Begin this hike at the Alta Peak Trailhead in the Sequoia National Park. The trail initially takes you east-southeast through a loosely forested area that is stark and arid. Around 1.5 miles in you'll cross a small creek, but this creek may dry up in the late spring/summer. Shortly after the creek you will take the left leg of a trail intersection to stay on the "Lakes Trail". The trail begins to climb in elevation and the views open up to large rocky expanses. You will weave in and out of forested patches as you ascend from the west.

Soon you will come to a fork where you can go left to the famous Watchtower or stay right to climb further to the Hump ridge line. Both options will meet up again before Emerald Lake, however the Watchtower Trail is about 1.5 miles longer before they join each other again. *NOTE: The Watchtower Trail is closed sometimes due to snow in the fall through early spring. DO NOT attempt if it is closed. It can be extremely dangerous.

Regardless of which fork you take, as you near Emerald's smaller sister, Heather Lake, you will ascend to almost 9500ft before descending into the small Emerald Lake basin at 9200ft.