Lake Trail #9W27

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Lake · Wildlife

Adventure Pass required to park at trailheads and day use areas.

This is a popular trail for campers and visitors that connects the Crystal Lake Campground and visitor center with the lake. From the store/cafe, head down the road a few hundred yards to pick up the trail on the right (west) side.

The trail gently climbs through a mature forest of bigcone spruce, Jeffrey pines, sugar pines, white fir, and live oaks. It crosses the Crystal Lake Road then meets with the Lost Ridge Trail #9W25. It then parallels the road to the day-use area at the lake.

This trail is very useful for making easy loop hikes in the basin by connecting with the Lost Ridge Trail #9W25 and Windy Gap Trail #9W06.

Excellent area containing many types of conifer trees, large oaks. Deer, bears, foxes, squirrels are often seen.