Summer is back in California’s high country—and that means alpine lakes, wild granite peaks, and some of the best backpacking in the Eastern Sierras.
Mid July, we spent three nights exploring the breathtaking Sabrina Basin Trail, starting from Lake Sabrina and making our way to Hungry Packer Lake, Midnight Lake, Moonlight Falls, and beyond.
Here’s a detailed look at our route, experience, tips, and what you can expect on this classic Eastern Sierra Nevada hiking trip.
Backpacking Sabrina Basin Trail:
Why Backpack the Sabrina Basin Trail?
When it comes to Eastern Sierra backpacking, Sabrina Basin doesn’t always get the same hype as the big names like Rae Lakes or Evolution Basin—but it should.
The trail starts just outside of Bishop, California, and offers a mix of easily accessible lakes and remote alpine gems if you’re willing to go further. Total distance for us (with side trips): roughly 20 miles round trip with ~2,800 ft elevation gain. It’s also part of the John Muir Trail.
While Blue Lake—about 3–4 miles in—is the most popular destination for day hikers and overnight campers, pushing further rewards you with spectacular and quieter lakes like Dingleberry Lake, Hungry Packer , Midnight, and Moonlight Lake.
This trail is typically accessible June–October, though conditions vary each year.
We planned this as a midweek trip to escape the weekend crowds—and it worked. Beyond Blue Lake, we had whole lakes to ourselves. Hiking in mid-July meant vibrant wildflowers but also…swarms of mosquitoes (more on that later).
Night Before: Camping at Sabrina Campground
To help acclimate to the higher elevation, we camped at Sabrina Campground the night before our hike.
Most of the campgrounds near the trails are first-come, first-served, so arriving midweek helped us grab a spot. We spent the evening wandering the lakeshore, watching the sun set behind the granite peaks, and just soaking in that feeling of finally being out there.
A Quick Note for Day Hikers 🥾
If you don’t have time (or gear) to backpack, it’s absolutely possible to enjoy this area as a long day hike!
Many people hike just to Blue Lake (about 3–4 miles one way) and turn around.
For those looking for a bigger adventure, you can do a long day hike from Lake Sabrina all the way to Hungry Packer (about 7–8 miles one way, ~2,700 ft gain). It’s a long day, but if you start early and bring plenty of water, it’s doable—and Hungry Packer is the most breathtaking lake on the trail.
Even if you can’t camp, spending a full day exploring this basin is worth it.
Day 1: Hitting the Trail – Lake Sabrina to Dingleberry Lake
The next morning, we packed up early. Note: The trailhead does NOT have overnight parking—we dropped gear at the trailhead, parked further down the road near Lake Sabrina campground (about a 10-minute walk back), and started hiking around 8 am.
The trail begins by gently climbing above Lake Sabrina. Once past the lake, you’re about halfway to Blue Lake. Depending on the map, it’s listed anywhere between 3–4 miles from the trailhead. We got there in about 3 hours and ate lunch by the lakeshore.
This firs lake is gorgeous—wide, open, and framed by dramatic peaks—but can also get pretty crowded. Expect large groups here, especially on weekends.
After lunch, we pushed on for another 1.5 miles to Dingleberry Lake. The climb is steeper here, but totally worth it: Dingleberry felt like our own private corner of the Sierra. In fact, we had it completely to ourselves for two nights! Dingleberry also makes an excellent base camp for exploring the higher lakes.
First Camp at Dingleberry & a Failed Side Quest
That evening, we decided to look for Pee Wee Lake, a small lake marked on our map as an easy detour. In reality? The trail faded into granite slabs, and we ended up scrambling near a waterfall before giving up.
We headed back to camp, had dinner, and crawled into our tents for the night. But around midnight, I slipped out with my camera—and the sky absolutely stole my breath.
The Milky Way arched right over the peaks, and the stars felt so close it was like you could scoop them up. These were some of the clearest skies I’ve ever seen, and even though I didn’t get much sleep, I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
Day 2: Dingleberry → Hungry Packer → Moonlight
The next morning, we packed lunch and hiked toward Hungry Packer Lake—one of the most dramatic spots in the basin. The trail from Dingleberry is about 2.5 miles, climbing gently past Topsy Turvy Lake and Sailor Lake.
