Barney and Peeler Lakes

Way back in September of 1996 my wife and I decided to spend a couple days backpacking. We chose this area on advice from a Sierra "veteran" who said it was one of his favorites. We drove the 5 hours to Mono Village at Twin Lakes and paid $5 to park our car the two nights we would be away. There had been some fires burning close enough to fill the valley with some smoke, yet far enough not to worry about.

After parking the car we took off through the campground at the resort. Of course what trip would be complete without some pictures at the trail signs!

Stacy graciously poses at the trail sign before heading off.

As we were walking through the campground, we spotted this buck laying down in the middle of the campground.

Once leaving the confines of the campground, our route begins to reveal some of what is in store for us. If only the smoke were gone.

For most of our first day the trail is fairly level as it wonders along nearby Robinson Creek. With about 3 miles behind us we now enter the Hoover Wilderness.

We are making pretty good time, so I pause for an occasional look behind us. The smoke doesn't seem that bad now. I can't help but feel so small standing in this valley surrounded by these mountains.

We start up the last mile towards our first night stay and come across more deer.

After the short climb we reach the east shore of Barney Lake with Cirque Mountain in the distance. We decided to head for the west end of the lake and set up camp in a group of rocks.

After setting up the tent and cooking dinner, the sun was starting to set for the evening providing plenty of photo opportunities.

As the sun was going down, I took some more pictures, this one of Cirque Mountain. We will be headed that way in the morning. We had recently been taught how to bear bag our food in a backpacking class. So before going to bed we stored all of our food in the bear bag, but had no place to hang it. We decided our best alternative was to store it between some rocks and put our dirty clothes around it. Only time would tell…

We woke up the next morning to find our food undisturbed. We consider it lucky and since then I carry a bear canister. After making breakfast, we packed up and set off down the trail towards Peeler Lake. The meadow at the south west end of Barney Lake is just awesome!

The trail to Peeler Lake was nothing like we had the day before. Endless switchbacks and up hill climbs, but finally Peeler Lake comes into view. We were surprised to see this snow patch so late in the summer.

We didn't go down to the shores of the lake, instead we set up camp above it, near some small streams.

Like last evening, the sunset provided another opportunity for some great pictures. This one of Peeler Lake looking towards Yosemite. We woke the next morning, seeing only a Backcountry Park Ranger. After showing him our permit we were on our way back down the trail, 9 miles to car.

Barney and Peeler Lakes are two of the numerous lakes in the Toiyabe National Forest. The trailhead is located near the parking lot of the Mono Village Resort at Twin Lakes. Barney Lake is roughly 4.5 miles from the trailhead and Peeler Lake is roughly another 4.5 miles from Barney Lake.

Trail Map