Snowshoe Country

Snowshoeing at Virginia Lakes, a cluster of alpine lakes nestled in the rugged eastern Sierra northwest of Mono Lake, is an unforgettable journey—and you’re likely to see just a handful of other trekkers all day. This pristine backcountry within Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest is tranquil and yet startling in its immensity, its lakes hemmed in by colossal heaps of rock, including Black Mountain in the south and 12,379-foot Dunderberg Peak to the north.

Your walk begins just east of Big Valley Lake at roughly 9,840 feet. Here you’ll find Virginia Lakes Trailhead, which in warmer months gives easy access to Summit Lake five miles up canyon, as well as several smaller lakes en route. When the trail is buried under snow  you can explore nearby slopes and into shallow pine-filled ravines.

Crave a clear destination, some geographic goal? If you have a few hours, make it Cooney Lake, hidden just over a mile up the canyon. To get there, follow the route of Virginia Lakes Trail, heading northwest from Big Valley Lake, then west along the north shore of adjacent Blue Lake. You’ll then ascend steeper terrain and curve southwest through a thick patch of trees to reach Cooney Lake at 10,246 feet. Depending on snow levels, you might not readily discern the trail at times, so carry an annotated topographic map to stay on general track. All in all, the 2.4-mile round-trip route climbs about 400 feet and awards you with jaw-dropping views down the canyon and over the lake's bluish frozen surface.

Virginia Lakes is located between Lee Vining and Bridgeport in Mono County. From Lee Vining, head north on US-395 8 miles past Mono Lake. Turn left onto Virginia Lakes Rd. and continue west for 6 miles to reach the trailhead parking.