Lake Sylvia–Lake Sylvia Trail, 3 sights is a 9.7-mile out-and-back in Desolation Wilderness near Lower Forni, CA. The route reaches Lake Sylvia at the turnaround, 4.9 miles in. It climbs 1,362 ft, with sections as steep as 16% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 89/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
0 mi6,693 – 8,058 ft · steepest grade: 16%9.8 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Lyons Creek Trail 38.81019, -120.23951
Nearest town Lower Forni, CA
Directions
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Lake Sylvia–Lake Sylvia Trail, 3 sights
9.7 mi · ▲ 1,362 ft · 3 hr 55 min
Elevation 6,692–8,059 ft
Out & Back · Desolation Wilderness
Trailhead: Lyons Creek Trail · 38.81019, -120.23951
Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 81°F / low 60° · precip 0% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 6:05 AM · sunset 8:11 PM
Horses allowed on the whole route · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Lyons Creek Trail, heading NE.
- 4.5 miContinue straight onto Lake Sylvia Trail, heading NE.
- 0.4 miReach Lake Sylvia, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.4 miContinue straight onto Lyons Creek Trail, heading NW.
- 4.4 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
100% dirt
Weather
ClearTemperature 81°F60°
Precip0%Wind4 mphUV8Humidity26%
Hourly temperature
85°60°
Sunrise 6:05 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:11 PM
Tue
82°65°
Wed
82°60°
Thu
86°61°
Fri
86°62°
Sat
87°62°
Sun
87°61°
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.1 mi in (~2 min). Leave by 7:49 PM for the 8:11 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:28 PM — 12 min before dark. Car visible from the viewpoint
Good to know
- Horses allowed on the whole route
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Lyons Creek Trail Trailhead
- Lyons Creek Trail 3.8 mi · ▲ 333 ft
- Bloodsucker Trail & Windmiller Trail via Lyons Creek Trail 9.5 mi · ▲ 1,117 ft
- Lyons Lake–Lake Sylvia Trail, 3 sights 9.8 mi · ▲ 1,688 ft
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Hikes near Lower Forni, California