Directions from the Bay Area: drive across Yosemite on 120 to Mono Lake and turn south (right) on highway 395 to the June Lake loop. Drive on the June Lake loop to the Silver Lake resort. The parking lot for the Rush Creek trailhead (2,300m) is on the right hand-side. The trail ascends rapidly to Agnew Lake (2530m). Right after the dam, look for an unsigned trail that crosses to the other side of the lake. After coasting the lake for ten minutes, it heads south and takes to the Clark Lakes and then to Thousand Island Lakes (2,997m). It's about 4.5 hours from Silver Lake to Thousand Island Lakes. You can then visit Garnett Lake (4 kms) and return from there (again the trail is unmarked but in good conditions). It's about one hour from Thousand Island Lakes to Garnet Lake. If you have two cars, you can park the second one at Agnew Meadows and do a one way from Silver Lake to Thousand Islands Lake (4.5 hours) to Garnet Lake (1 hour) to Agnew Meadow (3.5 hours).

Another loop: Agnew Meadows (2530m) to Thousand Island Lake (3000m, 10 kms) on the PCT to Garnet Lake (4 kms) to Agnew Meadows (11 kms). Total: 25kms with about 600 meters of elevation gain. This is easier because it starts at higher elevation. But don't underestimate the bureaucracy: you cannot drive your own vehicle to Agnew Meadow during the day. See the Mt Ritter page.

(Everytrail.com)

(Everytrail.com)