Hiking the Lyman Lakes
21 Miles
2775 Feet
Photography, Hiking
Intermediate
Summer
Out-and-Back
A beautiful hike that has amazing photographic opportunities.
Start out on the Phelps Creek Trail and hike in 6.5 miles to reach the head of Spider Meadows. Continue on up the trail to the the base of the Spider Snowfield around 6200 feet for even better views of the entire Phelps Basin. Follow the trail up the snowfield for .5 miles to the top of Spider Gap at 7100 feet where you'll catch your first views of Lyman Lakes. Drop down alongside the Lyman Glacier on a steep bootpath for 3.5 miles to reach the lakes. Jump in for some chilly alpine swimming during the summer, or simply enjoy the turquoise pools before turning around and heading back where you came.
Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations.
Nearby Lodging
Reviews
Overall rating:
You have to see this place for yourself!
Like so many alpine lakes in this region, these photos don't do this place justice. Lyman Lakes is an awesome day hike and camping opportunity for folks looking for sprawling meadows, towering peaks, and turquoise-tinted water. Don't stop at Lyman - make sure you head to the end of the valley at Cloudy Pass (just a mile or two past Upper Lyman Lake) for panoramic views of Spider Gap and its neighboring massif.
