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30 Jul 25 - Trip/Conditions Report: Treasure Lakes Day Hike
August 02, 2025 2 min read
Staff member Marion kept herself busy after her day out to Hungry Packer with a trip the following day to Treasure Lakes out of the South Lake trailhead. Here's her report!
Trip/Conditions Report:
Current As Of: 30 July 2025*
Activity During Report: Day hiking on maintained trail
Trip/Conditions:
A very popular day hike, this 5.5 mile trail begins at the South Lake trailhead. The path quickly splits, with one route going onto Bishop Pass and the other towards Treasure Lakes. Similar to the hike to Hungry Packer, the trail is well established and easy to follow. Though there are sections of steeper elevation gain, most of the trail features lengthy stretches of even terrain.
At about 1.5 miles in, the trail drops and winds along Bishop Creek. Featuring more trees and lush vegetation, with the creek meandering near the trail, the scenery is pretty, but I found the mosquitoes to be fierce whenever I stopped moving. Otherwise, bugs were only a mild nuisance. Runoff from neighboring lakes and Bishop Creek provide opportunities for a water refill along the way, but from the trailhead, Treasure Lakes are the biggest water source on the trail.
Treasure Lakes are a scenic spot to swim and recharge before the hike back to South Lake. Hills of granite offer a variety of vantage points and access to the water.
Hiking with an elderly dog and taking several water breaks, it took me 4 hours to walk to and from Treasure Lakes. For the average person, however, estimates for car to car are typically around 3 hours. Aside from Treasure Lakes, the South Lake trailhead is also the starting point for several other day hikes, including the Chocolate Lakes, Long Lake, and all the way up to Bishop Pass.
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Crossing Bishop Creek en route to the Treasure Lakes
On the trail just before reaching Treasure Lakes
The Treasure Lakes themselves!
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Need Hiking Gear? If you're in need of sleeping bags, hiking boots (Men/Women), trekking poles, crampons, ice axes, or other gear (backpacks, tents, etc.) for your adventures, you can rent or buy everything that you would need with us here at Eastside Sports.
Got a More Specific Conditions Question? As always, don't hesitate to call us at store (760-873-7520) if ever in need of adventure ideas or conditions information!
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*All conditions reports are subject to change, increasingly so with each passing day since the observation(s) were made. They are provided as a tool to assist your adventuring, not to replace your own risk management and decision-making. No information in any trip or conditions report published by Eastside Sports should be considered definitive in its information or directive in its recommendation. Never go beyond your abilities and always acclimatize, plan and prepare properly.
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