June Lake: Switzerland of California

June Lake is a tiny mountain village in California’s Eastern Sierra, about 20 minutes north of Mammoth Lakes. It sits at roughly 7,600 feet, surrounded by steep granite peaks, pine forest, waterfalls and clear alpine lakes—which explains the nickname “the Switzerland of California.” The comparison is less about Swiss-style architecture and more about the setting: dramatic mountains rising almost directly behind a peaceful lakeside village. It feels quieter, smaller and more old-school than Mammoth. The centerpiece is the 14-mile June Lake Loop, also known as Highway 158. The road curves through a glacially carved horseshoe-shaped canyon and passes four main lakes: June Lake – Best for swimming, paddling and relaxing on the beach Gull Lake – Small, calm and easy to access from town Silver Lake – Especially scenic, with Carson Peak towering above it Grant Lake – The largest and most open, popular for boating and fishing June Lake has enough restaurants and marinas to be comfortable, but it hasn’t become a busy resort town. You can walk from the village to the lake, spend the afternoon kayaking or fishing, and finish the day at a casual brewery or mountain restaurant. Our campground is about 1/2 mile to June Lake Beach, roughly a 10-15 minute walk, and roughly 2 to 3 miles to town. Since we'll have 2 full days there, we can do a hike one day and spend a day at the lake swimming, kayaking/ canoeing, fishing, floating, and beach lounging. The best hike in the area is Parker Lake Trail. It gives you the classic Eastern Sierra experience without an all-day commitment: open mountain views, aspens, a creek, Mono Basin vistas and a beautiful alpine lake beneath the Sierra Crest. The Forest Service describes Parker Lake as sitting in a small canyon beneath peaks reaching about 12,000 feet. Parker Lake Trail at a glance: Distance: commonly reported around 3.5–4 miles round trip, depending on where you park and turn around Time: about 2–3 hours Difficulty: moderate, with most of the climbing near the beginning Trailhead: near the north end of the June Lake Loop, about a 15-minute drive from Oh Ridge The first exposed section can feel hot and steeper than expected, but after that the trail becomes gentler and follows Parker Creek through aspens toward the lake. Start early because there is limited shade on the opening climb.

Thursday - Arrive after 2pm, setup camp, relax, dinner, drinks around the campfire Friday - Parker Lake Trail Saturday - Spend the day at the lake swimming, kayaking/ canoeing, fishing, floating, and beach lounging Sunday - Breakfast, pack up, depart by 12:00 pm