish. I think I saw only eight people and about six dogs on the whole trail.  It was very quiet. 

On the way back down the sun was edging its way toward the mountains in the west.

Back at the trailhead I was already in the cool shadows of a setting sun.

It was a perfect Sunday. (And the Patriots won, so Rick was pretty happy too.)