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USA Backpacking Lakes Overview
The United States is home to countless alpine lakes tucked deep within wilderness areas, national forests, and national parks. These lakes are often only accessible by foot — making them hidden gems for backpackers seeking solitude, scenery, and adventure.From the glacial waters of Thousand Island Lake in the Ansel Adams Wilderness to the mirror-like surface of Lake Reflection in Kings Canyon, these remote bodies of water offer incredible campsites, fishing, photography, and unforgettable views.
Most of the lakes in this section are found in the Eastern Sierra of California — including regions like Inyo National Forest, John Muir Wilderness, and Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Parks. Each lake is described with its elevation, nearby trailhead, notable features, and GPS coordinates.
Browse the full list below or search by region, trailhead, or elevation to plan your next wilderness getaway.
Backpacking Lakes - USA
| Lake Name | Region | State | Trailhead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garnet Lake | Ansel Adams Wilderness | California (CA) | Agnew Meadows TH |
| Thousand Island Lake | Ansel Adams Wilderness | California (CA) | Agnew Meadows TH |
| Marie Lake | John Muir Trail | California (CA) | Bear Ridge TH |
| Fifth Lake | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | Big Pine Creek TH |
| Finger Lake | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | Big Pine Creek TH |
| First Lake | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | Big Pine Creek TH |
| Fourth Lake | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | Big Pine Creek TH |
| Sam Mack Lake | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | Big Pine Creek TH |
| Second Lake | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | Big Pine Creek TH |
| Seventh Lake | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | Big Pine Creek TH |
| Sixth Lake | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | Big Pine Creek TH |
| Third Lake | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | Big Pine Creek TH |
| Willow Lake | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | Big Pine Creek TH |
| Arrowhead Lake | Kings Canyon National Park | California (CA) | Bishop Pass TH |
| Colby Lake | Sequoia National Park | California (CA) | Copper Creek TH |
| Cottonwood Lake #1 | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | Cottonwood Lakes TH |
| Cottonwood Lake #2 | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | Cottonwood Lakes TH |
| Cottonwood Lake #3 | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | Cottonwood Lakes TH |
| Cottonwood Lake #4 | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | Cottonwood Lakes TH |
| Cottonwood Lake #5 | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | Cottonwood Lakes TH |
| Long Lake (Cottonwood) | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | Cottonwood Lakes TH |
| Lower Crabtree Lake | Sequoia National Park | California (CA) | Cottonwood Lakes TH |
| Lower Crabtree Meadow Pond | Sequoia National Park | California (CA) | Cottonwood Lakes TH |
| Muir Lake | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | Cottonwood Lakes TH |
| Sky Blue Lake | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | Cottonwood Lakes TH |
| Tarn below Army Pass | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | Cottonwood Lakes TH |
| Wallace Lake | Sequoia National Park | California (CA) | Cottonwood Lakes TH |
| Chicken Spring Lake | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | Cottonwood Pass TH |
| Coyote Lake | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | Cottonwood Pass TH |
| Lower Soldier Lake | Sequoia National Park | California (CA) | Cottonwood Pass TH |
| Upper Soldier Lake | Sequoia National Park | California (CA) | Cottonwood Pass TH |
| Keweah Basin Lake 1 | Sequoia National Park | California (CA) | Crescent Meadow TH |
| Evolution Lake | Kings Canyon National Park | California (CA) | Florence Lake TH |
| Wanda Lake | Kings Canyon National Park | California (CA) | Florence Lake TH |
| Mirror Lake | Yosemite National Park | California (CA) | Happy Isles TH |
| George Lake | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | Kaiser Pass TH |
| Charlotte Lake | Kings Canyon National Park | California (CA) | Kearsarge Pass TH |
| Flower Lake | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | Kearsarge Pass TH |
| Gilbert Lake | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | Kearsarge Pass TH |
| Kearsarge Lakes | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | Kearsarge Pass TH |
| Big Arroyo Tarn | Sequoia National Park | California (CA) | Kern Canyon JMT |
| Blue Lake | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | Lake Sabrina TH |
| Heart Lake | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | Lake Sabrina TH |
| Sabrina Lake | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | Lake Sabrina TH |
| Big Five Lakes #1 | Sequoia National Park | California (CA) | Lost Canyon TH |
| Big Five Lakes #5 | Sequoia National Park | California (CA) | Lost Canyon TH |
| Little Five Lakes #1 | Sequoia National Park | California (CA) | Lost Canyon TH |
| Little Five Lakes #4 | Sequoia National Park | California (CA) | Lost Canyon TH |
| McGee Lake | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | McGee Creek TH |
| Steelhead Lake (McGee) | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | McGee Creek TH |
| Tully Lake | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | McGee Creek TH |
| Crater Lake (Mineral King) | Sequoia National Park | California (CA) | Mineral King TH |
| Franklin Lake | Sequoia National Park | California (CA) | Mineral King TH |
| Monarch Lake | Sequoia National Park | California (CA) | Mineral King TH |
| Upper Franklin Lake | Sequoia National Park | California (CA) | Mineral King TH |
| Barney Lake | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | Mosquito Flat TH |
| Box Lake | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | Mosquito Flat TH |
| Chickenfoot Lake | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | Mosquito Flat TH |
| Emerald Lake | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | Mosquito Flat TH |
| Gem Lakes | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | Mosquito Flat TH |
