The Lakes Trail is all about hiking through four beautiful alpine lakes while being surrounded by granite cliffs — it feels like a granite wonderland. Located in Sequoia National Park, this trail is a world away from the giant sequoia groves at lower elevation. As the trail climbs above tree line, spectacular granite-surrounded alpine views open up that make the sequoia groves below seem like a different place altogether.
This hike can be done as a day hike or as a multi-day backpacking trip by camping at the banks of the alpine lakes.
Hike Details & Permits
Quick facts
- Trail type: Loop (Watchtower up + Hump down, or vice versa) or out-and-back
- Trailhead: Wolverton parking lot
- Distance: 14.0 miles
- Elevation gain: 3,759 ft
- Camping allowed: Emerald Lake & Pear Lake only (not Heather or Aster)
- Bear canisters: Required — rent from Giant Forest Museum, Foothills Visitor Center, or Kings Canyon Visitor Center
Permits
No permits are needed for a day hike. For overnight camping:
- Quota season (late May – late September): Permits are first-come-first-serve, available same-day or from 1:00pm the day before at Giant Forest Museum (Lodgepole Visitor Center). A recreation fee is required.
- Non-quota season (early October – May): Free, self-issued, no daily quota limits.
Check NPS Sequoia wilderness permits for the latest updates.
Our Experience
A couple of friends dropped us off at the Wolverton parking lot around noon. There are quite a few parking spots — you could also consider leaving your car there overnight when backpacking.
Finally, the push to Pear Lake — the toughest stretch of the entire hike, physically and mentally. The hike up is 1 mile with approximately 300ft of elevation gain. Our backpacks had really started to make their presence felt by now, but the views upon reaching the shores of Pear Lake were unlike anything else. Every bit of effort paid off.
We were at camp just in time to set up before dark. Storing anything scented in bear boxes is absolutely essential. We stowed all edibles and toiletries in the bear canister we carried, then locked it in a bear box near our campsite.
Soon after dark, the night sky lit up with stars and treated us to views of the Milky Way. It did get quite chilly camping on the lake shore, so pack warm layers even in summer.
We were up early the next morning chasing crystal-clear reflections on the alpine lake. After spending some time taking in the views, we packed up and hiked out by 9am.
The Lakes: Emerald & Heather
On the way out, we stopped at Emerald Lake — hidden until you're right on the shore. True to its name, the water is a deep shimmering emerald. Those looking to save effort can camp here and do a round trip to Pear Lake. Keep in mind a separate permit is required for Emerald Lake.
Our final stop was Heather Lake, where we had the entire lake to ourselves — most campers had already hiked out and day hikers hadn't yet arrived. A perfect ending to the trip.
Check our complete backcountry gear checklist before you pack.