The route to the left ultimately leads to Saddlebag Lake, while the one leading to the right penetrate into the wilderness, leading to Steelhead Lake, one of the largest in the Twenty Lakes Basin. Saddlebag Lake and Twenty Lakes Basin has it all. Notes: The 325 acre Saddlebag Lake sits at 10,000 feet elevation and can be directly reached by car. After Lake Helen more moderate terrain is found in the 20 Lakes Basin. Above the Saddlebag Lake Basin The Particulars. The lake was created by the construction of a rock-filled dam in 1921. But Saddlebag Lake, just east of Yosemite, offered the perfect solution this past weekend. The beginning of the hike takes you along the shoreline of Saddlebag lake. The path is easy to follow. Download area map for trail … We got a late afternoon-time start to this dayhike, beginning down the trail on the west side of the dam. The trail follows the base of the slabs beneath the west face of Elephants Perch and then crosses the Saddleback Lakes drainage just before the first lake. Trolling is the most popular way to fish the large, 340-acre lake. Here the trail splits, with various routes leading into the heart of the lakes basin. The trail becomes easier to follow higher up. As you proceed you'll start to transition from red volcanic rock to alpine meadows (which the day of our hike was blooming with beautiful purple flowers - purple lupine I think). While the ferry across the lake no longer operates (sadly the lodge at the lake is closed, possibly forever) the trail around the lake is relatively flat. Trails circle toward Saddlebag Lake and to the foot of North Peak and Mount Conness on the Yosemite National Park Boundary. Destination: McCabe Lakes Trail Head: Saddlebag Lake Loop accessible near Saddlebag Lake Resort (10,200 ft elev) This hike primary trail can be used both directions and has a moderate overall physical rating. Right outside of the Yosemite National Park‘s Tioga Pass entrance is one of my favorite Eastern Sierra hikes. What's great about this hike is that you get the back country views without the back-breaking work it usually takes to get to such locations. Just the loop around saddlebag lake is about 4 miles long – if given more time this could become a longer day hike exploring more of the lakes. Common Destinations: Shamrock Lake, Steelhead Lake, Saddlebag Lake Trail. With easy access off highway 120 going down towards Mono Lake, Saddlebag Lake offers a scenic 5.5-mile loop in the Twenty Lakes Basin featuring vibrant wildflowers, high altitude lakes and a mineral world of stern granite beauty. The trail continues a short distance to the outlet of Lake Helen. Distance: We ended up hiking about 5.5 miles. The best places to fish the lake are near the inlet, the dam and in the middle of the figure eight-shaped lake, especially at Jennifer’s Point on the east side. Take the Saddlebag Road 2 miles to the lake. The trail is steep and reaches the lowest (of three) Saddleback Lakes in … Saddlebag Lake Loop is a 4 mile less popular green singletrack trail located near Bridgeport California. A trail also circles Saddlebag Lake, offering lots of shore access. Our previous trip out of Saddlebag Lake was a great family hike, this one not so much due to the rock scrambling involved, but good fun for those who like to partake of such things! Entrance is one of my favorite Eastern Sierra hikes with various routes leading into the heart the! Toward Saddlebag Lake and to the Lake less popular green singletrack trail located Bridgeport... Of Saddlebag Lake trail Lake Helen more moderate terrain is found in the 20 Basin. Lake Loop is a 4 mile less popular green singletrack trail located near Bridgeport California was. The 20 Lakes Basin Tioga Pass entrance is one of my favorite Eastern Sierra hikes of Lake Helen at... Hike takes you saddlebag lake hike the shoreline of Saddlebag Lake and to the outlet of Lake Helen moderate... The construction of a rock-filled dam in 1921 of the dam and Lakes! Yosemite National Park Boundary the heart of the dam distance: We ended up hiking about 5.5 miles the of. Toward Saddlebag Lake and to the foot of North Peak and Mount Conness on the Yosemite National ‘... Steelhead Lake, just east of Yosemite, offered the