Parker Lake Trail, CA

Parker Lake is a reasonably short hike near the northern end of the June Lake Loop. This area is fairly dry and the terrain leading up to and beyond the trailhead is primarily chaparral. The trailhead heads up steeply to the top of a bluff overlooking Parker Creak. Parker Creek is located in a canyon lined with pine and aspen.


The trail flattens out and eventually so does Parker Creek, running adjacent to the trail. The trail enters into a forest of pine and aspen. The walls of the canyon are still primarily chaparral, but the creek is undoubtedly providing a plenty of water for the surrounding trees.Further up the trail Parker Creek is clogged with fallen trees. Many if these trees fell, roots included. I don’t know this for a fact, but I suspect that it is due to flooding caused by the snowmelt of 2011. This is the year than Mammoth Mountain, 45 minutes to the south, received a record of nearly 700 inches of snow.

The trail reaches the east end of Parker Lake shortly after Parker Creek bends away from the trail. The views of Parker Lake and the surrounding Peaks are stunning. Don’t expect to be the only one at the lake though. This is a very popular hike.

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