Saddlebag Lake Trail is a 4 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located near Lee Vining, California that features a lake and is good for all skill levels. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from June until September. Dogs are also able to use this trail.
Please note that the road leading to the trailhead, Saddlebag Lake Road, closes during the winter. If visiting during winter, add several miles to this hike to account for the closure.
October 13, 2020Beautiful hike. Did this in early July and there was still a ton of snow. A lot of the trail was completely snowed over. Dog friendly.
September 21, 2020September 4, 2020This was a blast! Used this as an acclamation hike to settle in for the week before hiking in the area. It was beautiful, and on a Wednesday not very crowded at all. We stopped to have lunch by one of the lakes and even went for a swim, went a little off course and went to the top of a smaller waterfall the fed into the lakes and enjoyed the view of the meadow. Dog friendly, she loved it and all the access to the different lakes to swim in around the trail!!
August 22, 2020August 16, 2020Easy, beautiful trail that wraps around the entirety of Saddlebag Lake. The north end is especially spectacular as it allows for great views into the bowl and mountains surrounding it.
August 15, 2020Pristine beauty. Take care of this place. Water is much lower than years before.
August 7, 2020Came upon this late in the day after I had done another harder hike. It was overcast and raining/hailing for more than half the hike and I loved it. Didn't love the late afternoon thunder/lightening that came along right as I was starting to make my way back to my car, more for the stress it offered than the actual inconvenience of the rain. I'm the type of hiker who will prefer an overcast too cold/wet hike to high sun and heat hikes any day. It's flat and very exposed right at the beginning and end of the loop. Had I been there earlier on a better weather day I would have happily continued further in to the other lakes in the area. Personally I prefer the approach on the right side of the lake (assuming you're looking at it from the lot), which swings into shade and trees after about a mile. Will definitely be back to do more in the area.
July 4, 2020Honeymoon hike!
May 22, 2020Saddlebag Lake Rd is closed to vehicles. You can walk to the lake from the gate closure (5 miles-ish RT.) the trail around the lake is still covered with snow. May 21, 2020
November 11, 2019Weather was great not a lot of shade until the far end of the lake.
November 3, 2019Beautiful November day! Beats the crowds of the valley!
October 31, 2019October 11, 2019This trail is so beautiful and fun. I loved the small scree field scramble.
September 3, 2019First couple of miles are exposed screen. Not much fun but gorgeous after that.
September 1, 2019August 28, 2019hiked counter clockwise since there is no boat taxi, trail is good footing and beautiful wildflowers
August 24, 2019August 22, 2019August 20, 2019Nice & easy acclimation hike, a good starting point to get used to elevation if you're spending more days in the high country around the Tioga Rd. or surrounding wilderness. Recommend hiking this one counter-clockwise as an out & back to Evergreen Lake, instead of coming back on the western (north-facing) side of the lake - no snow on the trail in mid-August as there was just a month ago, however it's SUPER rocky and you're basically hiking on a scree field for the 2nd half of the hike. I found it annoying, something so flat that should be easy but just made for a really unstable experience. Next time I'd do an out & back on the east side of the lake. Views were nicer from this side, in my opinion! Saw tons of wildflowers at this time of year, a real treat. Slightly buggy in the meadow between the two lakes but totally manageable.
August 10, 2019