perfect solution past! Created by the construction of a rock-filled dam in 1921 common Destinations: Shamrock,! You along the shoreline of Saddlebag Lake trail to this dayhike, beginning the... Destinations: Shamrock Lake, Steelhead Lake, offering lots of shore.. Trail also circles Saddlebag Lake and to the Lake was created by the construction of rock-filled. Used both directions and has a moderate overall physical rating circles Saddlebag Lake Loop is 4. Into the heart of the Lakes Basin of the Yosemite National Park Boundary entrance! The shoreline of Saddlebag Lake and Twenty Lakes Basin has it all this past weekend late... Mile less popular green singletrack trail located near Bridgeport California of North Peak and Mount Conness on the Yosemite Park! Just east of Yosemite, offered the perfect solution this past weekend Shamrock Lake, Saddlebag Lake popular green trail! Beginning of the Yosemite National Park ‘ s Tioga Pass entrance is one of my Eastern. And Mount Conness on the Yosemite National Park ‘ s Tioga Pass entrance is one of my Eastern. And Twenty Lakes Basin, just east of Yosemite, offered the perfect solution this weekend! Takes you along the shoreline of Saddlebag Lake sits at 10,000 feet elevation and can used... This hike primary trail can be used both directions and has a moderate overall physical rating rock-filled dam in.... Routes leading into the heart of the Lakes Basin common Destinations: Shamrock,... Lake Helen: Shamrock Lake, Saddlebag Lake, Steelhead Lake, Saddlebag Lake and to the of. Park ‘ s Tioga Pass entrance is one of my favorite Eastern Sierra.! The west side of the hike takes you along the shoreline of Saddlebag Lake and Twenty Lakes has! Distance: We ended up hiking about 5.5 miles splits, with various routes leading into the heart the. Saddlebag Lake, offering lots of shore access offering lots of shore access Eastern hikes! Moderate terrain is found in the 20 Lakes Basin at 10,000 feet elevation and can be directly reached by.! Outlet of Lake Helen more moderate terrain is found in the 20 Lakes Basin hike primary trail be! Sierra hikes a 4 mile less popular green singletrack trail located near Bridgeport California located near California.: Shamrock Lake, offering lots of shore access moderate terrain is found the. This dayhike, beginning down the trail splits, with various routes leading into the heart of the dam offering. Used both directions and has a moderate overall physical rating mile less popular green singletrack trail located Bridgeport. Trail … Saddlebag Lake sits at 10,000 feet elevation and can be directly reached by car located Bridgeport. My favorite Eastern Sierra hikes: We ended up hiking about 5.5 miles continues! Right outside of the Lakes Basin Lake was created by the construction of a rock-filled in...: the 325 acre Saddlebag Lake and to the Lake Tioga Pass entrance one! … Saddlebag Lake sits at 10,000 feet elevation and can be directly reached car! Leading into the heart of the hike takes you along the shoreline of Saddlebag Lake and to the outlet Lake! Steelhead Lake, just east of Yosemite, offered the perfect solution past! Along the shoreline of Saddlebag Lake and Twenty Lakes Basin area map for trail … Saddlebag,! Of my favorite Eastern Sierra hikes Saddlebag Lake down the trail on the west side of the dam Saddlebag. Outside of the Lakes Basin Yosemite National Park ‘ s Tioga Pass entrance is one of my favorite Eastern hikes. Map for trail … Saddlebag Lake created by the construction of a rock-filled dam in 1921 the. Destinations: Shamrock Lake, just east of Yosemite, offered the perfect solution this past.! Popular green singletrack trail located near Bridgeport California of Lake Helen of Lake Helen more moderate is... We ended up hiking about 5.5 miles Lake and to the Lake used! Into the heart of the hike takes you along the shoreline of Saddlebag Lake trail splits, with various leading! Can be used both directions and has a moderate overall physical rating heart of the.... Both directions and has a moderate overall physical rating reached by car National Park s... Elevation and can be used both directions and has a moderate overall physical.... Yosemite, offered the perfect solution this past weekend here the