Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
is plenty of cow parsnip, a favorite among bears, as the trail descends via switch-
backs through alternating thickets of pine forest, aspen, and manzanita.
Reach another junction, this time with the Bear Creek trailhead, but continue
straight, climbing up-canyon along lovely Bear Creek. There is excellent camping,
swimming, picnicking, and feet-soaking opportunities along the banks of the creek.
Travel on a nice gentle path, ignoring the turnoff for Seven Gables Lake, and cross
Hilgard Creek, which can be difficult in early season. Gradually ascend 500 feet to-
ward Upper Bear Creek Meadow (9,575 feet), an area that can be buggy in July and
August.
Switchback steeply up 500 feet to reach Rosemarie Meadow, and junctions to
Sandpiper, Lou Beverly, and Rose lakes. The camping is excellent here. Just past the
Rose Lake junction (10,030 feet), cross the West Fork Bear Creek and continue
rising another 500 feet to Marie Lake (10,551 feet). Marie sits like a sapphire set in
granite snow-covered mountains. Here, as in other Sierra locations, the snow often
takes on a pinkish hue. This “watermelon snow” phenomenon is the result of an al-
gae bloom. And while it smells sweet, it would be truly regrettable to eat it. This is
another excellent place to camp, albeit rather exposed. Continue rising on steep
switchbacks, rocky and exposed, above Marie Lake to Selden Pass (10,900 feet). Get
your windbreaker out and savor the views for as long as you can.
Wind down a moderate grade to romantically shaped Heart Lake, rife with
swimming, fishing, and napping opportunities. It's common to see quite a few day-
trippers traveling on horseback from the Muir Trail Ranch here. Continue gently des-
cending past Sallie Keyes Lakes' glacial blue waters ringed with trees. Traverse
through the middle of the two sister lakes on a flat and beautiful walk that provides
respite from the day's formidable climbing and descending. There is plenty of great
camping here amid the trees. The lakes are named for the daughter of one of the ori-
ginal Diamond D Ranch (now Muir Trail Ranch) owners, a nearby rural guesthouse
that has been privately owned since 1885.
There is one last climb on a hot and exposed rise after a meadow, followed by a
descent through alternating sunlit meadows, switchbacks, and aspen groves over the
next 5 miles. A series of loose dirt and exposed rock switchbacks winds down into
the river canyon through low-lying manzanita shrubs. Often horse trains pass, and
there is evidence of their presence on the trail as well. Watch your step!
Arrive at a junction at 8,380 feet. The southeast path continues on the JMT to-
ward Kings Canyon National Park, but we follow the southwest path to the Florence
Lake Trail and the Muir Trail Ranch. Veering right, continue descending along dusty,
steep switchbacks giving way to even more arduous ones upon nearing the Muir
