Barney Lake and Peeler Lake
TRAIL USE
Day Hike, Backpack, Horse, Run
LENGTH
16.2 miles, 6–10 hours (over 1–3 days)
VERTICAL FEET
One-way: +2,850', –385'
Round-trip: ±3,235'
DIFFICULTY
TRAIL TYPE
Out-and-Back
FEATURES
Canyon
Lake
Stream
Autumn Colors
Wildflowers
Great Views
Camping
Swimming
Secluded
Granite Slabs
FACILITIES
Campgrounds
Horse Staging
Resort
Water
The Robinson Creek Trail is the most popular route through the Hoover Wilderness and into the Yosemite north country, and justifiably so. This relatively short, scenic trail leads quickly into breathtaking subalpine terrain. Glittering Peeler Lake, surrounded by frost-shattered and glaciated granite and windswept conifers, mirrors the region’s grandeur. Intimate campsites beside its shore more than compensate for the day’s tough climb. Alternatively climb only as far as Barney Lake, a popular and stunning day hike (or worthwhile overnight) destination. Finally, the 3-mile gentle ascent of the lower reaches of scenic Robinson Creek Trail to the start of its switchbacks is great for joggers.
Permits
Overnight visitors require a wilderness permit for the Robinson Creek Trailhead, issued by Humboldt–Toiyabe National Forest. Pick up your permit at the Bridgeport Ranger Station.
Maps
This trail is covered by the Tom Harrison Hoover Wilderness map (1:63,360 scale), the National Geographic Trails Illustrated #308 Yosemite NE map (1:40,000 scale), and the USGS 7.5-minute series Buckeye Ridge and Matterhorn Peak maps (1:24,000 scale).
Best Time
The first 3 miles up Robinson Creek canyon usually are snow-free by late May. Barney Lake is a desirable goal by mid-June, while Peeler Lake is best left for early July—or later if you wish to avoid mosquitoes. Late September–mid-October, when abundant aspen trees turn a dazzling yellow, is a spectacular time to walk the Robinson Creek canyon and visit Barney Lake.
In September and October, you might spend a few minutes near the head of Twin Lakes to view the kokanee salmon run up Robinson Creek.
Finding the Trail
From US 395 near the west side of Bridgeport, take paved Twin Lakes Road southwest 13.6 miles to the entrance of Mono Village at the west end of upper Twin Lake.
The trailhead is at road’s end in Mono Village, a private resort and campground. Day hikers will see a large parking area immediately to their left, alongside the lake; parking here is free. Overnight users must pay to park their cars—drive about 0.1 mile farther to the overnight parking lot, located farther south along the lake’s shore. Then visit Mono Village’s obvious campground entrance kiosk and pay $10 per trip, regardless if it is one night’s parking or many. Water and toilets are present throughout the campground.
You begin in Mono Village, ▶1 a private resort with cabins and a campground at the head of upper Twin Lake. Distances are measured from the campground’s entrance booth, from which two main roads depart—either works, but the right (more northerly) option is slightly more direct, and after about 0.2 mile you reach the western end of the campground. The trail now skirts a meadow’s edge, as your route, a closed road, starts upcanyon. At the 0.5-mile mark the road veers left (south) across Robinson Creek on a bridge, and a sign marks the start of the Robinson Creek Trail; you turn right to follow the trail. ▶2 After walking west a couple of minutes, you pass low granitic outcrops, and just beyond them is a bulletin board with information on the area. The first part of your hike is open forest, dominated by Jeffrey pines on the dry slopes and aspens on wetter soils, particularly near unseen Robinson Creek. Less common trees include Fremont cottonwood and western juniper, both becoming more abundant upcanyon.
At the 1.2-mile mark, a short distance beyond the wilderness boundary marker, you reach a persistent stream, chortling down from the basin between Victoria and Eagle Peaks. Though never deep or dangerous, it is a broad crossing without a collection of large rocks on which to balance—at high flows some nimble jumps are required to keep your feet dry. Afterward, the trail winds gently up through more open terrain with sparse conifers, sagebrush, and bitterbrush, giving you your first unbroken views of the beautifully U-shaped glacial valley—the valley bottom is nearly flat, abruptly truncated to either side by steep valley walls, cascading watercourses, and sharp-tipped peaks. As your path continues on a westward course, the floor supports increasing numbers of mule ears and diminishing numbers of arrowleaf balsamroots, two large sunflowers whose names indicate the difference in their leaf shape. At 7,600 feet (2.15 miles), you pass through a grove of aspens, ablaze with yellow leaves in September, then amble through more sagebrush, scattered junipers, and boulders. The pleasant amble leads to a welcome patch of shade beneath white fir cover (2.8 miles) ▶3. This is a good spot to stop for a drink and rest beside tumbling Robinson Creek before launching into the climb ahead.
The trail up the canyon headwall ascends a dozen well-graded but rocky switchbacks that lead north through head-high jungles of aspen, bitter cherry, serviceberry, snowberry, and tobacco brush, staying always within earshot of unseen Robinson Creek. This section is short but stifling on a hot summer’s day because the tall brush blocks the mountain breezes. Soon after the switchbacks end, you step across a small rivulet merrily draining the slopes of Hunewill Peak (3.4 miles). The track through here is often wet, as water from springs dribbles along the trail, sustaining the abundant wildflowers that will distract you in summer. You continue up the gradual incline, often only a few steps from the bubbling creek’s edge, and soon find yourself in a stunningly dense aspen forest. In the fall, the ever-fluttering yellow and orange leaves will astound your senses as you walk down the golden tunnel. Just below 8,300 feet you level out to step across a tributary draining Little Lake to the northwest.
