Lakes Trail

The Lakes Trail in Sequoia National Park is celebrated for linking four pristine alpine lakes in a single day hike, showcasing the High Sierra at its most dramatic. Beginning at Lodgepole Campground, the route climbs steadily through red fir and foxtail pine forest before emerging into the open alpine terrain of the Tablelands. The first lake encountered is Heather Lake, a granite-rimmed basin popular with swimmers in August when water temperatures briefly moderate. Continuing upward, the trail reaches Aster Lake, surrounded by heath meadows ablaze with shooting stars and paintbrush in July. Above Aster, Emerald Lake gleams in a high cirque beneath the sheer rock face of the Watchtower, a prominent granite tower that can be approached via a challenging use trail. The final and most remote destination is Pear Lake at 9,558 feet, a teardrop-shaped tarn set in a glacially polished bowl offering exceptional stargazing. A ranger-staffed hut at Pear Lake operates in summer, providing interpretive programs and emergency assistance. Overnight camping requires a wilderness permit available through recreation.gov. The round-trip elevation gain of 2,700 feet is distributed over rocky switchbacks that demand sturdy footwear.