Dinkey Lakes Trail
~2 days · 10.8 mi · easy · Point-to-point
Quick facts
What the Dinkey Lakes Trail is known for
Point-to-point trail through the Dinkey Lakes Wilderness in Sierra National Forest, from the Willow Meadow trailhead to Cliff Lake trailhead — about 11 miles per the Forest Service. It strings together a compact subalpine lake basin (Mystery, First Dinkey, Swede and South lakes) with short distances between camps. Wilderness permits are required for overnight stays.
Elevation profile
Elevation ranges from 26,909 ft to 32,464 ft over 10.8 mi. Measured from OSM geometry (approximate).
- Uphill 5.1 mi · 48%
- Downhill 4.9 mi · 45%
- Flat 0.7 mi · 7%
Ridgefold breaks every route into uphill, downhill, and flat — see the full per-day breakdown in the app.
How hard is the Dinkey Lakes Trail?
On the Ridgefold Difficulty Index, the Dinkey Lakes Trail scores 15/100, a relative rating across the 569 trails we've mapped, blending distance, elevation gain, and steepness. It is a comparison within our set, not an official rating.
Frequently asked questions
How many days does the Dinkey Lakes Trail take?
Most backpackers hike the Dinkey Lakes Trail in about 2 days (1 nights out) over its 10.8 miles, though pace varies with fitness and conditions.
How much elevation gain is on the Dinkey Lakes Trail?
The Dinkey Lakes Trail climbs roughly 1,598 ft total — about 148 ft per mile, topping out near 9,908 ft.
Related trails
Sources & attribution
Route geometry and stats derived from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL) — source relation. Stats are approximate and may differ from official surveys; permit rules and conditions change — verify with the managing authority before your trip. Last reviewed July 2026.