| Heart Lake (LLV) | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | Mosquito Flat TH |
| Hidden Lake | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | Mosquito Flat TH |
| Lower Morgan Lake | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | Mosquito Flat TH |
| Ruby Lake | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | Mosquito Flat TH |
| Steelhead Lake | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | Mosquito Flat TH |
| Upper Morgan Lake | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | Mosquito Flat TH |
| Loch Leven | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | North Lake TH |
| Lower Lamarck Lake | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | North Lake TH |
| Piute Lake | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | North Lake TH |
| Upper Lamarck Lake | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | North Lake TH |
| Bubbs Creek Tarn | Kings Canyon National Park | California (CA) | Onion Valley TH |
| Rae Lakes | Kings Canyon National Park | California (CA) | Onion Valley TH |
| Robinson Lake | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | Onion Valley TH |
| Granite Park Lake | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | Pine Creek TH |
| Honeymoon Lake | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | Pine Creek TH |
| Italy Lake | John Muir Wilderness | California (CA) | Pine Creek TH |
| Lower Pine Lake | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | Pine Creek TH |
| Merriam Lake | John Muir Wilderness | California (CA) | Pine Creek TH |
| Sailor Lake | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | Pine Creek TH |
| Upper Pine Lake | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | Pine Creek TH |
| Fin Dome Tarn | Kings Canyon National Park | California (CA) | Rae Lakes Loop |
| Sixty Lakes Basin Lake 1 | Kings Canyon National Park | California (CA) | Rae Lakes Loop |
| Lake Reflection | Sequoia National Park | California (CA) | Roads End TH |
| East Lake | Sequoia National Park | California (CA) | Roaring River TH |
| Mono Pass Lake | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | Rock Creek TH |
| Rock Creek Lake | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | Rock Creek TH |
| Baboon Lakes | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | Sabrina Lake TH |
| Black Lake | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | Sabrina Lake TH |
| Golden Trout Lake | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | Sabrina Lake TH |
| Hungry Packer Lake | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | Sabrina Lake TH |
| Midnight Lake | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | Sabrina Lake TH |
| Moonlight Lake | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | Sabrina Lake TH |
| Speckled Trout Lake | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | Sabrina Lake TH |
| Topsy Turvy Lake | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | Sabrina Lake TH |
| Dragon Lake | Kings Canyon National Park | California (CA) | Sixty Lakes TH |
| Gardiner Lake | Kings Canyon National Park | California (CA) | Sixty Lakes TH |
| Chocolate Lakes | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | South Lake TH |
| Desolation Lake | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | South Lake TH |
| Dusy Basin Lake | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | South Lake TH |
| Grinnell Lake | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | South Lake TH |
| Long Lake | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | South Lake TH |
| Matlock Lake | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | South Lake TH |
| Ruwau Lake | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | South Lake TH |
| South Lake | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | South Lake TH |
| Treasure Lakes | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | South Lake TH |
| Bench Lake | Kings Canyon National Park | California (CA) | Taboose Pass TH |
| Twin Lakes | Inyo National Forest | California (CA) | Tamarack TH |
| Lake South America | Sequoia National Park | California (CA) | Tyndall Creek JMT |
| Tarn above Lake South America | Sequoia National Park | California (CA) | Tyndall Creek JMT |
| Whitney Creek Tarn | Sequoia National Park | California (CA) | Whitney Portal TH |
USA Backpacking Lakes Links
- Garnet Lake – Agnew Meadows TH, Ansel Adams Wilderness, CA
- Thousand Island Lake – Agnew Meadows TH, Ansel Adams Wilderness, CA
- Marie Lake – Bear Ridge TH, John Muir Trail, CA
- Fifth Lake – Big Pine Creek TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Finger Lake – Big Pine Creek TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- First Lake – Big Pine Creek TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Fourth Lake – Big Pine Creek TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Sam Mack Lake – Big Pine Creek TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Second Lake – Big Pine Creek TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Seventh Lake – Big Pine Creek TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Sixth Lake – Big Pine Creek TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Third Lake – Big Pine Creek TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Willow Lake – Big Pine Creek TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Arrowhead Lake – Bishop Pass TH, Kings Canyon National Park, CA
- Colby Lake – Copper Creek TH, Sequoia National Park, CA
- Cottonwood Lake #1 – Cottonwood Lakes TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Cottonwood Lake #2 – Cottonwood Lakes TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Cottonwood Lake #3 – Cottonwood Lakes TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Cottonwood Lake #4 – Cottonwood Lakes TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Cottonwood Lake #5 – Cottonwood Lakes TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Long Lake (Cottonwood) – Cottonwood Lakes TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Lower Crabtree Lake – Cottonwood Lakes TH, Sequoia National Park, CA
- Lower Crabtree Meadow Pond – Cottonwood Lakes TH, Sequoia National Park, CA
- Muir Lake – Cottonwood Lakes TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Sky Blue Lake – Cottonwood Lakes TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Tarn below Army Pass – Cottonwood Lakes TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Wallace Lake – Cottonwood Lakes TH, Sequoia National Park, CA
