Lake Sterling–Mossy Pond, 5 sights
5.3 mi · ▲ 476 ft · 2 hr
Lake Sterling–Mossy Pond, 5 sights is a 5.3-mile out-and-back near Rainbow, CA. The route passes Lake Sterling before reaching Mossy Pond at the turnaround, 2.7 miles in. It climbs 476 ft, with sections as steep as 16% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 92/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Lake Sterling–Mossy Pond, 5 sights
5.3 mi · ▲ 476 ft · 2 hr
Elevation 6,904–7,160 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: Glacier Lakes Basin Trail · 39.35398, -120.49402
Weather Aug 4: Clear, high 80°F / low 62° · precip 0% · wind 8 mph · sunrise 6:05 AM · sunset 8:12 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Glacier Lakes Basin Trail, heading E.
- 50 ftPass Lake Sterling.
- 1.7 miContinue straight onto Mossy Pond West Trail, heading NE.
- 0.5 miTurn right onto Mossy Pond OHV Trail, heading E.
- 0.5 miTurn right onto Mossy Pond East Trail, heading S.
- 50 ftPass Mossy Pond.
- 0.8 miContinue straight onto Glacier Lakes Basin Trail, heading SW.
- 1.7 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.1 mi in (~2 min). Leave by 7:50 PM for the 8:12 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:30 PM — 12 min before dark.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Glacier Lakes Basin Trail Trailhead
- Lake Sterling–Glacier Lakes Basin Trail, 4 sights 4.6 mi · ▲ 432 ft
- Lake Sterling 5.5 mi · ▲ 845 ft
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