McGee Creek to Steelhead and Big McGee Lakes

Great views along the trail up the McGee Creek valley

This long, interesting day hike traverses the beautiful McGee Creek Valley, traveling beneath colorful peaks to two great destinations, Steelhead Lake (10,350-ft.) and Big McGee Lake (10,600-ft.).
See Trail Detail/Full Description

• Distance: 11.6 miles (round trip) to Steelhead Lake
  13.6 miles (round trip) to Big McGee Lake
  
• Elevation: 7,840-ft. at Trailhead
  10,350-ft. at Steelhead Lake
  10,600-ft. at Big McGee Lake
  
• Elevation Gain: 2,510-ft. to Steelhead Lake
  2,760-ft. to Big McGee Lake
  
• Difficulty: strenuous
• More Hikes in:
  Mammoth Lakes / Bishop / California's Southeastern Sierra

Why Hike McGee Creek to Steelhead and Big McGee Lakes

The long trail up the McGee Creek valley is filled with visual delights. Multi-hued peaks frame pretty meadows sprinkled with wildflowers and forests of quaking aspen and lodgepole pines. Hikers have the choice of two great destinations. Steelhead Lake lies nestled in a scenic granite basin with great views of the surrounding peaks. Further up the valley beautiful Big McGee Lake is surrounded by a colorful cirque, anchored by the aptly named Red and White Mountain (12,816-ft.).

Beyond Big McGee Lake the trail travels by Little McGee Lake on its way to McGee Pass (11,876-ft.), 9.0 miles from the trailhead. From the pass the trail drops to Fish Creek and Lake Edison.

It is best to get an early start on this hike. The initial section of the trail, traveling along the open valley floor, is a real scorcher during the summer. The trail, used by pack outfits, also tends to get quite dusty. Early in the season and during high water periods the three crossing of McGee Creek are problematic. Use caution.

Elevation Profile

Trail Resources

Trail Detail/Full Description / Trail Photo Gallery / Trail Map

Basecamp(s) Information:

Region Information:
California's Southeastern Sierra

Other Hiking Regions in:
California