Over the past few years, I've had the pleasure of making near-annual trips into the Owens Valley, with dark sky observing with friends at the Cedar Flats group campground, in the White Mountains of Inyo National Forest, on the east side of the Owens Valley. During these forays, I often head down from my observing location after I'm done to sleep down in Bishop. Then, the next day, I'll try to get a hike or two fit in (usually on the west side of the Owens Valley), before heading back up to Cedar Flats after dark. This hike was during that last trip, the same one where I posted some astrophotos, last summer.
I can't guarantee, because of the passage of time, but it's likely these photos are in reverse order on that hike, from the end to the beginning. I can tell you that the start of this hike is along the small road off of CA-164, heading towards South Lake. Fairly large parking area, and the trail starts near the northern end of that lot, crossing Bishop Creek via a bridge. The last shot in this post is from that bridge.
Steep climb in parts, and a few small seeps cross the trail. A creek also occasionally runs along the trail. But, at least in August, there were no significant water crossings. Some nice flowers along the water, though.
I had never hiked this trail, and didn't study it too carefully ahead of time, because I like being surprised by what I see. And, indeed, the first lake did sort of sneak up on me.
Tyee Lakes is a string of beautiful alpine lakes, all beautiful. Lots of fish visible in the lakes, though I can't tell you how easy or hard they would be to catch.
Total distance on the Alltrails entry for Tyee Lakes trail is about 6 1/4 mile, with about 2,000 feet of vertical gain. My own recording (discussed later) shows a slightly longer distance.
In addition to the lakes and mountains, you're also rewarded with views across and down Bishop Canyon, down into the Owens Valley.
Last year was relatively dry, so by August there was little snow in the area. It could be wetter and more mosquitoed earlier in the season. But I didn't notice many bugs on this hike, albeit I wear long sleeves and a floppy hat around my ears.
Looking at my Alltrails recording, it shows I walked 3.56 miles and gained 1,991 feet, spending 2:24:19 moving. Apparently, that was just the uphill portion, so figure a bit over 7 miles roundtrip, and maybe 3.5 - 4 hours to walk, roundtrip, plus any rest time.
It also shows I made it to the fourth lake. After this, there's a pretty steep climb, that would take you up to the trail that heads out of Sabrina Basin, past George Lake. I hiked that one the previous year.
On that hike, after climbing out of George Lake's basin, I made it to the past that would head down towards Tyee Lakes. But it's a pretty long, shallow descent from there before you reach the steep descent into Tyee Lakes, so I turned around at the pass. There's probably a 2/3 of a mile or so gap between the end of these two hikes I have taken.
The only other trip I managed on this August 2024 trip was a visit to Fish Slough Petroglyphs, which may be my next post.
