Barney Lake
Camp in the Shadow of Stately Crown Point
Picturesque Barney Lake spreads in the shadow of 11,346-foot Crown Point in the Hoover Wilderness. An easy 4-mile hike from the Twin Lakes trailhead places visitors on a sandy beach at the foot of the lake. The beach is a popular destination for day-hikers. However, campsites must be at least ¼ mile from the lake. With no suitable sites at the lower end of the lake, backpackers usually continue another mile to find campsites among the trees beyond the head of the lake.
Barney Lake can serve as a jumping off point for a loop adventure in eastern Yosemite National Park or a base camp for day hikes to nearby lakes among the jagged peaks.
Barney Lake Beach
Barney Lake - Key Facts
Location: Hoover Wilderness, Mono County, southwest of Bridgeport
Trailhead: Twin Lakes, elevation 7,027 feet
Barney Lake elevation: 8,258 feet
Elevation Gain: 1,231 feet
Hiking Distance: 5.1 miles to campsite
Best seasons: Early to mid-summer through fall. Fall is best because mosquitoes are gone and day-hikers to the lake have diminished.
Campsites: Small sites among the trees ¼-mile beyond the lake.
Wildlife
Bears know the area well and are on the prowl for unguarded food. Bear canisters are required in the Hoover Wilderness. Rattlesnakes are rarely seen along the trail or in popular camping spots, but it is always prudent to be watchful for them.
Mosquitoes are particularly bothersome in the early summer and can be annoying even into early August. The best time to visit Barney Lake is in the fall when the mosquitoes are gone. Deer are plentiful, especially around the Twin Lakes trailhead, but also along the trail up to Barney Lake.
Brook trout are found in Barney Lake. Twin Lakes are famous for trophy-size rainbows and browns.
Beavers take to Eastern Sierra streams where aspens grow. Look for their dams along Robinson Creek below Barney Lake.
