Location: Lee Vining, California – Tioga Pass – Saddlebag Lake Road
Distance: 2.4 Miles Out and Back Time: 2 hours
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Elevation Gain: 850 Feet
Season: May-November
Foot Traffic: Light
Date Hiked: Wednesday, August 5, 2020
Overview
Near the end of the Tioga Pass road, just before the Yosemite entrance gate, is Saddlebag Lake road. A short 1.2 mile drive up this road leads to the trailhead for the unassuming and lesser visited Gardisky Lake. Most people drive right by and head for the Twenty Lakes Basin hike, but if you have some extra time, this is a great hike. The lake is not necessarily spectacular in comparison to other nearby Sierra lakes. However, the lack of crowds and short distance make it worth the effort. A short, no nonsense 1.2 mile climb leads to multiple ponds and a pretty meadow before ending at Gardisky Lake. The backdrop doesn’t offer the typical backdrop of massive peaks that most High Sierra lakes do but the setting is very relaxing and the openness around the lake makes for a lot of worthy areas to explore.
Trail Description and My Story
Gardisky Lake is a trail that I have driven by many times but had never planned to hike. This day was no different, but as it was already noon and I didn’t want to start a longer endeavor, this seemed like the perfect day to finally hike this trail. The weather could not have been better and my wife and I were just excited to hike any trail whatsoever. Our expectations were low but we would be pleasantly surprised with our final outlook. The trail is super straight forward. After finding the pullout on the left side of the road, we crossed over to the right side to access the trail. We were expecting a short and easy trail. Well, short is right but easy isn’t exactly correct. We started an uphill ascent over loose rock on an obvious trail. Hilariously, that pretty much sums up the trail.
Reaching Gardisky Lake
Up, up, up we went until we reached the one mile mark where we could see the climb coming to an end. This part of the trail caught me off guard. The trail flattened out and a huge, beautiful meadow appeared with a trail cutting right through the middle of it and ending at Gardisky Lake.
A bunch of tarns were present as we continued and we decided to head towards the west side of the lake.
After checking out the west side of the lake, we made our way directly towards the center part of the lake. Here, we would decide to swim for a little bit.
There were only two other people anywhere in sight, which were anglers situated on the far opposite side of the lake from us. The lake was surprisingly inviting, although extremely and expectedly cold. My wife and I swam for about 20 minutes before the cold started to settle in and we decided to make our way back down the trail.
While the trail to Gardisky Lake is short, there are tons of areas to explore, especially in wet years. As we headed back, there were multiple ponds that we walked around and explored for quite some time.
The meadow at the top was exceptionally beautiful and the peacefulness and beauty of this place was more than I had expected. In comparison to some of the other nearby lakes and areas, Gardisky Lake probably won’t blow anyone away but is still a great destination. I would highly recommend Gardisky Lake to those that have the extra time and have already explored much of the area.
Getting to Gardisky Lake
From Lee Vining, take Tioga Pass Road (CA-120) and follow it for 7.2 miles. Just after passing Ellery Lake, take a right onto Saddlebag Lake Road. Follow Saddlebag Lake Road for 1.2 miles until reaching a pull-out on the left hand side of the ride. The trailhead is just ahead, on the right hand side of the road. This is a seasonal road and is often only opened from June-October. Always check road conditions before heading out.
Lee Vining, California – Tioga Pass – Saddlebag Lake Road
Questions and Thoughts
Is Gardisky Lake a fee area?
- No, there is no fee to park and hike at Gardisky Lake.
Are dogs allowed on the Gardisky Lake trail?
- Yes. Dogs must be leashed and kept in control at all times. Please pick up and pack out all animal waste.
Are there restrooms at the trailhead?
- No. Please go before you go.
Is overnight camping allowed?
Yes, overnight camping is allowed, however, a wilderness permit must be reserved 2 weeks in advance of the trip.
While the road up Tioga Pass that leads to the Gardisky Lake trailhead can open as early as May, it’s also not unheard of for it to open as late as August in a heavy snow pack year. The road typically stays open through the end of October and sometimes into November. Visitors need to make sure to check weather conditions and whether the road up Tioga Pass is open before visiting. Always be aware of the afternoon thunderstorms that are a constant possibly in this area.
Please recreate responsibly. Respect hikers, fisherman and all visitors and wildlife. Help make everyone’s experience better by keeping the nature experience as authentic as possible. Leave no trace and pack out everything that you pack in. Please remember that we are visitors and stewards of these special places. Help keep these places as wild as possible while not diminishing the outdoor experience of others.
Food, trash and scented items must be stored in a bear proof container.
