9. Twin and Island Lakes

Length:	6.2 miles round trip
Hiking time:	4 hours or overnight
High point:	8,150 feet
Total elevation gain:	1,200 feet
Difficulty:	easy to moderate
Season:	early July through mid-October
Water:	available from streams and lakes; purify first
Maps:	USGS 7.5' Pyramid Peak, USGS 7.5' Rockbound Valley, USFS Desolation Wilderness
Information:	Eldorado National Forest Information Center

Twin and Island Lakes offer numerous campsites, excellent swimming, and magnificent views of Desolation Wilderness's granitic Crystal Range. You must obtain a permit for this hike. Call Eldorado National Forest Information Center for more information.

Take the signed Wrights Lake Road from the north side of Highway 50 about 46 miles east of Placerville and 17 miles west of the junction of Highways 50 and 89. This paved road, initially signed 11N26, reaches a dirt road after 4 miles (the trailhead for Hike 7, Sylvia and Lyons Lakes). Go straight here and at another road junction 2 miles farther. After another 1.7 miles, you'll see a wilderness area parking lot on the right. Backpackers must leave their cars here, but day hikers can continue along the main road another 1.1 miles (go right at two road forks) to the trailhead, where you'll usually find self-serve day hike permits.

The trail initially travels near the border of a lush meadow/marsh, which provides good eating for the cattle that inhabit the vicinity in late summer. You soon leave them behind, however, and enter a forest of red fir and lodgepole pine. The path crosses granite slabs (look for rock ducks, or cairns), meets a small stream, and then hits a trail fork at 1.1 miles. The right-hand trail is discussed in Hike 8 (Grouse, Hemlock, and Smith Lakes). You go left.

From here to the shore of Twin Lakes, you'll be walking across a lot of granite. Carefully placed rocks often line the trail, or you'll see rock ducks. Pay attention; it's easy to lose the way. The main distraction is the high, stark granite peaks of the Crystal Range looming straight ahead as you climb eastward toward the lakes. At 2.2 miles the trail skirts some small pools of Twin Lakes' outlet stream and then passes through a wet area.

The deep waters of the first Twin Lake await at 2.5 miles. Take a while to imbibe the grandeur of the surrounding mountains. Then, if it's late enough in summer, dive from granite ledges into the lake's deep waters (be sure to check for submerged rocks first). Look for a couple of campsites at the west end of the lake.

The path crosses a rock dam and then travels along the first Twin Lake's north shore. You'll eventually catch sight of the other Twin Lake to the east as you climb toward Island Lake. A deep pond on the left at 2.8 miles also offers good swimming; several other smaller ponds also line the trail farther on.

Aptly named Island Lake lies in a shallow glacial valley 3.1 miles from the trailhead and offers even better views of the Crystal Range than the Twin Lakes. You can swim in its cool waters or hike along its circumscribing granite. However, camping options are limited; look for a few mediocre sites near the west end of the lake.