Twin Lakes June 26-27, 2000

Northern Twin Lake

This was an early summer hike up to a pair of lakes in Sequoia National Park.  The Twin Lakes Trail starts at Lodgepole Campground and it is about seven miles and 3,000 feet up to the lakes.  The first mile of the trail is a steady climb up the ridge.  The second mile is relatively flat and is in a dense lodgepole pine and white and red fir forest.  Once you reach Silliman Creek the trail starts to climb again.  Soon you reach Cahoon Meadow and there is a campsite here.  Continuing there is a steady climb up Cahoon Gap.  Then you lose about 500 feet as you drop to Clover Creek.  There are several campsites at the creek and you can take a trail from here up to JO Pass and Jennie Lake.  From Clover Creek the trail climbs ever higher and there are some beautiful little waterfalls off to the right of the trail.  I began to hurry at this point in the hike as a storm was brewing.  I reached Twin Lakes just as rain began to fall and I quickly set up my tent, stowed my food in the bear box, and crawled in the tent.  Thunder crashed and hail fell and it was quite a storm!  Good news was the hail and colder temps that came with the storm seemed to scare away the mosquitos and I had a nice evening exploring the shores of the lakes.  I found a vast meadow full of Jeffrey shooting stars and enjoyed the views of Silliman Peak.

Water cascading off exfoliating granite steps

Southern Twin Lake

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