Highland Trail #15E21

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Commonly Backpacked · Lake · Swimming · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Carry bear spray. Permits are required for all overnight stays in the Desolation Wilderness.

This trail begins from the Van Vleck trailhead and has a fairly mild upward grade for about 4 miles before climbing up the ridge to Forni Lake. There are multiple suitable campsites at the lake for an overnight foray. You'll pass through varied terrain including stands of various conifers and a couple of open alpine meadows with wildflowers bloomming during the right time of the year. Shadow Lake Trail #15E22 forks from this trail to the left at about the 3-mile mark for an alternative lake destination (about the same total distance).