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Crystal Lake via Lawn Lake
Distance: Lawn Lake 6.2 (one-way) Crystal Lake 7.7 (one-way)
Elevation Gain: Lawn Lake- 2,249 ft. Crystal Lake 2,980 ft.
Difficulty: Lawn: High Moderate Crystal: Low Strenuous due to distance
Trailhead: Lawn Lake Parking Lot
Overall: Lawn Lake is a long hike mostly in the trees. The real beauty of this area is above the lake with one of the best high alpine meadows, 2 out of the way lakes and 3 superb mountain summits.
This is one of our favorite areas in the park. The hike to Lawn Lake is long but gentle and gives you a feeling of getting away. What lies above the lake is sensational. There is a lovely flower-filled path around the right of the lake that heads up into a high meadow. The views now are your reward. The trail comes to a junction where the left side goes to Little Crystal Lake then Crystal Lake. You won't find many people here, if any at all. Keep to the right at the junction and the trail heads to the saddle between Hagues and Fairchild. From here there is a straight shot to Wyoming and not a soul in sight.
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Ypsilon Lake
Distance: 4.5 miles (one-way)
Elevation Gain: 2,180 ft.
Difficulty: moderate
Trailhead: Lawn Lake Parking Lot
Overall: A quiet hike in the trees with few people make this a great hike for a cool cloudy day.
As you can see from the picture, this was a day in the clouds. Actually it began to snow on the way down- perfect conditions for this somewhat "private" hike. The trail begins at Lawn Lake Trailhead and stays on the same path for about 1.3 miles. It then crosses the Roaring River and heads uphill along a ridge always in the trees. You actually hit the top and then head down to the lake bypassing Chipmunk Lake on the right. This is a great hike for a windy day or as for us, a day of gentle falling snow- when you don't want to talk but just listen to the quiet.
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