HIKE TO: Heather Lake, Aster Lake, Emerald Lake and Pear Lake TRAIL: The Lakes Trail MILES: 12.4 miles (15.4 miles according to my tracker) TIME: 1 night (3:30 hr in, 3:45 hr out) DATE I WENT: 10/13/18 - 10/14/18 DIFFICULTY: moderate ELEVATION: 9629 ft ELEVATION GAIN/ LOSS: 2625/423 ft HIKE PERMIT: yes for overnight camping PARKING PERMIT: National Park Pass LOCATION: Sequoia National Park, California
FAQ: Lakes Trail Sequoia
Yes, permits are now available online at Recreation.gov.
Both are great options! Overnight camping permits can be harder to obtain because it’s a popular hike and there’s designated campsites but the entire trail can easily be done as a day hike, just give yourself a full day. If the trail is too long for a day hike for you, hiking just to the Watchman Tower is worth it in itself.
The hike to Pear Lake from the Lakes Trail is 12.4 miles out and back and took 3-4 hours to hike one in depending on your speed.
The Lakes Trail to Pear Lake is the only overnight backpacking trail within the heart of Sequoia National Park boundaries, but the wilderness of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks has hundreds of hiking trails including (but not limited to) Rae Lakes Loop, High Sierra Trail to Mt Whitney, and Mineral King Valley area.
Pear Lake Trail Report
The Lakes Trail is a popular trail in Sequoia National Park which can be done as a day hike or a quick overnight backpacking hike. There are bear lockers around the campground so you do not need to bring your bear canister.
*Permit update as of 2021: permits are reserved online at recreation.gov now for Lakes Trail in SEKI
We started from the trailhead at Wolverton Picnic Area/ Alta Peak Trailhead at 1 pm and the dirt trail is very clear and well-shaded. There is a gradual incline on the trail and at 1.5 miles you reach the junction for the Alta Peak trail, but you’ll continue on the left to stay on the Lakes Trail to see four lakes.
At 2 pm we reached the junction for The Watchtower Trail and The Hump Trail and at 2:45 pm, we reached the Watchtower.
From the trailhead to the Watchtower, Pear Lake is only 3.2 miles away; this is only an additional 0.3 miles compared to the Hump Trail to reach Pear Lake. The views at the watchtower of the valley below were gorgeous but the trail continues along a ridge for another 10-15 mins so you’ll get these views for awhile.
The watchtower trail is supposed to be closed in the winter months in which you’ll have to take the alternative Hump Trail instead.
After the trail heads back into the wilderness, you’ll quickly make your way to the first of four lakes.
We reached a trail sign just 20 mins after leaving the Watchtower which is also just before Heather Lake, 4.1 miles from the trailhead. From here, Emerald Lake and Aster Lake are 1.1 miles (5.3 miles from the trailhead) and Pear Lake is 2 miles away (6.2 miles from the trailhead).
The trail will start to head down as you approach Aster Lake and there is a restroom and campsites between Aster and Emerald Lakes. It was very crowded when we came in Fall so we continued on to Pear Lakes.
The trail begins to ascend again for the remainder of the trail as you leave this camp area, hiking along another short ridge before heading through more wilderness and finally reaching Pear Lake.
We arrived at Pear Lake in the evening at 5 pm just in time for sunset and the lake reflection was simply breathtaking. The campsites are numbered and there are bear lockers and another bathroom here. After taking a bunch of photos, setting up camp, and watching the sunset, we enjoyed some homemade chocolate cupcakes as a surprise birthday treat for Alice… and it tasted like heaven in the mountains!
The next morning was a beautiful, sunny morning with a low of 59 deg and high of 75 deg. We packed up, headed out, and were off the trail in under 3 hrs… where we had more cupcakes waiting in the bear lockers of the parking lot.
Don’t forget to remove all food & scented items from your car and leave them in the bear locker – Sequoia National Park is an active bear area! & remember, LEAVE NO TRACE
Backpacking GEAR list for the Lakes Trail in Sequoia National Park:
- BlackRock Gear down beanie
- KS Ultralight backpack
- Westcomb Down Vest
- Nike Dri Fit Compression Long Sleeve
- BeFree Water Filter
- Jetboil Mini Stove
- Big Agnes HV UL2 Tent
- Thermarest Sleeping Pad
- Feathered Friends Winter Sleeping Bag
- Tracker: Garmin Fenix Watch
- Akaso Action Camera
- Lightweight Nitecore Headlamp
Places to Stay Near Sequoia National Park
- The Gateway Restaurant & Lodge in Three Rivers – closest lodge to the park entrance and pet friendly. Convenient if you’re coming from SoCal
- The River Inn – super close and budget-friendly
- Mountain Top Rental – 10 mins from Sequoia, clean, good views with hot tub, and perfect for larger groups (sleeps 9)
- John Muir Lodge – adorable log cabin lodge! More convenient for visitors coming from NorCal
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Thanks for reading!
I’d love to hear your thoughts below 🙂
Hi Tiff,
In the fall of 1988 I spent a week at Pear Lake (it served as my base camp to explore the wilderness around Pear Lake). I did the trip alone and it served as a quiet retreat and self exploration – I was only 23 at the time.
It was a real pleasure seeing your photos and reading about your trip – I’m so very pleased to see the trail and lakes are EXACTLY like they were in 1988!!! God bless our National Parks!
Thank you for this little trip down memory lane!
Hi Jim, thank you for following my journey through the Lakes trail. I’m so happy to hear the trail is just as you remembered it and that people are making the effort to maintain it 🙂
Tiff,
Thanks for your beautifully well written article & love the pictures. We will be hiking this trail next week, what are 3 things that you highly recommend for this hike that we will need that we may not be prepared for that you experienced during your hike/camp? What was your most memorable part of the trip?
Hi Uriel, thanks for your kind words. I was well prepared for my trip but a few tips/ reminders for you would be don’t forget a water filter, hike in early so you can snag a good campsite because they are numbered and limited, and maybe bring a swimsuit for a dip 😉
My most memorable part of this trip was definitely the reflection of the lake, the alpine glow and sunset – those all took me by complete surprise.
Enjoy your trip!