1-2 Night Sierra Trip Help

PM sent

Taking into consideration permits and driving, I’d suggest something like Jennie Lakes or Donkey Lakes. Beautiful.  Easy to get to.  Permits usually available.  And enough choices that if you don’t like on place, you can hike to another.  And please don’t make this trip epic.  Make it fun…

We’ve got trip reports on both areas in backpack the Sierra.com

“Can do 10-15 miles with 2000ish elev. gain without a pack. ”

Is that experience also in the Rockies?

You want the first day to be fun so check the elevation profiles.  It might not be a good idea to drive up from sea level and immediately start hiking over a 10K pass.

Also note that the US Forest Service camps fill up quickly this time of year. So you need to arrive mid week or check and see whether there is overnight camping for backpackers at the designated trailhead.

Florence Lake and Lake Thomas Edison have some of the highest elevation trailheads in the western slope of the Sierras.  There are a lot of loops out of Vermillion Valley you could do or base camp at Vermillion Valley Campground and hike to a different lake each day.  The indoor hot springs at Mono Hot Springs used to be a fun way to end a trip.

Beware VVR loops.  The camp fire completely roasted the north side of Edison.

If you want granite and care less about solitude, Twin Lakes, or Ranger Lakes area heading north from lodgepole are reasonably easy.  And you can possibly get a room at Wuksachi lodge on either end for some civilized time.  ($$$$ though).

Alternately the Cottonwood Lakes area at the southern end offers granite as well.  (Permits harder to come by). The horseshoe meadows trailheads at 10k ft make for relatively easy entry.