Monarch Lake

Overview

If your inner Julie Andrews is just dying to bust out with “The hills are alive with the sound of music. . .” while twirling through idyllic verdancy above a subalpine valley, let me whet your whistle about Monarch Lakes. The Sawtooth Pass trail will carry you past a cascading waterfall, through a lush meadow bursting with wildflowers, and then through a damp, spring-riddled forest of red fir and Western white pine that alternatively crosses over rocky promontories dotted with Western junipers. After that, the trail wraps around a bend through the stark, richly-colored upper reaches of Monarch Canyon, where it will traverse the southern slope before emerging at the marshy outlet of lower Monarch Lake. So, you get to indulge that guilty pleasure for musicals AND attain killer views at a stunning subalpine lake. Monarch Lake The trail begins from the Sawtooth Parking Lot on the north end of Mineral King Valley. At the parking lot, you may consider wrapping a tarp around the underside of your vehicle to ward off Mineral King’s large population of yellow-bellied marmots. In early season, the marmots have a tendency to chew on belts and hoses inside engine compartments, which would turn a great trip into a nightmare in a hurry. At the very least, you’ll want to pop the hood on your car. I don’t really know what this does, but as many people do this, including myself, and because nobody’s cars were attacked by marmots while I was there, it might be a good thing to do. If you find this advice dubious, stop by the Mineral King ranger station about half a mile down the road and seek their advice. Monarch Creek Thistles at the beginning of the trail The trail will immediately begin an ascent up an open slope covered in manzanita, sagebrush, and ceanothus. The first leg of the ascent is a brutal way to start a trip, but it will warm up your leg muscles for the climb to come. As the climb proceeds, views down valley toward Farewell Gap will consistently improve, allowing for iconic Mineral King views. After the trail hits

Trail Stats

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