Enchanted Pools Desolation Wilderness

June 25, 2025

Thanks, guys, for a memorable day.  I seem to have been off my feed a bit, because the next day I went out again and felt relatively normal.  I feel bad about having shortchanged you somewhat by not continuing up as far as Twin Lakes, for some spectacular views.

Approaching the Double Tree

Lower Enchanted Pool

South Silver Creek

At Middle Enchanted Pool

Approaching the 'Enchanted Slab'

My "heart sings" spot

Looking back, toward the west

Checkerboard Rock.  I had not seen this one previously

Dikes galore

Elegant even in death

This is where I got us off-track; we should have veered well over to the right.

The Umpa Lake drainage

Back in the day, that lake was named by a forest ranger whose infant grandchild was trying to pronounce it as "grandpa".

Umpa Creek is delicious

That's the cliff we descended

Upper Enchanted Pool

This one's called a Holly Blue

I didn't even notice the mosquito until I processed these photos

The falls drop right off of Enchanted Slab

Where there's a will, there's a way

Acarosporaceae Lichen

Double Tree smells like vanilla, as do all Jeffrey Pines

This drains Grouse Lake, another outstanding venue

• Trailhead: Wrights Lake, 8 miles north of US-50 near Kyburz
• Distance: 5 miles
• Elevation: 7,000' to 7,500'