60 Lakes Basin near Rae Lakes in the central Sierra Nevada (Kings Canyon National Park) has long been on our list for a visit. It's over one ridge west of the John Muir/Pacific Crest Trail and we passed close by on our thru hike in 2016. This year we made it in August and added some additional want list locations as well. It was a 6 day trip with 2 days spent getting in and checking out the lakes on the north side of Dragon Peak. Then it was across the valley and into the 60 Lakes Basin for a couple of days. Exiting the basin we rejoined the JMT northbound as far as the turnoff to Sawmill Pass. Sawmill is one of the "Horrible 4" passes that start far down in the Owens Valley. After a night in the Woods Lake basin a little west of the pass, we crossed over and descended the leg busting 6,700 feet of elevation to finish. I'm going to keep this short and just include a lot of pretty pictures - enjoy.
Day 1 - Kearsarge Pass, Glenn Pass, Dragon Lake
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| Trailhead at Onion Valley |
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| Nearing Kearsarge Pass |
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| Big Pothole Lake |
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| Entering the Park at Kearsarge Pass |
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| Kearsagre Lakes, Bullfrog Lake |
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| Bullfrog Lake |
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| Panoramic View from Glen Pass |
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| Upper Rae Lake and Painted Lady |
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| Middle Rae Lake and Fin Dome |
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| Sunset at Dragon Lake with Dragon Peak |
Day 2 - Upper Dragon Lake Basin
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| One of many tarns in the upper Dragon Lake Basin |
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| Dragon Lake (and our camp) as we descend |
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| Dragon Lake looking northwest |
Day 3 - Dragon Lake to 60 Lakes Basin
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| Upper Rae Lake and Painted Lady as we pass by again in the morning |
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| Yep, that's us |
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| Heading into the 60 Lakes Basin |
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| A nicely sunlit Fin Dome from our camp in the basin |
Day 4 - 60 Lakes Basin
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| Sunrise view from camp before we explore around and move camp for a different view |
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| A panorama from our final campsite in the basin |
Day 5 - 60 Lakes Basin to near Sawmill Pass
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| Morning light from our campsite in 60 Lakes Basin |
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| Descending Basin Notch, a cross-country exit from the basin |
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| Dollar Lake on the JMT |
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| The view down towards Woods Hole. We would descend over 2000 feet before getting it all back going up Woods Creek towards Sawmill |
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| The bridge over Woods Creek. Early season hikers absolutely need this bridge to get across |
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| Climbing back up along Woods Creek |
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| An unnamed lake near Woods Lake, and our final camp for the trip. Mt Baxter is just left of center |
Day 6 - Sawmill Pass to the trailhead
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| Heading up the final thousand feet elevation to the pass |
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| Woods Lake just west of Sawmill Pass |
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| Looking back at Woods Lake Basin from the pass |
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| Sawmill Pass |
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| New and old signage |
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| Going down, and down, and down. |
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| Still a few nice flowers at high elevation - Sierra Primrose |
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| Descending to Sawmill Lake, one of only two small lakes on the east side |
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| Sawmill Lake |
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| Mule Lake below |
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| Sawmill Meadow |
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| Still a lot of downhill ahead |
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| The Sawmill Creek Canyon is dramatic |
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| Owens Valley below |
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| Finally, we're back in the desert and the trailhead at 4,600 feet elevation |
Fabulous trip report, as always!
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