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Monarch Lakes Trail
Upper and Lower Monarch Lakes lie at the foot of Sawtooth Peak, at the end of a 4.2-mile hike.
Plan Around Monarch Lakes Trail
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Monarch Lakes Trail Details
You can reach Upper and Lower Monarch Lakes, at the foot of Sawtooth Peak, via a 4.2-mile (one-way) hike. Even though it's one of the easier hikes in the Mineral King area, you should start early to avoid the heat since the trail follows a west-facing slope. You'll pass through meadows, red fir forest, and the avalanche-scoured Chihuahua Bowl, which was named after an area of rich mines in Mexico in a bout of wishful thinking by a group of hopeful miners. After the trail rounds a shoulder, you'll get views north and east across the Monarch Creek canyon to Timber Gap, the Great Western Divide, and Sawtooth Pass. Once you pass the lakes, the trail climbs 1,200 feet in 1.3 miles to Sawtooth Pass and becomes considerably more strenuous, although you'll be rewarded with great views. The footing here is very loose, so use caution.
Difficulty
Moderate
Distance
4.2 miles
Estimated time
5 hours
Region
N/A
Nearby Parks Around Monarch Lakes Trail
Compare nearby parks around Monarch Lakes Trail when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
Nearby Points of Interest Around Monarch Lakes Trail
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Monarch Lakes Trail while the map context is still fresh.
0.1 mi away
Timber Gap Trail
This trail follows an old mining route along Monarch Creek before branching off from the trail.
0.3 mi away
White Chief Trail
The White Chief mine made Mineral King a household name among miners.
0.9 mi away
Franklin Lakes Trail
This trail provides many views of the rainbow-colored metamorphic rocks that attracted miners in the past.
0.9 mi away
Cold Springs
Located 23 miles from Highway 198 on the Mineral King Road.
1.3 mi away
Crystal Lake Trail
Providing panoramic views of the southern part of the Mineral King Valley.
