Rock Creek’s Little Lakes valley is one of our favorite day hikes, even though lots of other folks think the same. To get there, take the turn-off at Tom’s Place from highway 395 and head up Rock Creek to Mosquito Flats at the end of the road. Arrive early in the busy summer months or you’ll have to park 1/4 to 1/2 mile back down the road.
The elevation at the trailhead is 10,255 ft so you simply have to step out of your vehicle and you are in the “high Sierra.” We passed by Mack, Grass, Heart, Box, and Long Lakes before stopping at Chicken Foot Lake for lunch. Then we continued on to Gem Lakes before heading back to the trailhead. We covered 8.5 miles and our high elevation point at Gem Lakes was 10,945 ft.
Heart Lake in Little Lakes valley
There was still lots of water runoff in the main streams and minor tributaries. That meant two things: there were abundant wild-flowers, and there were lots of mosquitos.
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