20 Lakes Basin

Twenty Lakes Basis is just outside Yosemite's northeast boundary, in the shadow of Mount Conness and North Peak. Eastbound (leaving the park) on Highway 120, about two miles east of the Tioga Pass entrance station, take the left turn onto the road to Saddlebag Lake. At (not particularly scenic) Saddlebag Lake you can take the water taxi for a reasonable charge, or walk the level but extremely rocky mile and a half to the north side of the lake. Once on the far side of Saddlebag, the scenery improves immediately. You won’t walk far before encountering alpine lake after alpine lake, especially if you follow the trail along the west (left) side of the basin.

© Gary Hart