Thousand Island Lakes
Lee Vining, CA
5.0 (5 reviews)Trip Highlights
- Dazzling High Country
- Area's Largest Lakes
- Stunning Camps
- Mountain Solitude
- Serenity & Profound Beauty
- Wonderful Alpine Day Hiking
- Top-notch Guides & Cuisine
Description
Explore the high country of the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountain Range along The John Muir Trail and the famous Pacific Crest Trail on this 5 day alpine adventure! Escape the crowds of Yosemite National Park and venture deep into the solitary reaches of the lesser known, but equally beautiful, Inyo National Forest. Camp along the banks of Thousand Island Lake and admire Mount Banner and Mount Ritter from camp as they dominate the skyline and reflect boldly in the vast island-speckled lake. Camp on the shores of pristine lakes, day hike into the alpine zone, soak up breathtaking scenery, and enjoy some of the best hiking in California!
$1800 Per Person
DIFFICULTY LEVEL 4
Scale of 1-5. 1 is least difficult; 5 is most difficult
This trip follows well maintained trails and has generally moderate hiking distances of 4-6 miles, with one 8 mile day. Some concerns include loose dirt, large stepping stones and tree roots. Day 2 is a strenuous climb up Rush Creek combined with a decent on Day 5 of over 3500 ft, making this a challenging Level 4 hike.
Hiking Distances:

4-8 mi
Backpack Weight:

35-45 lbs
Terrain:

Moderately Rugged
Max Daily Elev. ↑↓:

2680 ft
Heights Exposure:

Light
PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THIS TRIP
- Hiking uphill or downhill with a 35-45 lb backpack for 6-8 hours
- Maintaining balance and footing on moderately rugged terrain
- Hiking with occasional, light heights exposure
SOLITUDE LEVEL 3
1 least solitude, 5 most solitude
We rate this Eastern Sierra backpacking trip a solitude 3. You can expect hours of solitude at a time.
TRAVEL TO LEE VINING, CALIFORNIA
All Eastern Sierra trips begin and end in Lee Vining at the iconic Mobile Station at 6PM on Day 1 of their trip. Lee Vining is east of Yosemite National Park at the junction of Highways 395 and 120. There are multiple way to reach Lee Vining:
By Car
The primary gateways if driving (or flying in and then driving) are Reno, NV; Fresno, CA; and Sacramento, CA. Lee Vining is a 2 hour and 40 minute drive south of Reno on Highway 395; and it’s 4.5 hours from both Fresno and Sacramento.
By Rail and Bus
From Fresno or Yosemite:
Yosemite Area Rapid Transit (YARTS) is offering 4 bus rides each direction from Fresno to Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite. From Tuolumne Meadows, you can catch a second YARTS bus that will drop you off directly at the Mobile station in Lee Vining. Please note that busses arrive at the Mobile at 8:42 AM, 4:47PM or after 7:30PM.
From Reno:
Eastern Sierra Transit’s CREST service offers transportation from Reno’s airport and Greyhound Station to Lee Vining, CA.
From Los Angeles:
Metrolink’s Antelope Valley Line offers service from Downtown Los Angeles to Lancaster, CA. Eastern Sierra Transit’s CREST service travels north from Lancaster to Lee Vining.
From the San Francisco Bay Area:
Yosemite Area Rapid Transit (YARTS) offers service from Merced, CA to Yosemite Valley and in the summer, continuing service to the Eastern Sierra, with stops in Lee Vining. There are many options for travel between the Bay Area and Merced, including Greyhound and Amtrak.
Travel by Air
Fly into Mammoth Yosemite Airport and take Eastern Sierra Transit’s CREST service north to Lee Vining.
Private Trips
Travel in perfect company by booking a private trip exclusively for your group!
Our sliding scale for private trips is based on the final number of guests in your group. Rates are per person and do not include sales tax, national park fees or guide gratuity. The final rate is based on the actual number of guests on the trip and may adjust based on cancellations or additions.
Please Note: you can also enjoy a private trip at our normal scheduled rates by filling any empty tour to capacity. However, if group members drop from the tour those spots will automatically become available on our website for instant booking. By purchasing a private trip at the rates listed below, your trip will remain exclusive to your group regardless of cancellations.
Private Rates FOr This Trip
- 2 People: Rate x 2.5
- 3 People: Rate x 1.75
- 4 People: Rate x 1.25
- 5+ People: Rate x 1.15
*all rates are per person
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