Lyons Creek Trail to Lake Sylvia updated 8-2012

  Check road conditions before you go early (May-June) in the hiking season).

Photo of Lake Sylvia on June 13, 2012

Lyons Creek Trail conditions updated July 2015 in this post: Lyons and Sylvia Lakes in Desolation Wilderness with current photos.

 Lake Sylvia is the reward of this 9.2 mile round trip,

out and back, hike on Lyons Creek Trail. 

The trail starts out wide but becomes single file.  Some sections are nice firm dirt and some areas are loose rock and tree roots.  Most of the climb is fairly steady and slow going in, but once you are close to the lake it is a bit steeper.  (The graph at the bottom of this page will show you what to expect.)  Remember that it means your reward is imminent!

(June) This day was perfect weather and we picnicked and waded in the lake to refresh ourselves from the hike up.  There is less snow already as of June 21, 2012.  With the nice days it is quickly melting!  The weather is a relief, being degrees cooler than a couple thousand feet lower in elevation.  There are nice places to wade and picnic.

     As you hike there are three markers to help you know your way.  The first is a sign where Bloodsucker Trail meets Lyons Creek Trail.  The next is Desolation Wilderness Entry and is a large sign.  The last is a post that points to the left for Lyons Lake and ahead for Sylvia.  If you get that far don't despair!  The trail climbs, but keep in mind that the lake is gorgeous and a welcome reward! You are almost there!

Difficulty:  Moderate, due to 9 mile length and elevation.

Elevation Change: 6719-8080 feet

Location:  El Dorado National Forest (and partway along the hike you enter the Desolation Wilderness which requires a permit you can obtain and fill out at the parking lot). 

• Take Wrights Lake Road north off of Highway 50 at Kyburz. 
• Follow the signs to Lyons Creek Trailhead. If you cross Lyons Creek you just passed the good sized parking lot available at the trailhead. No restroom there.

Lyons Creek in June 2012

In some areas the water is a bit gross, just sitting on the trail, a muddy bug breeding ground.
Just this week, June 21, 2012 The water is less of a mess. There are still some fun blankets of snow, though smaller and only the higher elevation ones!  None are blocking the trail.  The creek crossing is deeper than shoes are tall, so bring extra socks at least, and I try to go from rock to rock across.

Generally better conditions than I expected, fairly dry and firm mud to walk on.

This is Lily, having a great time playing in the snow!

This was the only tree fall between entering Desolation Wilderness and the trail junction.  It was easy to go around, so the trail was easy and fun to follow.  You hike on mostly a rock bed that will give your knees and ankles a workout!  The water on this trail does tend to run all along the trail instead of elsewhere, so good hiking shoes are an advantage.  You will need to cross places that are rocky stream beds with water runoff pouring along, but again, I try to use rocks to hop across.  None is very deep like knee high!

Wildflowers abound on this trail!  

 From  this junction you can hike up to Lyons Lake or go on to Sylvia Lake. There are creek crossings along the way, so again, good shoes help.  The water levels vary.  At least bring extra socks!

We called this a mini-geyser because from a distance it looks like a geyser. 

The current in these nice resting areas is swift so beware but the water isn't anywhere near as cold as we expected and where it was safe, it was cooling and perfect for wading in!

This is what is called a widow maker.  Best not to hang around these because they come by that nickname honestly...falling and killing or injuring people.  

 Trail data:

 I highly recommend you bring water and some snacks or lunch. No fires are permitted in the wilderness, and a fire permit is needed even for your small campstoves.  
Please Leave No Trace 
and enjoy your trip!

Related Posts

Desolation Wilderness
2015-07	Lyons & Sylvia Lakes	10+ miles	Strenuous
2014-08	McConnell Lake Loop	30 miles	Moderate to Strenuous/Difficult
2014-07	Rockbound to Doris, Lois & Maud Lakes	18 miles	Moderate-Difficult
2014-06	Lyons Creek Trail to Lake Sylvia	12+ miles	Moderate to Strenuous
2013-06	Lawrence Lake	13+ miles	Moderate to Strenuous
2012-09	Umpa Lake & Enchanted Pools	8+ miles	Cross country ~ Moderate
2012-08	Horsetail Falls via Pyramid Creek TH	Aprox.  10 miles to lakes at the top of the falls	"Difficult, and potentially dangerous" miles
2012-07	Rockbound Trail to Maude Lake	10 miles	Moderate
2012-07	Twin Lakes Trail to Island Lake	8 miles	Moderate-Strenuous
2012-06	Lyons Lake via Lyons Creek Trail	10+ miles	Strenuous
2012-08	Lyons Creek Trail to Lake Sylvia	9.2 miles	Moderate
2012-06	Grouse, Hemlock, and Smith Lakes	6+ miles	Strenuous
2011-07	Lyons Creek Trail with melting snow	9+ miles	Moderate
2011-02	Grouse Lake	3.8 miles	Moderate
2010-09 We hiked 12 days.	Tahoe Rim Trail	167 total	Moderate to Strenuous

Happy Trails!  Thanks for dropping by!

Updated links and facts, irrelevant facts deleted. 06-2016

Updated this page July 2015 with a link and removing fee information that has changed.

Lyons Creek Trail Fun & Hazards in Early Spring

 
17 photos are included. If you click on one, the photos can be viewed enlarged.

