Cottonwood Lakes Dayhike July 2021

I took a long dayhike up into the Cottonwood Lakes Basin from the Horseshoe Meadows Trailhead in Lone Pine. This was part of my plan to get acclimated to high elevation for an upcoming multi-day trek. After spending the night in Horseshoe Meadows at 10k feet elevation, I wanted to follow the advice of the professional mountaineers: “Hike High, Sleep Low.”

Yesterday, I didn’t quite do that: I dayhiked to Lone Pine Lake from Whitney Portal. I started at 8300 feet and climbed to 10,000, and then proceeded to drive over to Horseshoe Meadows at 10,000 feet and slept. So much for sleeping low. But it didn’t seem to be a problem, as I woke up feeling good. My altitude issues usually take a day to get over any issues, if I have them at all. I mainly just get a mild headache and lose my appetite. Didn’t happen this time.

Getting ready for a long dayhike at the Cottonwood Lakes Trailhead — I began my long dayhike at the Cottonwood Lakes Trailhead, after a brief sprinkle of rain

Back at the car, I got my daypack together, with plenty of water and snacks, and headed over to the trailhead. Nobody was there so I couldn’t get anyone to take my photo like I usually do. Oh well. I’ve been here before, so that’s OK. And then I started hiking.

The first three miles of the Cottonwood Lakes Trail stay relatively flat, with easy hiking through an open pine forest. Then the real work began, as it climbed steadily, gaining 1000 feet in the next two miles. After that, I would end up in the Cottonwood Lakes Basin, and there’d be easy hiking once again.

Crossing the South Fork Cottonwood Creek on the Cottonwood Lakes Trail — I Crossed the South Fork Cottonwood Creek, which was running slow for early July

Panorama view of the meadow along Cottonwood Creek, south of the Golden Trout Wilderness Camp

Panorama view with Flat Top (11,400 ft) on the left and Cirque Peak on the right, from the Cottonwood Lakes Trail — Panorama view with Flat Top (11,400 ft) on the left and Cirque Peak on the right, as I climbed up toward the basin

After five miles of brisk hiking, I arrived at the southeastern end of the basin. It was a truly a pleasure to be back in this beautiful area. The lakes themselves were a bit further, but even the first big meadow was lovely. There were high granite peaks all around, including the southernmost fourteener in California, Mount Langley. My son and I had climbed that peak six years ago, in 2015, and seeing it brought back fond memories. I continued hiking onward, desiring to check out how low the lakes’ water levels were, here in this extra-dry year of 2021.

Meadow south of Muir Lake with Mount Langley (14,026 ft), center, from the Cottonwood Lakes Trail — Meadow south of Muir Lake with Mount Langley (14,026 ft), center, from up in the basin

Zoomed-in view of Cirque Peak (12,900 ft) above Cottonwood Lake Number One from the Cottonwood Lakes Trail — Zoomed-in view of Cirque Peak (12,900 feet) above Cottonwood Lake Number One

Zoomed-in view of Mount Langley from the Cottonwood Lakes Trail — Zoomed-in view of Mount Langley – there was no snow left on the south face

I wasn’t particularly surprised to see the low level of the small pond I’d camped next to in the past. It looked more like September conditions than a typical early July. Even the grasses up here were already turning brown and going to seed. And there weren’t many flowers in bloom, which is never a good sign. A dry year usually means wildfires. I knocked on a wooden branch and hoped that the fires stayed far away from here this year. And every year! Let’s face it: I’m getting too old to wait thirty years for a post-fire recovery.

Army Pass Point (12,369 ft) and Mount Langley (14,026 ft) above the Cottonwood Lakes Basin — Army Pass Point and Mount Langley above the Cottonwood Lakes Basin

GoPro panorama video from the unnamed Cottonwood Lake just east of Lake Number Three

GoPro panorama shot of the nearly-dry unnamed lake in the Cottonwood Lakes Basin — GoPro panorama shot of the nearly-dry lake – 2021 was turning out to be a very dry year in the Southern Sierra

I stopped near the pond for a break. I sat on a boulder and contemplated the beauty. Other hikers walked by, and I found out from one of them that Old Army Pass was already clear of snow and ice. This was good news, as I planned to be back here in three weeks with my son and his buddy. During heavy snow years it might not melt all season, because it faced north, and then it was dangerous to attempt. The original Army Pass is lower than the new one, so this would make our lives a bit easier.

After that, it was time to head back, but I decided to make the hike a “lollipop” loop and return via the New Army Pass trail. I headed south a short distance on one of the many use paths that fishermen have made. I hiked near the shore of Cottonwood Lake Number One, until I intersected the main trail, then headed left, down into the valley and out of the basin.

Cottonwood Lake Number One from the Cottonwood Lakes Trail — Cottonwood Lake Number One in the distance

Panorama view west over the Cottonwood Lakes Basin with Cirque Peak (center) and Army Pass Point (right)

Panorama view over Cottonwood Lake Number One with Cirque Peak, Army Pass Point, and Mount Langley

I remembered that there had been a waterfall along the way down into the valley, on Cottonwood Creek, but the flow was so low that I could barely see it at all. I continued onward, hiking swiftly, as the trail was mostly packed sand. After two miles of descent, I had joined back into the main Cottonwood Lakes Trail. After that, I was back on the flat, meadow-filled route. Up above, the cumulus clouds were building, as they often do near the Sierra Crest, but it was clear that they wouldn’t be creating any thunderstorms today.

Panorama view of a meadow on the Cottonwood Lakes Trail — Panorama view of a meadow along the trail

Sign for the Golden Trout Wilderness School from the Cottonwood Lakes Trail — Sign for the Golden Trout Wilderness School

Panorama view of the Cottonwood Lakes Trail as it passes next to a meadow — Panorama view of the trail as it passes next to another meadow

Eventually, of course, I arrived back at the Horseshoe Meadows trailhead. I walked over to my car and opened the doors to let out the heat from the sun, then sat in the back and relaxed. I watched folks arrive with their backpacks, all dirty and scruffy-looking after a week on the trail. I spoke with some of them, but I made sure to stay upwind! They looked a bit ripe. Other people were just getting ready for their own treks, and were busily carrying gear over to the backpacker campsite, excited to get an early start in the morning. I spoke with them, too, and shared the news, of trail conditions (like that of Old Army Pass), and what to look out for in terms of beautiful vistas, or where the best camping spots were hidden. Everybody’s friendly, and we all help each other out. Yes, this is life at a High Sierra trailhead.

Back at the trailhead and parking lot of the Cottonwood Lakes Trail - it was a good hike — Back at the trailhead and parking lot – it had been a good long hike

All in all, it had been a good hike. I’d walked over eleven miles and climbed almost eleven hundred feet. My feet and legs were tired, but it was the good kind of tired. Also, I had no sore spots or blisters. This is as it should be. I planned to spend yet another night here at 10,000 feet elevation, then in the morning I would be driving north to Bishop, to get ready for my week-long trek over Muir Pass in Kings Canyon National Park. I truly felt ready.

For a topographic map of the hike see my CalTopo Page

For LOTS more photos of the trek see my Flickr Page

Up to the “Sierra Nevada” page

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