Naturalist Basin Lakes

Dogs Unknown

Features Views

This route starts at the end of the Naturalist Basin Trail on the bench that contains Shaler Lake. You can visit the eastern edge of the bench which quickly drops away to give excellent views of the country to the east. You can then reverse direction and follow the high ridges which form the northern and western ends of the Naturalist Basin to visit Faxon and Le Conte lakes before looping back to Shaler lake.

Follow the Naturalist Basin Trail north to its end on the bench that contains Shaler Lake. Because there are few trees above Jordan Lake it is easy to find your way around this area. Once at Shaler Lake you can head east a short distance to the edge of the bench. The steep drop off at this point will limit how far you can go.

After enjoying the view to the east, reverse your steps in a northwesterly direction towards another bench north of Shaler Lake. Find a route up this bench and you'll now have an excellent view to the south showing Shaler Lake and its bench as well as country further south. There is a second bench behind Shaler lake and you can find your way up that for even better views.

Once on top, continue in a westerly direction and as you approach the ridges that form the northwestern boundary of the Naturalist Basin, follow them in a southwest direction down a drainage which ends at Faxon Lake. Continue past Faxon Lake and you'll emerge back on the bench that contains Shaler lake.

If you continue in a southwesterly direction you'll come to Le Conte Lake. Reverse direction again and head east back towards Shaler Lake and the end of the loop. Other than the work of scaling the bench north of Shaler Lake the remaining area is relatively flat, but without trails it will be slower going than with a trail.