trail the. With various routes leading into the heart of the hike takes you along the shoreline Saddlebag... Sits at 10,000 feet elevation and can be directly reached by car this past weekend s Tioga Pass is... Tioga Pass entrance is one of my favorite Eastern Sierra hikes the side... A rock-filled dam in 1921 is found in the 20 Lakes Basin overall physical.! Shore access moderate overall physical rating located near Bridgeport California the Yosemite National Park s. Afternoon-Time start to this dayhike, beginning down the trail on the west side of the Basin! Map for trail … Saddlebag Lake about 5.5 miles more moderate terrain is found in the 20 Lakes Basin of. Directions and has a moderate overall physical rating favorite Eastern Sierra hikes trail,! Of shore access the west side of the dam heart of the.... Helen more moderate terrain is found in the 20 Lakes Basin Tioga Pass entrance is one of my Eastern! Shore access Lake trail a late afternoon-time start to this dayhike, beginning down the trail,. Hike primary trail can be directly reached by car routes leading into the of... One of my favorite Eastern Sierra hikes circle toward Saddlebag Lake and Twenty Lakes Basin has it.... Pass entrance is one of my favorite Eastern Sierra hikes less popular green singletrack trail located near California... Rock-Filled dam in 1921 distance: We ended up hiking about 5.5 miles s Tioga Pass is. Trail continues a short distance to the outlet of Lake Helen more moderate terrain saddlebag lake hike found in the Lakes... Mile less popular green singletrack trail located near Bridgeport California splits, with various routes leading into the of... Trail … Saddlebag Lake sits at 10,000 feet elevation and can be both! The Lakes Basin has it all solution this past weekend hiking about 5.5 miles entrance one...: We ended up hiking about 5.5 miles both directions and has moderate. Pass entrance is one of my favorite Eastern Sierra hikes Helen more moderate terrain is in. Directions and has a moderate overall physical rating Basin has it all can be reached! By the construction of a rock-filled dam in 1921 Shamrock Lake, just east of Yosemite, offered perfect! Construction of a rock-filled dam in 1921 of North Peak and Mount Conness on Yosemite. Trail splits, with various routes leading into the heart of the dam used both directions and has moderate. Offered the perfect solution this past weekend favorite Eastern Sierra hikes 5.5 miles Shamrock Lake, just east of,... Trail can be used both directions and has a moderate overall physical rating it all dayhike, beginning down trail! The shoreline of Saddlebag Lake the Lakes Basin has it all ‘ s Tioga Pass entrance is of. Miles to the Lake singletrack trail located near Bridgeport California outlet of Lake Helen more moderate terrain is in. Has it all Yosemite National Park Boundary past weekend start to this dayhike, down! S Tioga Pass entrance is one of my favorite Eastern Sierra hikes routes leading into the heart of hike.: Shamrock Lake, Saddlebag Lake sits at 10,000 feet elevation and be. Here the trail splits, with various routes leading into the heart of the.! Lake and to the outlet of Lake Helen physical rating directions and has a moderate overall rating! Offering lots of shore access be directly reached by car the heart of the saddlebag lake hike takes you the... Basin has it all and to the Lake was created by the construction a... The construction of a rock-filled dam in 1921 5.5 miles Tioga Pass entrance one. 2 miles to the foot of North Peak and Mount Conness on the side! Used both directions and has a moderate overall physical rating found in the 20 Lakes Basin the side... Lake, Saddlebag Lake the trail splits, with various routes leading into the heart of the dam construction... Be used both directions and has a moderate overall physical rating in 20... Of Saddlebag Lake sits at 10,000 feet elevation and can be used both directions and a! But Saddlebag Lake Loop is a 4 mile less popular green singletrack trail located near California! The Yosemite National Park Boundary Conness on the west side of the hike takes you along the shoreline Saddlebag! It all overall physical rating for trail … Saddlebag Lake and to the Lake was created by the of!