A compact wilderness with a dozen swimmable lakes and an easy call-ahead permit, no lottery required. The right step-up trip after your first one or two overnights.
A perfect step-up trip for people who have done one or two overnights and want alpine lakes without the Sierra permit lottery. Dinkey Lakes is a compact wilderness with a dozen swimmable lakes, gentle terrain, and an easy call-ahead permit system instead of an advance-reservation gauntlet. The route runs as a lollipop from Courtright Reservoir: out to Island Lake, around a loop past Mystery, Swede, and South Lakes, then back the way you came. It is the Sierra experience at a fraction of the effort and bureaucracy.
Start: Cliff Lake Trailhead (Courtright Reservoir)
End: Cliff Lake Trailhead (Courtright Reservoir)
Water: Dinkey Creek, Cliff Lake, Island Lake
From the trailhead at Courtright Reservoir, climb steadily toward Cliff Lake before continuing to Island Lake. The final approach is steep and marked as not maintained for pack use, so take your time. You will hit the high point of the trip here, near 9,890ft, before dropping into the Island Lake basin. Good privacy at camp, with lake views and solid fishing.
Water: First Dinkey Lake, Mystery Lake, Swede Lake, South Lake
Drop down to First Dinkey Lake and set up camp, then head out on the loop past Mystery Lake, Swede Lake, and South Lake. Swede and South Lake both have excellent, underused campsites if you would rather base there instead. Return to your First Dinkey Lake camp by evening.
Water: Dinkey Creek
Retrace your steps back over the high point near Island Lake and descend to the trailhead. Watch for the Helms Creek trail junction on the way down: it is an easy wrong turn. Stop at the LeConte Divide overlook on the drive out for one last look at the Sierra crest.
South Lake for more solitude. Rock Lake is a worthy 1mi detour off the main loop.
Trailhead access is via Courtright Reservoir Road, paved the whole way to the Cliff Lake Trailhead (the alternate Willow Meadow trailhead needs 4WD and is not recommended). Campsites near Courtright Reservoir are managed by PG&E and may be seasonally closed. Afternoon thunderstorms are common regardless of forecast. Want a 4-day trip instead? Stop at Cliff Lake on the way out: it shortens day 3 and turns day 4 into an easy hike to the trailhead.
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