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TWIN & |
DISTANCE: 6.6 miles round-trip
HIKING TIME: 3–4 hours
SEASON: June–October
DIFFICULTY: challenging
Sculpted by glacial ice, the granitic Crystal Range is a gem of Tahoe’s Desolation Wilderness. Crystal Basin Recreation Area provides access to this rugged landscape. The day hike to Twin and Island Lakes offers wildflower displays, bracing swimming, and stark granite formations.
The trail begins in a meadow filled with lupine and tiger lilies. A gentle climb through red firs and lodgepole pines leads to a junction beyond the wilderness boundary, 1.3 miles out. Bear left and ascend 0.75 mile on granite slabs. At the ridgetop, fireweed, paintbrush, and ranger buttons await. At 2.4 miles, enter Twin Lakes’ granite basin, where receding glaciers polished each rock to a sheen. The outlet stream from Upper Twin Lake cascades into the depths of Lower Twin Lake, forming a waterfall. Cross the stone dam and continue along the northwest shore to Boomerang Lake, at 3.0 miles. Its turquoise waters tempt you to swim. A quarter mile farther is Island Lake, dotted with rocky islands. From this high tarn, views of Crystal Basin are the best of the trip. Retrace your steps to return to your car.
From the Y junction of Hwy. 50 and Hwy. 89 in South Lake Tahoe, drive 17 miles southwest on Hwy. 50 to the Wrights Lake turnoff on the right (4.5 miles east of Kyburz). Drive 8.0 miles north on Wrights Lake Rd. to Wrights Lake Campground. Bear right at the information center and continue 1.2 miles to the Twin Lakes trailhead. Day hikers must fill out a self-serve wilderness permit at the trailhead.
