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MINERAL KING TRAILHEAD

TRIP 9

Eagle Lake

DH or BP

DISTANCE: 6.5 miles, out-and-back

ELEVATION: 7,815′/10,045′, +2,285′/-55′/±4,680′

SEASON: Early July to mid-October

USE: Moderate

MAPS: USGS’s Mineral King or SNHA’s Mineral King or Tom Harrison Maps’ Mineral King

TRAIL LOG

1.0 White Chief Canyon Trail junction

1.75 Eagle Lake Trail junction

3.25 Eagle Lake

INTRODUCTION: Crystalline Eagle Lake, reposing majestically in a deep glacial cirque, attracts flocks of anglers, photographers, dayhikers, and backpackers alike during the height of summer. The lake’s popularity is well deserved due to the incredible scenery and is enhanced by the relatively short hiking distance of a little more than 3 miles. However, the rather stiff climb requires visitors to be in reasonable physical shape.

The Mt. Whitney Power and Electric Company dammed the lake in the early 1900s to regulate the flow of water at their generating plant downstream in Hammond. Southern California Edison regulates the water in the lake nowadays, and the level typically drops dramatically toward the end of the season, which somewhat diminishes the otherwise beautiful surroundings.

DIRECTIONS TO TRAILHEAD: From the east end of Three Rivers, leave Highway 198 and turn onto Mineral King Road. Follow the road past Atwell Mill Campground, Silver City, Cold Springs Campground, and Mineral King Ranger Station (which issues wilderness permits and has food storage areas) to the Eagle-Mosquito Trailhead parking area at the end of the road, 23.5 miles from Highway 198.

DESCRIPTION: Just south of the parking area, a dirt road heads past the Honeymoon Cabin and climbs gently up the East Fork Kaweah River Canyon through sagebrush scrub dotted with red firs, mountain maples, and a few western junipers. After a quarter mile, you cross Spring Creek on a removable wood bridge. Within earshot of the bridge but out of sight above the trail is Tufa Falls. The creek originates higher up the hillside and then follows a subterranean course through a band of marble before emerging a few hundred feet above the trail.

Just beyond Spring Creek, pass an unsigned lateral descending toward the river and proceed up the canyon, with good views of Crystal Creek cascading down the slope across the valley. Hop across willow-lined Eagle Creek and shortly arrive at the signed White Chief Canyon junction, 1 mile from the parking area.

Eagle Lake

Turn right at the junction and wrap around the hillside to steep switchbacks that climb through pockets of meadow alternating with stands of red fir and lodgepole pine. The grade eases on the approach to Eagle Sinkhole, where Eagle Creek mysteriously disappears. Resume the climb, and soon reach the Eagle Lake junction, 1.75 miles from the parking area.

Climb mildly away from the junction alongside Eagle Creek to the far side of a meadow. From there, a steeper, switchbacking ascent of a hillside covered by red firs and lodgepole pines leads to an expansive talus slope. The trail makes a long ascending traverse across the talus slope toward the lip of Eagle Lake’s basin. Along the way, the open topography allows for excellent views of Mineral and Sawtooth Peaks and the silver thread of cascading Crystal Creek across the canyon. The grade eventually eases beyond the talus, as you pass through pockets of grasses and shrubs, scattered boulders, and rock slabs amid a light forest of lodgepole pines. One final, steep pitch leads to the concrete dam and then along the west shore of Eagle Lake.

The stunning scenery of the steep-walled cirque is complemented by the soaring summit of Eagle Crest immediately south of the lake. Opposite, multicolored rock peaks rim the deep cleft of Mineral King Valley. Just past the dam, a use trail branches uphill to a primitive, screened pit toilet. Camping between the lake and the trail is banned; the best sites are about midway down the west shoreline. Anglers can fish for small to medium brook trout.

Cross-country enthusiasts can climb over Miners Ridge from the west shore of Eagle Lake to access the Mosquito Lakes Basin. The route is short, but quite steep, and is particularly rocky on the Mosquito Lakes side (see Trip 8).

Wilderness permits are required for overnight stays. Campfires are prohibited. Camping is banned between the shore of Eagle Lake and the trail.