Baboon Lakes Camping

John Muir Wilderness

photo of Baboon Lakes, Sabrina Basin, California
photo of Baboon Lakes, Sabrina Basin, California

Baboon Lakes Camping

John Muir Wilderness


Pitch Your Tent at Baboon Lakes

The largest campsites are found around Lower Baboon Lake. Open spaces in gaps between granite outcroppings, about 200 feet up from shore, can accommodate a number of tents. The rocks provide good shelter from the wind. Other, more secluded sites, are situated across the outlet stream in small clearings among the boulders. More sites undoubtedly can be located in pockets around the upper lakes. As mentioned previously, campfires are not permitted.

Hungry Packer Lake, Sabrina Basin, California

Hungry Packer Lake


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Backpacking Tents

Fishing

Rainbow and brook trout populate the lakes. As almost anywhere in Sierra, the best fishing is in the morning and late afternoon. Open shorelines around the lower lake make it convenient for spin casting and fly fishing.



Waterfall, Sabrina Basin, California

Sabrina Basin Waterfall

Explore the Area

The cluster of Baboon Lakes are easy to navigate and fun to explore. At the largest of the upper lakes look for an alien face sculpted in the rock and watching over the water. Neighboring Sunset Lake is a little over a mile beyond, up the valley, and involves a 600-foot, cross-country ascent.

Routes down to Donkey Lake can be figured out with a good map. Some parts may involve a little scrambling and some bushwhacking. It is less than a mile and about a 400-foot descent.

To visit the rest of the big lakes in the Sabrina Basin, backtrack down the trail to Blue Lake and turn west (left)on the trail to Dingleberry Lake. From there you can explore on up Midnight Lake, Moonlight Lake, and the gem of the Sabrina Basin - Hungry Packer Lake. A beautiful waterfall is downstream from Moonlight Lake, not far off the trail It's a long day to hit all the lakes. Maybe save some for another trip.


Peak Bagging

For experienced climbers, 13,494-foot Mount Thompson, is class 3 from Sunset Lake. Read details of the route in a guide book such as R. J. Secor's The High Sierra: Peaks, Passes, and Trails.