- Chicken Spring Lake – Cottonwood Pass TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Coyote Lake – Cottonwood Pass TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Lower Soldier Lake – Cottonwood Pass TH, Sequoia National Park, CA
- Upper Soldier Lake – Cottonwood Pass TH, Sequoia National Park, CA
- Keweah Basin Lake 1 – Crescent Meadow TH, Sequoia National Park, CA
- Evolution Lake – Florence Lake TH, Kings Canyon National Park, CA
- Wanda Lake – Florence Lake TH, Kings Canyon National Park, CA
- Mirror Lake – Happy Isles TH, Yosemite National Park, CA
- George Lake – Kaiser Pass TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Charlotte Lake – Kearsarge Pass TH, Kings Canyon National Park, CA
- Flower Lake – Kearsarge Pass TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Gilbert Lake – Kearsarge Pass TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Kearsarge Lakes – Kearsarge Pass TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Big Arroyo Tarn – Kern Canyon JMT, Sequoia National Park, CA
- Blue Lake – Lake Sabrina TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Heart Lake – Lake Sabrina TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Sabrina Lake – Lake Sabrina TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Big Five Lakes #1 – Lost Canyon TH, Sequoia National Park, CA
- Big Five Lakes #5 – Lost Canyon TH, Sequoia National Park, CA
- Little Five Lakes #1 – Lost Canyon TH, Sequoia National Park, CA
- Little Five Lakes #4 – Lost Canyon TH, Sequoia National Park, CA
- McGee Lake – McGee Creek TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Steelhead Lake (McGee) – McGee Creek TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Tully Lake – McGee Creek TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Crater Lake (Mineral King) – Mineral King TH, Sequoia National Park, CA
- Franklin Lake – Mineral King TH, Sequoia National Park, CA
- Monarch Lake – Mineral King TH, Sequoia National Park, CA
- Upper Franklin Lake – Mineral King TH, Sequoia National Park, CA
- Barney Lake – Mosquito Flat TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Box Lake – Mosquito Flat TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Chickenfoot Lake – Mosquito Flat TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Emerald Lake – Mosquito Flat TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Gem Lakes – Mosquito Flat TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Heart Lake (LLV) – Mosquito Flat TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Hidden Lake – Mosquito Flat TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Lower Morgan Lake – Mosquito Flat TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Ruby Lake – Mosquito Flat TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Steelhead Lake – Mosquito Flat TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Upper Morgan Lake – Mosquito Flat TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Loch Leven – North Lake TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Lower Lamarck Lake – North Lake TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Piute Lake – North Lake TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Upper Lamarck Lake – North Lake TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Bubbs Creek Tarn – Onion Valley TH, Kings Canyon National Park, CA
- Rae Lakes – Onion Valley TH, Kings Canyon National Park, CA
- Robinson Lake – Onion Valley TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Granite Park Lake – Pine Creek TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Honeymoon Lake – Pine Creek TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Italy Lake – Pine Creek TH, John Muir Wilderness, CA
- Lower Pine Lake – Pine Creek TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Merriam Lake – Pine Creek TH, John Muir Wilderness, CA
- Sailor Lake – Pine Creek TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Upper Pine Lake – Pine Creek TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Fin Dome Tarn – Rae Lakes Loop, Kings Canyon National Park, CA
- Sixty Lakes Basin Lake 1 – Rae Lakes Loop, Kings Canyon National Park, CA
- Lake Reflection – Roads End TH, Sequoia National Park, CA
- East Lake – Roaring River TH, Sequoia National Park, CA
- Mono Pass Lake – Rock Creek TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Rock Creek Lake – Rock Creek TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Baboon Lakes – Sabrina Lake TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Black Lake – Sabrina Lake TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Golden Trout Lake – Sabrina Lake TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Hungry Packer Lake – Sabrina Lake TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Midnight Lake – Sabrina Lake TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Moonlight Lake – Sabrina Lake TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Speckled Trout Lake – Sabrina Lake TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Topsy Turvy Lake – Sabrina Lake TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Dragon Lake – Sixty Lakes TH, Kings Canyon National Park, CA
- Gardiner Lake – Sixty Lakes TH, Kings Canyon National Park, CA
- Chocolate Lakes – South Lake TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Desolation Lake – South Lake TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Dusy Basin Lake – South Lake TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Grinnell Lake – South Lake TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Long Lake – South Lake TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Matlock Lake – South Lake TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Ruwau Lake – South Lake TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- South Lake – South Lake TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Treasure Lakes – South Lake TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Bench Lake – Taboose Pass TH, Kings Canyon National Park, CA
- Twin Lakes – Tamarack TH, Inyo National Forest, CA
- Lake South America – Tyndall Creek JMT, Sequoia National Park, CA
- Tarn above Lake South America – Tyndall Creek JMT, Sequoia National Park, CA
- Whitney Creek Tarn – Whitney Portal TH, Sequoia National Park, CA