Los Angeles
Eastern Sierra Summer Camp Trip
Surrounded by granite peaks and open Sky
Join Usal for a weekend of camping in California’s Eastern Sierra, where you'll be surrounded by granite peaks, alpine lakes, and high-country weather to help escape the heat.
Our basecamp will sit along Bishop Creek, tucked below South Lake, giving us easy access to hiking trails and sweeping vistas. The centerpiece is a full day in the high country. Enjoy a guided hike where you'll move between alpine lakes. We'll take long, sunlit stops to swim, rest, and eat beside the water. It truly is one of our favorite hikes. Pace is unhurried and trip is fully guided with no experience needed.
Usal will provide all the camping gear, so all you need to bring is your food. We'll have our basecamp set up and ready for when you arrive.
Ticket Type
Where
Bishop Creek, Eastern Sierra
Guided By
Dylan McCoy
Registration
Closed
When
08/21 - 08/23
Nights
02
Intensity
Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive + Pizza Night. Come early, settle into camp and explore the nearby lakes. We'll spend the evening at Cardinal Village Resort for all-you-can-eat wood-fired pizza served outside in a creekside garden. Dinner's on us the first night, with beer, wine, and drinks available to buy — good food and time to meet everyone before the weekend gets going.
Veggie and GF options available. Please let us know of any dietary restrictions.
Hike Details
Chocolate Lakes Loop is the heart of the weekend, and a favorite hike in the range. It's about 7 miles from the South Lake trailhead, the trail steps from one alpine lake to the next, each set deep in granite and its own shade of blue, with open Sierra in every direction. Long, sunlit stops to swim, rest, and eat lunch beside the water. Worth every step, and it tops out around 11,000 feet.
- Difficulty: Moderate — relaxed camp with one bigger hike day (~7 miles at altitude)
- Elevation: Camp ~8,100 ft; hike tops out around 11,000 ft
- Hike: Chocolate Lakes Loop
- Length: 6.6 mi
- Elevation Gain: 1574 Ft
Packing List
- Usal will provide all the camping gear, so all you need to bring is your food. We'll have our basecamp set up and ready with REI and Snowpeak shared tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, and chairs. You are welcome to bring your own gear to ensure a comfortable stay.
- First night's dinner — all-you-can-eat wood-fired pizza at Cardinal Village
- Guided experience + all trip planning
- Slow mornings with coffee, a yogurt bar, and bagels
- Shared camp setup including kitchen + wash station
- WFR-certified guiding