8 min
Overview
Nestled into a basin below the rugged spine of the Silliman Crest, the Twin Lakes beckon day-hikers and backpackers to their placid shores during the summer months. Despite the symmetry implied in their name, the lakes actually bear little resemblance to each other. The southern lake is at least twice as large and bears more resemblance to the typical subalpine Sierran lake. The northern lake is much smaller and swampier, although most vantages along the northern lake’s bank offer a beautiful view of the Twin Peaks (also disproportionate) crowning the Silliman Crest just north of Silliman Pass. This route is short enough for ambitious day-hikers while also being just short enough for leisurely or beginning backpackers. Well-used campsites ring the southern lake and the narrow strip of rocky forest between them, and bear lockers and a pit toilet provide the camping area’s only amenities. Anybody seeking to camp at the lakes will need to obtain a wilderness permit in advance from the Sequoia-Kings Canyon Wilderness Permit office. To do so, download the wilderness permit application and email it to [email protected] no earlier than midnight on March 1st. The permit office will respond to your request and grant you whichever dates are available. From that point, you need only obtain the physical permit from the Lodgepole Ranger Station prior to your hike. In addition to the route to Twin Lakes, I’m including an additional looping route that takes in some of the lake basins east of the Silliman Crest, including Ranger, Beville, Lost, and Seville Lakes. The return route dips into the Jennie Lakes Wilderness by way of Rowell Meadow before dropping back down to Clover Creek by way of J O Pass. If you are looking to extend your trip beyond Twin Lakes consider this additional route. Even if you are only stopping to camp at Twin Lakes before turning back, definitely consider climbing at least up to Silliman Pass to enjoy some of the views into the Kings Canyon high country. From the spacious parking area adjacent to the L
Trail Stats
49.4 km
914 m
3111 m
2059 m
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