Lundy Canyon

November 4, 2018 tarannosaurus

Epic Travel → North America → The West Coast → Northern California → Eastern Sierras → Lee Vining Area → Lundy Canyon

Location: Lee Vining Area, Eastern Sierras, California

Time Required: 1 – 4 hours (depending on your turn around point)

Distance: 2 – 5.5 miles

Elevation Gain: 500 – 2200 feet

Red Tape/Notes: No permit required for day hiking, but you’ll need one for overnight trips (non-quote, no reservations required – find more information here). I normally recommend a website like Modern Hiker for more information on the trail, but I’m not enormously fond of Modern Hiker’s posts on trails in this area. Specifically for Lundy Canyon, this post seems to be more thorough, particularly since the authors appear to have actually done the full route and didn’t view a tallus chute as some sort of insurmountable obstacle.

What’s Nearby?: Mono Lake, Tuolomne Meadows, June Lake Loop, Parker Lake

The “full” trip up the Lundy Canyon trail is between 2.5 and 3 miles, including the final talus-filled chute that leads to the Lakes Basin. Conveniently, though, the hike has numerous highlights which make lovely destinations of their own and convenient turn-around points, if you lack either the time or the inclination to do the full route. This is arguably one of the finest hikes in the region, and the first mile can be managed by virtually anyone, with a clear trail, manageable elevation gain, and limited obstacles. This is truly the sort of trail that makes you push on further than you had planned, with aspen groves, sweeping views, waterfalls, beaver ponds, and the remnants of a historic trapper’s cabin, you’ll always be wondering what might be around the next corner. And while the fall colors make it a popular destination in October, the waterfalls are at their best in the spring, and the summer is the perfect time for splashing in the water or making the longer trip to the Lakes Basin in the high country.