Goodbye Lake Tahoe, So Long Big Bear: This Crystal-Clear Mountain Lake Is A Less-Crowded Hiking Destination

California's Sierra Nevada mountains are nearly as famous for their spectacular lakes as for their soaring peaks. Lake Tahoe needs very little introduction as a world-class vacation spot, while gems like Convict Lake and Mono Lake are especially rich in otherworldly scenery along the eastern Sierra. While crowds and mass tourism can be issues at the Sierra Nevada's most popular spots, solitude-minded hikers can still find numerous quieter lakes in California's mountains that avoid the crowds without sacrificing heavenly mountain scenery. Charlotte Lake is a perfect example. Tucked away beneath the mighty Sierra Nevada summits and mountain forests, Charlotte Lake has all of the same views one would expect from a hike around Lake Tahoe or Convict Lake, only without the excessive PR to drive frustrating crowds.

Charlotte Lake is notable not just for its scenery but also for its location, as it is tucked away in a remote corner of one of California's most overlooked national parks. The hike to Charlotte Lake also intersects with many of the region's most scenery-rich federal parks, including extensive trail networks that tread through the very heart of California's epic mountain wildernesses. Depending on the route, hikes to Charlotte Lake pass a veritable buffet of extraordinary mountain views, lakes, and panoramas long before reaching the lake's shores. Once there, Charlotte Lake's crystal-clear waters provide a mirror-like view of the surrounding peaks, offering a worthy payoff to the challenging but magnificent hike.

Lake Tahoe might be North America's oldest natural lake, with serene mountain vistas and more than enough space for outdoor recreation, but its heavy tourism brings numerous complaints among visitors. Anyone seeking a more tranquil Sierra Nevada experience may prefer to head elsewhere. Though nowhere near as large as Lake Tahoe, Charlotte Lake offers a pristine mountain experience. Charlotte Lake covers around 30 acres and sits at an elevation of about 10,544 feet above sea level. The lake also exhibits the classic characteristics of Sierra Nevada lakes, including clear aquamarine waters, monumental mountain panoramas, and an open sky above.

Yet it's Charlotte Lake's location that may place it above other Sierra Nevada lakes. Charlotte Lake lies at the eastern edge of California's oft-overlooked Kings Canyon National Park, the less-loved twin of the adjacent Sequoia National Park, home to a deep canyon nestled between the Sierra Nevada peaks, with giant sequoia trees, unique rock formations, and mountain lakes. Charlotte Lake's location at the park's eastern border also places it quite close to the neighboring Inyo National Forest. No matter the route, the hike to and from Charlotte Lake features some of the best scenic wonders in this part of the country.

Charlotte Lake's location between Kings Canyon and Inyo includes the alpine forests of the Onion Valley and the intermingled peaks and mountain lakes of the Kearsarge Pass. Charlotte Lake's most impressive bit of scenery may be the neighboring Mount Bago, an 11,870-foot beauty of Kings Canyon's mountains, with a tree-lined profile that complements Charlotte Lake's crystalline waters.

The network of trails around Charlotte Lake offers the same kind of mountain grandeur as the most beautiful mountain trails around Lake Tahoe. The most straightforward route to Charlotte Lake is a 17-mile out-and-back using the Onion Valley Trailhead to access Kearsarge Pass and the eastern corridors of Kings Canyon National Park. Though Charlotte Lake is located entirely within Kings Canyon, the route from Onion Valley actually begins in Inyo National Forest, crossing Kearsarge Pass before entering the park. Given the mountainous terrain, the full 17-mile hike is fairly challenging. The good news, however, is that the hike's biggest challenges almost all come during the several miles through Onion Valley and Kearsarge Pass. Once you reach Kings Canyon's Charlotte Lake area, the final hike to the lake itself is relatively easy.

The earlier challenges of getting to the Charlotte Lake area are somewhat eased by the gorgeous scenery along the Onion Valley/Kearsarge Pass trail system. Hikers will pass through picturesque pine forests, while other lakes, such as Bullfrog Lake and the Kearsarge Lakes, serve as scenic "hors d'oeuvres" before the Charlotte Lake main course. If the 17-mile trek from Onion Valley to Charlotte Lake isn't enough of a hiking challenge for you, Charlotte Lake is also accessible on the 211-mile John Muir Trail, which runs through the Sierra Nevada. For multi-night hiking excursions, the Onion Valley Trailhead is also home to Inyo National Forest's 29-site Onion Valley Campground. Backcountry camping is also allowed around Charlotte Lake in Kings Canyon National Park, though overnight stays are limited to two nights and wilderness permits may be required.