When I get the itch for High Sierra hiking, one of the areas I am drawn to is the portion of the Sierra near Bishop. One of the greatest aspects of this area is the availability of easily accessible trailheads. I was recently exploring the area and stumbled upon the hike to George Lake, a lake I wasn’t too familiar with prior to this trip. Due to a threat of afternoon thunderstorms and a time restraint needing to return home to Truckee, I had a 4-5 hour time frame to explore and decided to dedicate my morning to checking out this beautiful lake.
The trailhead starts at Lake Sabrina, which is easily accessible by driving Line Street (Highway 168) from Bishop to Lake Sabrina. The drive itself is stunning, which immediately got my attention and adrenaline rushing. Once you arrive to the trailhead, the hike begins with a gentle climb along the Eastern slope of the lake for approximately 1 mile before veering to the left to begin the trek up to George Lake. This portion of the trail proved to be the most challenging, climbing approximately 1,000 feet of elevation for 1 mile along a series of switchbacks until reaching the top of the ridge. Although challenging, this was also my favorite portion of the trail, which offers incredible views of Lake Sabrina. As you continue the climb, the views just get better with each step and offers views of the surrounding peaks as you gain elevation.
Upon arriving to the top of the ridge, you will enter a valley of which the trail begins to mellow and navigates through beautiful pine forests for approximately 1 more mile, gaining another 320 feet of elevation before reaching George Lake. The picturesque lake sits at an elevation of 10,716 feet.
This out-and-back trail offers even better views along the descent, and I found it quite difficult to avoid stopping multiple times to soak in the views. Overall, we hiked for 6.7 miles round trip with a total elevation gain of 1,745 feet. and took us 4.5 hours to complete including a break for lunch at George Lake.
If you are in the area and have some hours to spare, I highly recommend exploring George Lake. Bishop Creek Lodge also offers a great menu as well as local beer options if you are craving a post-hike beverage, located directly off of Hwy 168 on your way back to Bishop. I will definitely be back to explore more of the magnificent hiking options this area of the Sierra has to offer.