We had to cross a wide stream early on, hopping across a dozen rocks. The first lake we pass is Topsy Turvy Lake and in the distance you can see Pee Wee lake where we tried to reach the day before. We didn’t see any clear trail down to either lake from the trail so we continued onwards.
Next lake is Sailor lake, its right off the main trail and the view ahead hinted at what was coming: sharp granite ridges and turquoise water. On the way, you’ll pass through a beautiful alpine meadow dotted with wildflowers
Hungry Packer is absolutely stunning. We scrambled around the granite on the right side of the lake for incredible views of the dramatic peaks towering above. Marmots darted everywhere, keeping us entertained as we had lunch lakeside.
We stayed here for a while taking in the views and soaking our feet before moving on.
Next, we crossed over to Moonlight Lake. The path is less obvious, marked by scattered cairns, and we lost it a few times. But the lake itself is peaceful—less dramatic than Hungry Packer, but serene. Moonlight Falls sits just below; during our visit, the water flow was mild, but it still made a beautiful backdrop.
After a few hours of exploring, scrambling, and taking photos (yes, I lugged my tripod up here!), we headed back to camp at Dingleberry.
Day 3: Midnight Lake & Changing Camps
The next morning, we packed light and hiked the short, easy trail to Midnight Lake.
The trail here is easier to follow, about a mile or so from Dingleberry. Midnight Lake isn’t big, but it’s deep, giving it a pure navy color that feels almost surreal. Sitting there in silence, surrounded by granite, felt meditative—a moment I won’t forget.
After returning, we packed up our Dingleberry camp and moved 1.5 miles down to Blue Lake for our final night. It felt brutal in the afternoon sun despite the short distance! Blue Lake was much busier, but we found a nice campsite overlooking the lake.
That night, it hailed (surprisingly helpful for keeping the mosquitoes at bay). Speaking of which: the mosquitoes can be intense, especially around Blue Lake.
A Note About Mosquitoes (Learn from Us!)
If you go in early summer: bring the strongest bug spray you have (yes, DEET).
The mosquitoes at Blue Lake were intense—one person we met even got bit inside their ear (new fear unlocked).
Day 4: Hiking Out
We packed up early and started the hike back. Going downhill felt faster, though my legs were definitely tired. In about 3 hours, we reached the trailhead, loaded up the car, and made our way home to Orange County—sunburned, mosquito-bitten, sore, but so grateful.
Key Tips & Trail Info for Sabrina Basin Backpacking
- Permits – Required; book on recreation.gov. 60% are released 6 months ahead; 40% two weeks before.
- Food storage – Bear canisters required beyond Blue Lake (no trees for hanging).
- Fires – Not allowed above 10,400 ft (so no fires at or after Blue Lake).
- Overnight parking – Not at the trailhead; park along road near Sabrina Campground.
- Storms – Afternoon storms are common; check forecasts and bring rain gear.
- Leave No Trace – Camp at least 100 feet from water/trail, pack out all trash (including TP).
- Season – Best from June–October, but snow can linger earlier in the season.
Why I Loved This Trail
Sabrina Basin surprised me in the best way. Beyond Blue Lake, the trail feels quieter, wilder, and truly spectacular. Hungry Packer Lake alone was worth the effort—but Midnight Lake, Moonlight Lake, and stargazing under the Milky Way made it unforgettable.
If you can, spend a few nights exploring—but even if you only have a day, this trail is worth every mile.
More Adventures Backpacking in the Sierra Nevadas 🌲🏔
If you loved reading about Sabrina Basin, you might also enjoy my other guides for hiking in the Sierras around Bishop California.
Bishop Pass from South Lake: 4 Day Backpacking Adventure – An iconic Sierra Nevada hiking trip with sweeping views, alpine lakes, and granite passes. Features Long Lake, Chocolate Lakes Loop and Dusy Basin.
Treasure Lakes Trail: A 4-Day Backpacking Adventure in Bishop California – A quieter trail to hidden lakes perfect for solitude, photography, and fishing.
For a more detailed breakdown of Bishop and Mammoth, check out my blog “Bishop vs Mammoth: Exploring the Quieter Side” !
P.S. Like the vibe of these photos?
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