4-Day 3-Night Backpacking Itinerary To Thousand Island and Garnet Lakes:
Thousand Island and Garnet Lakes are two of the many breathtaking alpine lakes in the Ansel Adam Wilderness. The Itinerary below will not only bring you to these lakes but will also get you some amazing views from the Pacific Crest Trail and the John Muir Trail.
Trek Specs:
Type of Route: Loop
Total Mileage: ~32 miles
Total Elevation Gain: ~7,002
Permits Required: Yes
Trek Overview:
This 4-Day 3-Night Loop route starts and ends at Park Bench Trailhead making things a bit more logistically easier as you can just return to your car at the end of your trip. Although this trip features Thousand Island and Garnet Lakes you will also get some nice views of several other gorgeous alpine lakes including Gem, Shadow, Olaine, and Clark Lakes.
Day 1: Park Bench Trailhead to Thousand Island Lake.
- Distance: ~9.2 miles
- Elevation Gain: ~3,314ft
- Via Park Bench Trail>Rush Creek Trail>Spooky Meadow Trail>Pacific Crest Trail
Day 2: Thousand Island Lake to Agnew Meadows Campground.
- Distance: ~10miles
- Elevation Gain: 1,188ft
- Via John Muir Trail>Shadow Creek Trail>Pacifi Crest Trail
Day 3: Agnew Meadows Campground to Badger Lake Campground.
- Distance: ~6.8
- Elevation Gain: ~1,837
- Via Pacific Crest Trail North
Day 4: Badger Lake to Park Bench Trailhead
- Distance: ~5.9 miles
- Elevation Gain ~663ft
- Via Pacific Crest Trail>Clark Lakes Trail>Spooky to Clark Cutoff Trail>Spooky Meadow Trail>Rush Creek Trail>Park Bench Trailhead
