Eagle Lake

The hike to Eagle Lake is killer.
Legit.
I’m dead now.
RIP me.
This is totally being written by my ghost.
So sort of a ghost writer but not really ’cause its still me.
Probably the most difficult hike I’ve ever been on.
I kept thinking of that Slaughterhouse-​Five quote, «Everything was beautiful and nothing hurt.»
Except every f*cking part of my body hurt and it didn’t matter how «beautiful» it all was because I couldn’t see beyond my body’s burning desire for pizza and to not be hiking up a mountain.
If you’re like me and not used to the elevation level here (big ups to all my Midwestern brothers and sisters) it will take you forever and a day to get up that mountain. Or at least it’ll seem like it. You should still probably give yourself 5 hours to do the hike and enjoy time at the top.
It’s just walking, but somehow it’s treacherous and if a bear had attacked me on the trail I would’ve been thankful to it for putting me out of my misery.
But being at the top…
Yeah, it’s totally worth it.
Plus, we did actually see a bear.
And a buck, and a doe, and baby deer (that was probably sick and dying and curled up in a ball and basically broke my heart into a million pieces and maybe made me cry for real into my sleeve and pretend it was my camelback back-​firing onto my face), some stupid birds, fish, and a bazillion squishy marmots.
So that was pretty rad besides the sad baby deer.
Legit advice:
** Wear real deal hiking shoes that actually fit you.
— … unless you like losing toenails.
** Bring pizza. Not like fresh pizza but you know, order some the night before and then wrap the pieces in a ton of aluminum foil to eat at the top because it is all you will think about and it will be like an out of body experience.
— Don’t just set your heart on being healthy with fruit or some stupid Clif Bars because you will hate yourself at the top.
** Water. Bring it. Duh. But some of the yellow original flavor gatorade won’t kill yah and you’ll prob be craving that, too.
— Don’t get the red flavor, it sucks. Blue and hazy purple flavor are also acceptable beverages but you’ll still need water.
** Maybe bring a deer first aid kit in case you see a sick/​sad one like we did. You never know.
** Bug repellent was my friend. Prob couldn’t have done it without.
** If you have a hiking stick, bring it. I rued all the days I saw novelty hiking sticks with wolf head carved into them at the zoo and never got one.
Good luck to you!

We just went to Eagle Lake for an overnight camping trip. It’s mid-​August.
We first stopped at the ranger station to get some information about the trail. That’s where we rented bear can for our food. The rangers were really nice and knowledgeable. We pay $ 15 for camping permit and $ 5 for bear can rental fee.
It was 4 of us and our 2 year old son. We started hike just OK, but it’s ALL UPHILL till the lake. Our son did great, covered good mileage, but of course we ended up carrying him later.
If you are going with little kids, it’s best to have proper carriage because the terrain gets pretty rocky and steep. It’s best if you have both hands free to climb up there. Hiking sticks strongly recommended.
It is one of the hardest back-​country camping trip, but it was rewarding! The meadows were so beautiful, saw wild life, and the sense of accomplishment was priceless!

Beautiful short day hike, the lake is totally worth it. If it is warm enough, pack a swimsuit — the water is beyond frigid, but you’ll dry fast. Bring mosquito repellent — if you get to the lake early in the day, they’ll be everywhere.

Lengt: h 7.2 Total Miles
Elevation Gain: 2,100 feet
Trail Type: Out-​and-​back
Skill Level: DIFFICULT
Duration: Backpack or day hike
Season: Best July through September
Trailhead Elevation: 7,900 feet
Top Elevation: 10,000 feet
In September, this sun-​exposed trail was lined with a scattering of Indians Paintbrush, a sampling of the fuller wildflower bouquet, which blooms on these slopes in the spring.
After 1 mile, turn right at the White Chief Trail junction. The Eagle Lake Trail shifts in style from a straight track to a series of switchbacks that chew into the elevation.
At the junction with the Mosquito Lakes Trail, turn left and set your sites on Eagle Lake, 1.7 miles away. Alternatively, hikers could turn right here and hike the same distance to the lowest of four Mosquito Lakes located one ridge west of Eagle Lake.
The ascent tapers as you follow Eagle Creek to its source, passing a pair of unique «sink holes» where the water disappear underground into strange craters. Pass through a wooded meadow and dissect an alpine bounder field. The trail mounts a rock slope beneath Eagle Lake and offers fine northeast views toward Sawtooth and Mineral Peaks.
The route to this lake follows the same trail for the first 2 miles, ascending steadily up the west side of the Mineral King Valley.
The trail ends at the north end of Eagle Lake, where a small dam, maintained by Southern California Edison, enhances the volume of the lake. A path continues through the trees along the eastern shoreline. Large rocks act as islands in the lake, which gets more picturesque the further you walk.