Day Hike To Treasure Lakes

Dale Matson

Click On Photographs To Enlarge

Hike Route

Take Line street (Highway 168) west out of Bishop. After several miles of climb, turn left at the sign for South Lake. Arrive early and you can get a parking spot on the same level as the trailhead. Otherwise you will have to park lower and walk up the asphalt. The trailhead is at the parking area just above the dam. You can get an excellent morning photo of South lake from about midway on the top of the dam. This hike starts at the South Lake Trailhead and follows the Bishop Pass Trail for about 8/10 of a mile before branching off.

I only went to the first two Treasure Lakes and the actual trail pretty much ends between the first two lakes. The higher Treasure Lakes are beyond my day hike limit. I traveled about 8 miles round trip with about 1,600’ of gain overall (there is climbing on the return too). I was out about 6.5 hours with lunch at the larger lake. Hurd Peak (12,237) is the dominant feature above the lake but can be seen also at the very beginning of the hike. It is named after H.C. Hurd and engineer who is credited with the first ascent in 1906. Hurd Lake is also named after him.

Resupply water is abundant if you have a means to purify or filter it. Mosquitos were also abundant.

For my photographs, I used the Sony A7R3, the Sony 16-35mm 2.8 GM and the 24mm 1.4 GM lens.