Sequoia National Park, CA
A hard climb to a small 1900s dam beneath high Sierra walls.
Overview
Crystal Lake Trail is a 9.8-mile out-and-back from Sawtooth Trail parking, following the Monarch Lakes route to Chihuahua Bowl and then branching to Crystal Lake. The 4.9-mile approach is one way; you return by the same line. Set aside most of a day: the published estimate is four to seven hours of hiking before rest and photo stops. This is a hard, high-country climb with an alpine lake and a small historic dam at the end. If you want a shorter day, the Monarch Lakes hike is 4.2 miles one way and shares most of the approach.
Parkwolf’s verdictIs this hike for you?Map & elevation
Plan your hike
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Sequoia Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Sequoia National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Sequoia audio tourRecorded for this trailhead
Sawtooth Trailhead and Monarch Lakes“You're nearing Sawtooth Trailhead, the starting point for a hard hike to Lower Monarch Lake beneath Sawtooth Peak.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Sequoia Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“…The kids and my husband and I all agree that the narration really added to our experience driving through the parks. We learned so much about the history and the flora & fauna.”
Trail guide
Start on the shared Timber Gap and Sawtooth access, then follow the Monarch Lakes Trail through red fir forest and open meadows. The route crosses Monarch Creek and climbs into the drainage; a stream emerges straight from the mountainside beside the path. Around 9,000 feet, the grade eases briefly into an alpine meadow before the trail turns south and then east in switchbacks toward 10,000 feet. Sawtooth Peak and Timber Gap frame the early climb. Much of the approach faces west, so an early start is a good idea.
At roughly 10,000 feet, the Crystal Lake branch heads south into Chihuahua Bowl. Hopeful prospectors named the basin for Chihuahua, Mexico, where they expected rich mines; remnants of the old Chihuahua Mine sit near the south rim. The trail climbs past this bit of Mineral King mining history before the valley views start opening wider.
The last 1.5 miles are steep and rugged. White Chief Peak and Farewell Gap come into view as the route reaches 10,000 feet, dips and levels briefly, then climbs again. The dam first appears near the top of the final switchbacks. At the lake, look across the water to the granite cirque and seasonal snow patches; the small dam and high basin make the best photo stop. The route ends here: there is no maintained trail beyond Crystal Lake.
The trail and dam were built by the Mt. Whitney Power Company between 1903 and 1905, and Southern California Edison still operates the facility. This is a striking piece of working history in a high alpine setting.
Park at Sawtooth Trail parking, one mile past the Mineral King Ranger Station. Mineral King access is seasonal, generally late May through October, and winter snow closes the road; check current access before driving. Carry your own water because stream and lake water purity is not guaranteed. Dogs are prohibited on park trails. Vault restrooms and water spigots are at the Mineral King picnic area near the ranger station, a separate stop from the trailhead. Silver City Mountain Resort outside Mineral King is the nearest food option. Early-summer mosquitoes can be bothersome.
Wildlife
691 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
17 sightingsMountain LionMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
18 sightingsBobcatMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
24 sightingsCoyoteMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
15 sightingsGolden EagleMost seen around 11 AMSighting map
20 sightingsSpotted OwlMost seen around 7 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Sequoia. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
ChallengingBig Five and Little Five Lakes Loop31.2 mi · 1.3 days · At the trailheadTwo lake basins, two high passes, and a real backpacking test
ChallengingBlack Rock Pass Trail23 mi · 17.5 hr · At the trailheadA 23-mile climb to a pass between the Five Lakes basins
ChallengingTimber Gap Trail4.5 mi · 3.5 hr · At the trailheadA steep climb to a red-fir pass above Mineral King.
ChallengingSawtooth Pass Trail11 mi · 9 hr · At the trailheadA high, rough climb above Monarch Lakes to Sawtooth Pass.
ChallengingMonarch Lakes Trail8.4 mi · 6 hr · 0.3 mi awayA high climb to two lakes beneath Sawtooth Peak
ChallengingEagle Lake Trail6.8 mi · 4.5 hr · 0.3 mi awayA steep, rocky climb to a high lake above Mineral King.
ChallengingMosquito Lake Trail7.2 mi · 4.5 hr · 0.3 mi awayA mountain lake above Mineral King, reached by a steady climb.
ChallengingWhite Chief Trail to White Chief Bowl7.4 mi · 5 hr · 0.3 mi awayColorful marble, old mines and a 10,000-foot Sierra bowl.
Restroom · 0.2 mi awayEagle-Mosquito Trailhead RestroomA practical restroom before the strenuous Eagle and Mosquito Lakes hikes.
Sight · 0.3 mi awayHoneymoon CabinA cabin shifted eight to ten feet in a slow snow slide.
Ranger station · 0.8 mi awayMineral King Ranger StationA useful stop for maps, permits, trail advice, and marmot tarps.
Campground · 1 mi awayCold Springs CampgroundA quiet, tent-only base for Mineral King hikes.
Sight · 1.7 mi awayMonarch LakesTwo alpine lakes below Sawtooth Peak after a hard climb.
Sight · 2.5 mi awayMosquito LakesA small alpine lake reached by a long Mineral King climb
Sight · 2.5 mi awayEagle LakeBlue water at the end of a steep Mineral King hike.
Lodging · 3 mi awaySilver City Mountain ResortA patio slice and a small market after the long climb.Parkwolf’s Sequoia ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
