Type of Hike Day hike. FILE: Skiers on their way toward the Pear Lake cabin in Sequoia National Park in 2015. The red, smooth, striped walls make for unique photo opportunities. The beginning portion of this trail is nothing particularly special, but the forest did have that distinct dry and brown Sequoia forest feel, and I love the way forests like these smell - dry and cedar-like! Price. Our entire jaunt into the mountains took exactly 24 hours, and there is nothing like an overnight backpacking trip to make you feel like you had such a productive weekend! Contact me here and say hi :). 1.75 miles in, we reached the first trail split. The one-room (maybe two) hut is closed in the summer, but from December 15 to April 9 hardy skiers can apparently stay overnight by reservation. As you begin your ascent, there are phenomenal vistas over Aster Lake with views of the Watchtower in the distance. Nestled up in the mountains at 9,200 feet, the Pear Lake Winter Hut offers access to the pristine winter wilderness of Sequoia National Park. They lack the distinctive gnarled appearance seen elsewhere, maybe because they’re sheltered in this valley. Some of the pines that manage to grow on the rocky hills are Foxtail Pines, a rare treeline species that can live for thousands of years and is related to the Bristlecone Pine, the world’s oldest tree. In total, the hike in took us around 5.5 hours, which included plenty of stops to take photos and explore the Watchtower. I can see why this Sequoia National Park trail is so popular - you get four alpine lakes and the Watchtower views all in an overnight trip. For overnight, you'll need to get a permit but there are beautiful camping spots available at both Emerald Lake and Pear Lake. The trail then descends toward the Emerald Lake campground, which has an exceptionally picturesque outhouse, a handsome stone structure set on a low rise among the alpine scenery. You can only see the back of the watchtower and it’s nothing special; of more interest is the expansive view of Tokopah Falls from above. There are also decent vault toilets and bear boxes at both (2019 update - these boxes can be locked and unavailable for use at any time, so it might be best to check before you go, or just always count on bringing your own bear canister). Pear Lake. So pick a promising day and get an early start to enjoy this gorgeous place. The next part of the hike is one of my favorites, as the trail hugs the side of the cliff and continues climbing above the valley below. I love the look of the rock slabs sloping straight into the brilliant blue waters. The scenery gradually improves as a rushing creek comes into earshot and the the trail crosses a small meadow. On Day #2 I hiked cross-country to Moose Lake and stayed the night. The trail is about 4 to 6 feet wide so it doesn’t seem especially dangerous on dry late-summer days, but you wouldn’t want to be here when it’s covered with ice or snow. 37 to 47 at 8000 feet. You can really sense how small your are standing are you are hiking through this section of the park. No wonder this trail is so popular that it’s the only backpacking route in Sequoia Kings Canyon National Park that is only first-come-first-serve and doesn’t accept reservations. The lakes are best visited on a long day hike. Pictures of the Lakes Trail, Sequoia National Park, California: Wide view of Pear Lake A spur trail to the left descends to the ranger station, which is another handsome stone structure set next to a sort of mini-waterfall where a creek cascades over some low step-like rock formations. July and August are the b All-inclusive trips, expert guides, Top-rated hiking company on Trip Advisor! 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