A Night at Monarch Lake

Like most hikes out of the Mineral King area, the first half mile is brutal! Your heart rate climbs as you head up the switchbacks with stairs. Do not let that deter you though, as the hard work put in is well worth it once you reach the lakes. Not to mention the sounds of Black Wolf Falls can be heard as you ascend the mountainside. I recommend starting this trail in the morning as the first stretch of the trail is exposed on the south side of the mountain. Starting at 7,820 feet may not mean it will be hot, but the sun exposure is enough to exhaust you.

The trail proceeds up the mountainside with occasional glimpses of Monarch Creek at a couple of switchbacks. Eventually you will be hiking parallel with the creek, marking the final stretch of the trail that is steep. At 0.6 miles, almost 1,000 feet above where you started, you will encounter the first junction of the day. The fork will have a sign that directs you towards Sawtooth Pass, which you should follow to the right. No, the pass directly in front of you is not your trail, instead you go up the hillside directly across the creek. At the end of summer the creek was very easy to cross as most of the water joining the creek seemed to be pouring out of a spring a short ways downstream. The creek is fairly wide and had many rocks, so I expect crossing in spring melt will be more of a boulder hop. Perhaps trekking poles would be beneficial as the snow is melting.

At this point in the trail the grade is much more bearable, and less exposed, as the hillside is speckled with trees. This ascending portion of the trail is graced with spectacular views of the Mineral King Valley below. 1.8 miles from the creek takes you up the hillside, around a shoulder and up one more switch back to Crystal Lake Trail Junction. Take the left fork towards Monarch Lakes and Sawtooth Pass. From here you walk 0.75 miles along the exposed mountain side on a trail made of metamorphic shards fit together. Keep an eye out for the ever adorable American Pika, as they have made the pile of rocks their home. The trail drops into the outlet of the lake, and as you round the corner you get a stunning view of Lower Monarch Lake (10,400 feet). It is difficult to mistake, as she is shaped like a perfect rain drop. The tip of the droplet points northwest, directing your eyes towards the open valley below.

Lower Monarch Lake is situated between Sawtooth Pass (if you look closely you can see switchbacks up the scree filled face), Sawtooth Peak (12,343 feet) and Mineral Peak (11,615 feet). At the base of the droplet (southeast corner of the bowl) there is a gorgeous wall of granite, shrubs and a trickling waterfall. If you walk around the north end of the lake towards the 200 foot wall you will find a trail that meanders up the face among the shrubs. If you are looking to choose your own way up the wall the southern side of the face provides a scramble up the granite boulders. If you enjoy route finding and scrambles, I recommend going up that direction. As you crest of the wall you encounter a dam (bizarre, I know!). The dam was created by the electric company between 1903 and 1905 to expand the volume of Upper Monarch Lake. Luckily, it does not take away from the beauty of Upper Monarch Lake, which is a stunning turquoise blue. She is situated at 10,630 feet in a bowl at the base of Sawtooth Peak. I highly recommend swimming in this spectacular lake if you are willing to brave the freezing temperatures.

Although Upper Monarch Lake takes my breath away, camping is more readily available at Lower Monarch Lake. The north end of the lake has many campsites amongst the boulders. There is even a pit toilet with three walls, which allows for a spectacular view as you use the facilities. (Do not forget to bring your own toilet paper.) If you are a shy potty-goer, I recommend going with a partner so a stranger does not interrupt. At first glimpse of the lake I expected it to freeze out in the winter since the majority of the lake is shallow. However, in the south corner of the body of water, the depth drops greatly allowing for the fish to survive the winter.

Keep in mind that Mineral King road is only open during permit season, so you can only explore this area during late spring, summertime and early fall. Happy adventures!