Blue Lake Plus (Eastern Sierras) - 9/8/17

Blue Lake

Healthy Creek feeding Blue Lake

Blue Lake with a Conical Peak

Passing Wilderness Sign

Blue Lake is a gorgeous lake located above Sabrina (pronounced with a long i) Lake in the John Muir Wilderness of the Inyo National Forest. The Sabrina Basin Trailhead is reached by driving up Hwy 168 from Bishop, California to the end of the road. The trailhead is on the left side of the road before you get to the lake. There is minimal parking at the trailhead but ten hikers managed to capture 3 prime spots on this Friday morning around 8am. (A restroom is located up the hill toward the lake just off the road but it is not easily within walking distance.)

Sabrina Lake

We were in the shadows as we climbed up next to the lake but the early sun was beautiful as it lit the water. The trail follows parallel to the lake from end to end.

Heading into Forest

Just before reaching the top end of the dammed lake, the trail heads into the trees and crosses a shallow creek next to a waterfall.

Creek Crossing

Small Steps built by CCC

The Blue Lake trail was very nicely built by the California Conservation Corps. There are rock walls that support switchbacks and there are sections of small steps suitable for horses and pack animals. These smaller steps were great for the ascent, however, their descent could be awkward at times. Regardless, we climbed the switchbacks as they came and were rewarded with rock shelves where great views could be photographed of Sabrina Lake. Next, the trail leveled out as we headed away from the lake basin.

View back to Sabrina Lake and White Mountains

It was easy hiking through the granite and forest until reaching the backwaters of Blue Lake on the left side of the trail.

The Team

Here, the trail seems to continue straight but if you do so, you will come to a more difficult water crossing.

Trail follows a Ledge

More Small Steps

With David's expertise on the area, we found the left turn among the land surrounding the backwater and crossed the water on a bunch of stable logs and rocks. Then, the trail climbs up and over the granite and circles around to another beautiful part of the lake. We took a pause at an overlook for photos. There were campers nearby. Continuing on the trail (after searching for the proper right turn into the rocks), we found another camping area/overlook and climbed up for more photos at the top end of the lake. Back on the trail, we decided to climb just a little further to a beautiful area upstream.

Backwash of Blue Lake

We passed waterfalls within the forest then came to the spur trail turnoff for Donkey Lake.

Water Crossing over Logs

A left turn here required another easy-ish log crossing. This put us on a large expanse of granite where we stopped for a peaceful snack break among the sound of the flowing creek.

Blue Lake Overlook

Taking a Short Break

The creek, here, flowed down through a chute then took a left turn. As the water spread out around the granite, it slowed to a clear meander until it came to the small waterfalls below. We took our break then climbed up to the top of the chute for other views. After that, we returned back across the bridge and climbed up to the water on the trail side. Just running around to see what we could see! The trail continues up to another lake called Baboon Lake but we decided to begin our return at this point. A younger group of hikers joined us as they returned from Donkey Lake.

Blue Lake from Top End

They were headed to Dingleberry Lake. The spur trail for that lake turned away from Blue Lake as we began hiking along it again.

Leaving Trail to Explore Views

The level nature of the trail around Blue Lake made the going swift even though we were in no hurry. There were still steps!

Creek flowing into Blue Lake

Peaceful Snack Break

Next, we headed down the switchbacked section and came to the Sabrina Lake overlooks. The sky had changed to a cornflower blue with white puffy clouds. A beautiful day! Although the hike up along Sabrina Lake seemed short this morning, the hike back down the lake seemed longer as we passed other hikers (day hikers and overnight hikers) on the way. Near the trailhead, we noted that the aspens were beginning to change colors. A fantastic hike with a lot of water during this season.


9 miles; 1850 feet elevation gain; 5.75 hours

Small Switchbacks through Cut

Heading back to Sabrina Lake

Sabrina Lake