Saddlebag Lake to Conness Lakes

Dogs Off-leash

Features Commonly Backpacked · Fishing · River/Creek · Swimming · Views · Waterfall · Wildflowers

This is a great run through history up to the glacial-fed Conness Lakes along hiking trails and old mining roads. Part of the run passes through an old flume system and is mostly off-trail but worth the climb to see these colorful lakes that usually hold some of their ice through late June.

To get to the campground, resort, and trailhead, take Saddlebag Lake Road, just east of the Yosemite National Park Tioga Pass entrance. Drinking water is available at the nearby campground and bear boxes are located near the trailhead. Saddlebag Lake Resort runs a water taxi in the summer that can take you across the lake to shorten this hike. If not taking the taxi, run the Saddlebag Lake Trail along the east shore of the lake. Views of the mountains across the water get more impressive as you continue along the easy trail.

At the north end of the lake where there is a wilderness ranger station, going west on the 20 Lakes Basin Loop Trail takes you soon to Greenstone Lake. The official trail ends at that point, but there is an informal trail that you can follow north of Greenstone Lake. If you are running early in the season, you may lose that informal trail, but you'll be heading up the creek that empties into Greenstone. The trick is to not get too low along the creek when it is wet and boggy. You can choose to follow along the creek or stay higher up on the ridge.

This route will eventually lead you up to the glacial-fed Conness Lakes. These colorful lakes usually still have ice through late June. After enjoying the scenery and perhaps a dip in the frigid water, head back the way you came.

Most of the Twenty Lakes Loop Trail is from the days of mining that occurred in the 1880's to 1940 or so. The eastern route came up from Lundy through Lundy Pass to Bennettville. The western side of the Twenty Lakes Loop utilizes an old mining road that came from the Hess Mine on the northern side of Steelhead Lake down along Saddlebag Lake. The Wilderness Ranger Stations used to be one of the sleeping quarters of the Hess Mine.