Monarch Lakes

Monarch Lakes are the Upper and Lower alpine lakes below Sawtooth Peak in Mineral King. This is a destination hike from the Sawtooth trailhead, about 10 miles round trip with nearly 2,900 feet of climbing. It suits hikers ready for a steep day at high elevation; the Sawtooth Pass extension is a much rougher, loose scree climb, so the lakes make a good turnaround on their own.

The trail starts across open, shrub-covered slopes and switchbacks, then reaches a flowered meadow and red fir and western white pine forest. Higher up, the route crosses exposed, rocky Monarch Canyon. The lower lake is the first campsite, about 4.2 miles in; the upper lake lies beyond another moraine and takes more effort to reach.

A moraine holds the lower lake in a small glacial basin. Around the canyon, darker, flaky sedimentary rock on the south side stands out against the pale granite that dominates this part of the Sierra.

The approach passes Chihuahua Bowl, a basin with a history of mining prospecting. It’s a small human-history note on a route otherwise known for its alpine scenery.

From several miles into the hike, the view opens toward Timber Gap, the Great Western Divide and Sawtooth Pass. Near the lower lake, granite boulders give you a higher look across the water and canyon; they're a good place to frame the lake with the rocky basin behind it. In the meadows, look for paintbrush, shooting stars and corn lilies.

The Sawtooth trailhead is about a mile past Mineral King Ranger Station. Its small, unpaved lot can be rocky and fill during busy periods, and marmots can damage cars, so protect your vehicle. Mineral King Road usually closes for winter in mid-November and reopens in spring. Early summer mosquitoes can be persistent.