Hiking to Bennettville and Shell Lake

Shell Lake with Mount Conness in the background

On our way to Bishop we stopped for a short 3 mile round-trip hike just over the top of Tioga Pass. Just at the turnoff to Saddlebag Lake is a trailhead that goes to the old site of Bennettville and on up Mine Creek to a few lakes. Bennettville is a failed silver mining area. In fact, no silver was ever mined, but a substantial amount of work was done. Several tons of equipment was hauled in, and more than a dozen structures were built. Two cabins remain in a state of arrested decay. A road was eventually built from the west over Tioga Pass, which eventually became the basis for Highway 120/Tioga Pass road. We have been here once before.

We continued on up Mine Creek to Shell Lake and continued on a bit farther to an unnamed little lake. Fantail Lake was just a bit farther up the canyon, but a visit there will have to wait for another time.

Links
Bennettville 2011 photo gallery

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