Barney Lake
Just ahead you reach the north end of a large flat that extends to the shore of Barney Lake (4.1 miles; 8,280'). ▶4 The lodgepole forest here is littered with campsites, with an additional selection of sites to the southeast of the creek (crossed on a large logjam just downstream of the lake’s outlet) on a flat behind a granitic mass at the lake’s northeast corner. Barney Lake’s north shore has a sandy beach—growing gradually larger as water levels drop in late summer and into fall—a fine spot for a lunch break and perfect after a swim. Admire the surroundings as you sit: 14-acre Barney Lake is nestled in a narrow, glaciated trough, rimmed on the east by the broken north spur of Kettle Peak.
The western shoreline, which your trail follows, is a dry talus slope mixed with glacial debris. After rounding the base of a steep escarpment, a pair of switchbacks elevates the trail some 100 feet above Barney Lake’s inlet. In sections the walking is fast, while elsewhere, protruding rocks break your stride.
Once past Barney Lake, your gaze is drawn to the domain of industrious beavers, the marshy meadow upstream of the lake. This was once a lake itself and is slowly filling with sediment. Eventually you descend several short switchbacks; wind through broken rock, past avalanche-twisted aspens, and over two freshets draining Cirque Mountain; and slowly descend back to creek level. Beyond a small campsite to the southwest of the path, the trail fords Robinson Creek (5.15 miles). ▶5 This crossing can be reasonably deep in spring and early summer, becoming a rock hop by midsummer. Rainbow and brook trout occur here, as in Barney Lake.
From the far bank, you climb easily south above the riverbank through a mix of red fir and lodgepole pine. The trail soon leads back to the west bank of Robinson Creek, which you cross on rocks or (currently) a downed log; this crossing can be a wade and requires full attention at high flows—occasionally it can even be quite dangerous. Next the trail crosses the much smaller cascading stream from Peeler Lake. Ahead lies a dry glacial till–covered slope, which you ascend via a long series of notably gentle switchbacks; only near the bottom of the ascent do you climb steeply, and there are a few times you find yourself stepping downhill while on your way up. Beyond you level off momentarily for a breather before darting north for a steeper ascent. The vistas east, to rough, ice-fractured outcrops of Kettle Peak, offer good excuses to stop frequently on this energetic climb. Adjacent to the trail are impressive rock fins, some nearly overhung, reflecting the jointed rock that is pervasive throughout this region.
With increasing altitude, mountain hemlock, immediately identified by its drooping branch tips, now joins the mix of conifers on the cooler, more shaded aspects. Eventually you come to a small saddle at 9,185 feet and a trail junction (6.75 miles). ▶6 The left (southerly) fork is a trail bound for the Robinson Lakes, Rock Island Pass, and Slide Canyon, while those heading to Peeler Lake now turn northwest (right). You walk moderately up in mixed open forest to a small, shaded glade beside the Peeler Lake outlet creek and step across this stream twice before switchbacking south up into a narrow gully. The wind can pick up as you ascend the gully, a sure sign that you’re nearing the ridgetop. The final stretch to Peeler Lake is along a magical little shelf above the Peeler Lake outlet creek, replete with a collection of picturesque mountain hemlocks. Just as you sense the lakeshore is imminent, a spur trail leads left (south) to a collection of campsites on the lake’s still unseen eastern shore (7.5 miles). ▶7 Continuing on the main trail, the often windswept waters of 9,489-foot Peeler Lake suddenly come into view, its waters backdropped by rounded Acker and Wells Peaks in the west. A short descent leads you to—and then through—car-size granodiorite blocks that dam the lake’s outlet and beyond to the dynamited trail tread on the north shore of Peeler Lake. The trail now undulates along the lakeshore, climbing and descending repeatedly to bypass small bluffs. The largest campsite is located in a forest pocket right along the north shore.
Continue to the Yosemite National Park boundary at the lake’s northwestern corner (8.1 miles) ▶8. Areas near the trail are closed to camping, but exploring south along the lake’s western shore will undoubtedly yield some private campsites among the extensive slabs. The lake margin, mostly rock, does have a few stretches of meadowy beach, where you can fly-cast for rainbows and brookies. When you are ready, backtrack to the trailhead (16.2 miles). ▶9
| ||
▶1 | 0.0 | Start at Mono Village parking area |
▶2 | 0.5 | Turn right from road onto Robinson Creek Trail |
▶3 | 2.8 | Trail steepens |
▶4 | 4.1 | Barney Lake |
▶5 | 5.15 | Lowest Robinson Creek crossing |
▶6 | 6.75 | Right at Peeler Lake–Robinson Lakes junction |
▶7 | 7.5 | Right at junction with spur to Peeler Lake’s east shore |
▶8 | 8.1 | West end Peeler Lake |
▶9 | 16.2 | Return to Mono Village parking area |
MILESTONES