Backpack Virginia Lakes to Green Creek

Lee Vining, California

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Details

Distance

10.5 miles

Elevation Gain

1234 ft

Route Type

Point-to-Point

Description

Added by Jess Harmon

An amazing 11 mile point to point hike through the Hoover Wilderness and Virginia Lakes Basin, near Bridgeport California! Passing by a total of 11 lakes and ponds, this hike can either be done as an overnight backpacking trip or day hike. One of the best areas to see Autumn colors in The Eastern Sierras!

Keep in mind that this is a point to point hike, so you will need to park a vehicle at Green Creek trailhead in Bridgeport as well as your start point at Virginia Lakes Resort.

Starting at 9,886' at The Virginia Lakes Trailhead, you will begin by heading Northwest towards Virginia Pass. During your initial climb, make sure to turn around and enjoy the views of Big Virginia Lake and Black Mountain. After climbing .4 miles you'll reach beautiful Blue Lake and continuing on you will find an old abandoned cabin at your 1 mile mark. Passing through the Virginia Lakes Basin will provide you with a plethora of small lakes and ponds (Cooney Lake and Frog Lakes to name a couple) to photograph and enjoy. Begin your switchback ascent up Virginia Pass and enjoy the views once you reach the top at 11,130'. From here the trip is mostly downhill. You'll begin to descend down towards the Summit Lake trailhead split at 4.3 miles, (it's a short 2 mile roundtrip to Summit Lake if you choose to do so) otherwise, continue on about 1.2 miles to Hoover Lakes. At Hoover Lakes I chose to veer off on a small use trail to find a campspot for the night.

The next morning I continued on towards Gilman, Nutter and East Lake. This trek allows for amazing views off to the left side of the trail of Epidote, Page and Gabbro Peaks! From there its about 2 miles to Green Lake and another 2 miles to the Green Creek Trailhead. Enjoy the adventure, and don't forget to head back to Virginia Lakes to pick up your other vehicle!

Directions:
Green Creek Trailhead - Follow the 395 North about 21 miles past Lee Vining, until you come to a left hand turn onto Green Lakes Road. This is a dirt road about 8 miles to the Green Creek Trailhead parking area. (Leave one car here)

Virginia Lakes Trailhead - Follow the 395 South back towards Lee Vinging. At the top of Conway Summit, take the right hand turn towards Virginia Lakes. Its about a 6 mile paved drive to the dead end which reaches the Virginia Lakes Day Use parking area.

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Features

Camping

Fishing

Photography

Backpacking

Hiking

Easy Parking

Forest

Lake

Scenic

Wildflowers

Swimming Hole

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