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| Hidden Lakes Loop - Little Lakes Valley, CA | |
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| | Hidden Lakes Loop - Little Lakes Valley, CA | | | |
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Hidden Lakes Loop - Little Lakes Valley, CA
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| Hiking | 4.46 Miles |
579 AEG |
| | Hiking | 4.46 Miles | 5 Hrs 35 Mns | | 1.15 mph |
| 579 ft AEG | 1 Hour 43 Mns Break | | | |
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| no partners | | This hike in the Little Lakes Valley of the Eastern Sierras goes to the less visited Hidden Lakes a short distance to the east off the main trail on an un-signed use trail. Starting at the Little Lakes Trailhead, the hike starts out following the heavily used main trail to Box Lake, the fourth of a string of lakes visible from this trail. About halfway along the west bank on the main trail there is a use trail which descends to the lakes edge. From there it follows the lakes edge around its north end crossing Rock Creek on a log jam where it leaves Box Lake flowing about 100 yds into Heart Lake.
Continuing around the north end of Box Lake the use trail leaves that lake and follows a stream which flows out of the first of the Hidden Lakes on this loop. Once leaving the main trail at Box Lake I didn't see another person until ending the loop at Marsh Lake. This was a welcome period of solitude enjoying the beauty of these lakes. I stopped for a long lunch on a high point along the north side of this first of the Hidden Lakes while watching trout surfacing on the tranquil lake surface.
The use trail becomes faint between some of the five Hidden Lakes I passed on this loop before reaching Rock Creek where it flows out of Marsh Lake. Having the gps track I had plotted on Google Earth helped avoid mindless wandering. Crossing Rock Creek with its substantial flow was somewhat of a challenge. A use trail led to a possible rock-hopping crossing which looked too risky for me, so I waded across a wide but shallow section with a gravel bottom near its outlet from Marsh Lake. Proceeding around the north bank of Marsh Lake heading for a connection with the main trail, I surprised a young couple enjoying a secluded picnic on a blanket away from the crowded trail.  Fortunately, both they and their two large dogs were friendly. Back on the main trail headed back to the trailhead I encountered my three fishing friends I had met the day before on my hike up the main trail to Gem Lakes. They were headed for the evening bite along the shore of Long Lake after a fishless morning on a creek in the Mammoth area. |
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