Dry Lake to Fish Creek Saddle

Dogs Leashed

Features Lake · River/Creek · Spring · Swimming · Views

During the snow melt, "Dry" Lake is brim full. How long it retains water depends on whether it is a wet or dry year. When the lake is full, this is my favorite spot on the Southern California mountains. The view across the lake towards the San Gorgonio mountain ridge is the closest to a High Sierra view that one will find anywhere in Southern California.

At the junction with the Dry Lake Trail, the sign for this trail refers only to the two campsites. The one with the best view is above the North-East corner of the lake. The second is in the flat area well above the east side. From here, the trail sign refers Lodgepole Spring. In mid-May of an extremely dry year (2021), the spring was flowing, but not very impressively.

No sign indicates that the trail continues up to meet the Fish Creek Trail at Fish Creek Saddle, and that portion is not shown on the USGS topo map. However, while it is old, it is definitely a constructed trail. It is easy to follow and not difficult. At Fish Creek Saddle, there is dry, but otherwise good campsite with a solid corral-like enclosure to protect from the wind. If you are approaching the trail from the saddle, there is no trail sign, but about 20-30 yards west of the corral, 2 large cairns mark the beginning.

From Fish Creek Saddle, you can loop back to Dry Lake via Mine Shaft Saddle and the Dry Lake Trail, or you could continue up the Sky High Trail to San Gorgonio.