01
Best overall pick
Parker Lake Trail
North End Of June Lake Loop • Alpine Lake Out-And-Back • Best Mix Of Effort And Reward
A moderately short climb to a quiet, turquoise lake backed by sharp Sierra peaks and fall-color aspens.
The Parker Lake Trail leaves a dirt road at the north end of the loop and quickly trades sagebrush for cool aspen groves along a tumbling creek. After a steady but manageable climb, you pop out at Parker Lake, a compact blue-green bowl framed by rock walls that feels far wilder than its mileage suggests. Go early or near sunset for calmer winds on the shoreline and a better chance of having the beachy north shore almost to yourself.
02
Easiest scenic stroll
Gull Lake Loop Trail
Near June Lake Village • Lakeside Nature Loop • Best For Relaxed Walks And Families
A mostly gentle 2‑mile loop circling Gull Lake with constant water views, fishing coves, and big-mountain backdrops.
Starting near the marina, this loop skirts backyards, docks, and rocky shoreline as it makes a full circuit around compact Gull Lake. Short climbs over low bluffs keep the walk interesting, but the distance and grade stay friendly enough for kids and casual walkers. Pack a picnic and plan to linger at one of the small coves or benches that face Reversed Peak and the craggy walls above the water.
03
Steep cardio climb
Fern Lake Trail
Above Silver Lake • Steep Alpine Basin Hike • Best For Strong Hikers
A short but very steep trail that rockets up to a compact lake tucked into a rocky cirque high above the loop.
From the shared trailhead behind the resort area at Silver Lake, the Fern Lake Trail wastes no time gaining elevation on rocky, rooty switchbacks. The payoff is a snug, cold lake ringed by granite and scattered trees that feels worlds away from the road below. Start early in the day, bring trekking poles if you have them, and be ready for a slow, careful descent—the grade is harder on the way down than it looks on the map.
04
Forest-and-water escape
Yost Lake Trail
Above June Lake And Silver Lake • Forest Climb To A Meadowy Lake • Best For A Half-Day Adventure
A sustained climb through pine forest and alongside cascades to a breezy high-country lake and meadows.
Yost Lake shares lower mileage with the Fern Lake Trail before branching toward a cooler, more forested basin above the loop. You pass a lively waterfall and long stretches of shaded trail before reaching the lake, which sits in a broad, grassy bowl that invites loafing and barefoot wandering. It’s a great choice if you want real elevation gain and backcountry feel without the extra commitment of pushing deeper into the high Sierra.
05
Big-mountain day out
Rush Creek Trail to Agnew and Gem Lakes
From Silver Lake Campground • High-Country Canyon Climb • Best For Ambitious Day Hikers
A demanding route that climbs old tramway grades and switchbacks past reservoirs into classic granite-and-lake high country.
Leaving from the pack station area near Silver Lake, the Rush Creek Trail surges uphill on an old service grade with sweeping views back over the June Lake Loop. Above Agnew Lake the trail feels more remote as it winds toward Gem and other high-country waters set in pale granite slabs. Expect big elevation gain, exposure to sun and weather, and some rough footing—this is the hike locals suggest when you say you want a full-value Eastern Sierra day.