Skelton Lake Loop

This morning we drove up through Goldwater Campground at Mammoth Lakes to the Duck Pass Trailhead. We made a loop hike up to Skelton Lake by going up the Duck Pass Trail, with a side trip to Arrowhead Lake, to Skeltor Lake, then back down via the Emerald Lake Trail. Overall 4.4 miles with 850 ft of gain. Most of the trail is in the John Muir Wilderness.

Lots of lovely granite rocks in the forested trail.

Part way up the trail we could see Mammoth Mountain behind Lake Mary (zoom)

We took a spur trail down to Arrowhead Lake as the sun was rising over the ridge.

some various views as we walked along the southwest shore of the lake

Back on the trail up towards Skelton lake

small creek along the way

First view of Skeleton Lake

Various views as we walked along the southwest shore of the lake

We returned to the trail junction with the Emerald Lake Trail and headed down hill. Part way down, we had a nice view of Mammoth Mountain and other Sierra peaks.

Some of the granite outcropping seen along this section of the trail.

First view of Emerald Lake, Mammoth Crest beyond the lake

More views at Emerald Lake, so gorgeous!!!

 

Naches Peak Loop

We drove up to Chinook Pass to hike the Naches Peak Loop starting from Tipsoo Lake and going clockwise. We hiked around Tipsoo Lake at the beginning and the end of our hike, making our route abut 4.4 miles with 600 ft of overall gain. View of Mt Rainier and a corner of Tipsoo Lake from the side of the road above the lake. 

The meadows around Tipsoo Lake are filled with wildflowers, so gorgeous!

 

Rosy spirea along Tipsoo Lake Trail

Yakima Peak behind Tipsoo Lake

Mt Rainier reflecting in Tipsoo Lake

Some wildflowers between Tipsoo Lake and the trail to join the PCT (Pacific Crest Trail)

The Naches Loop Trail joins the PCT for about 1.5 miles as it crosses highway 410 on a bridge and soon enters the William O Douglas Wilderness.

Lots of paintbrush and other wildflowers along this section of the trail.

Meadow below Naches Peak 

View over towards Sourdough Gap

Naches Peak from across a tarn

Tarn as seen from the PCT

 

The trails leaves the PCT and enters Mt Rainier National Park,  Big and Little Dewey Lakes below the Naches Peak Loop Trail.

We soon would have views of Mt Rainier and more wildflower meadows around the corner of the trail.

Mt Adams to the south

zoom of Mt Adams

Another view of Mt Rainier before going through the forest back down to Highway 410 and Tipsoo Lake.

Views around Tipsoo Lake in the late morning. 

  

some of the wildflowers seen along the trail this morning: