TRAIL TRIP 20

GLACIER POINT TO OSTRANDER LAKE

(13.5 miles—5 hours)

At the very source of Bridalveil Creek and only five hours' easy walk from Glacier Point lies the picturesque Ostrander Lake, famous since the early days for its splendid fishing. The round trip from Glacier Point Hotel (twenty-seven miles) may be made in one day by good hikers, but it is far better to camp at the lake at least one night in order to be there for the best fishing. Motorists, by parking machines at the trail junction six miles southwest of Glacier Point on the Chinquapin Road, can easily make the round trip (fifteen miles) in one day.

From Glacier Point we follow the Chinquapin Road about six miles to the point where a sign indicates the Buck Camp and Ostrander Lake Trail turning to the left. This trail bears south, crossing a small tributary to Bridalveil Creek, then continues through the open lodgepole pine forest and crosses the main stream about two miles from the road. A short distance beyond, the Buck Camp Trail (Trail Trip 21) continues up the south branch of the creek. Our trail turns abruptly to the east (left) and again crosses the main stream, following up the northeast bank. In the first two miles the trail is good, but the remaining three miles are somewhat rough and steep.

Ostrander Lake (Alt. 8600) is beautifully set in a glacial amphitheater on the north side of Horse Ridge (Alt. 9600), which towers 1000 feet above. It is shallow on the north and west sides but deep under the bluffs, where are generally deep snowbanks. The lake was stocked with rainbow trout in 1892, 1893, 1899 and 1911, and with eastern brook trout in 1893 and 1899. Fishing is excellent.

Buena Vista Lake (see Trail Trip 22) is about four miles distant and may be reached by walking southeast about two miles through open forest (no trail) on the north slope of Horse Ridge and joining the Buena Vista Trail in Buena Vista Canyon. Here we may turn south up the canyon, at the head of which is Buena Vista Lake.

TRAIL TRIP 21

GLACIER POINT TO CHILNUALNA FALLS OR JOHNSON LAKE via THE BUCK CAMP TRAIL