For a report done June 2014 see Lyons Creek Trail.
Elevation: we began at 6721 feet, and Sylvia Lake was 8200

feet, still frozen and surrounded by snow.

Distance: It is reported as 4.6 miles each way, but be reminded you'll

go a bit further trying to route yourself around dangerous snow banks. 

Notes:  Parking is available, but no bathrooms or porta-potties.

The road up was clear of snow to the Lyon Creek TH free parking. The Pacific Ranger Station, off of Highway 50 on the way to the Wrights Lake and Ice House Road, provides backpacking

wilderness permits and some excellent assistance planning your hike.

Driving Directions: 

Take Wrights (Lake) Road north off of Highway 50 at Kyburz.  The Wrights Lake Road will be between tract 36 and tract 39 along Highway 50.

Follow the signs to Lyons Creek Trailhead. If you reach the Bloodsucker Trail parking, you have gone too far.

 The actual Lyons Creek Trail is not visible at this time, and most people hiked following footprints in the snow and intermittently, the muck (sticky, boggy ground).  My boots would sink in those areas and had to be Pulled Out!  Waterproof boots are better, safer, more functional, than all the tennis shoes and sandals I saw people leave the parking lot wearing.  It is hard not to walk in and through streams of runoff, freezing your toes!  Honestly, one hiker came back from Lake Sylvia with signs of hypothermia: tingling, redness and numbing of their toes. The snow softens during the day with this nice weather so your feet will be ankle deep in the cold.

 The weather is as perfect as heaven would have it.  The views are excellent.

Here are some of the photos of my hike from the parking:

The trail teases one in with solid ground and a regular hiking tread mix of rock, dirt, and some vegetation sprouting.

The views of the mountain tops sprinkled with snow were barely visible through the trees.  On the down side, these wet and boggy areas are swarming with tiny black bugs who get in your nose and mouth and maybe more!  Breath with your mouth closed!

Groupings of many types of wildflowers were scattered along the way.  Honestly, with my backpack, I only stopped for a few since they were so low to the ground and my pack felt pretty heavy!

Much of the trail had become gutters for the runoff, streams to walk in, and this spot was a small dilemma....which creek was the path?  I crossed straight ahead from this view and it turned out to be the right creek to follow!  As I said, be ready to get your feet wet!

My excitement grew while the mountains became more visible through the trees.  The trail is about a 10 mile round trip, more or less depending on how much detouring you have to find, and if you visit more than one lake.

My boulder-hopping-self felt like a child just before a party!  Anticipation!

I stopped for a rest beside the creek because I could hear the rushing sound of the current pushing its way through the narrow places.

Does ears were breaking ground anywhere not blanketed in snow or rushing with streams of runoff.  Grasses and wildflowers were in abundance, and while you might think it a great place for a picnic, if you walked there it was just a muddy mess full of bugs. 

This is one of the sections of "trail" developed by the numbers of people out that day.  The parking lot had been full, mostly for day hikers.  We only saw two sets of backpackers.  With packs, the soft snow was similar to our previous snow hike, like walking in dry sand with a backpack.  Barefoot. It is a workout!

Lyons Creek was rushing and I personally would not cross it.  The water flow was unbelievable, especially in narrow areas.

 The trail was often lined with various sizes of smaller rocks.  I enjoyed that but if you have feet and/or ankle problems, it may wear on you.  Take your support gear and be prepared.  Again, hiking poles can help your knees and ankles, along with good boots made for this type of ground.

The elevation we began at was 6721, and Sylvia Lake was 8200 
feet and still frozen and surrounded by snow. It is reported 
as 4.6 miles each way, but be reminded you'll 
go a bit further trying to route yourself around dangerous snow 
banks.  Parking is available, but no bathrooms or porta-potties.  
The road up was clear of snow to the Lyon Creek TH free 
parking.  The Pacific Ranger Station, off of Highway 50 on the 
way to the Wrights Lake and Ice House Road, provides backpacking
wilderness permits and some excellent assistance planning your hike.


The Fine Print: Information about safe snow hiking:
I have enough concerns about the hike to caution hikers about the snow and trail conditions before anything. The photos above illustrate what "under-melt" hazards really are. The snow, especially around rocks and trees, is melting faster than the exposed surfaces. The water runoff from melting snow all around is running in streams, some obvious and rushing, others just large flat areas of wet water flowing over the saturated ground surface. It is also melting the snow where isn't visible. Pockets, even caverns, of air and water are created under the mounds and blankets of snow being used as "the trail".
One adult male, with a fully loaded backpack, fell into the snow hip deep due to the caverns of air that are not visible under drifts that look deep and stable. He also had one instance when he fell through and could not touch ground. He had to figure out how to get out of that predicament and did not want to lose his backpack (although he admitted considering it after several of these cave ins!). He ended up working to throw his body weight downhill (backwards) to leverage the weight of the backpack in his own favor and pull him out of the hollow. Fortunately for him, that worked!
Another male day hiker had the same problems with cave ins of snow, especially as the snow got deeper in higher elevation. Another male hiker had to turn back because the soft snow and rocky trail were hard on an old knee injury. Sometimes I saw the remnants of cave ins, one RIGHT next to all the footprints, which suggested to me that people were ignoring the hazards and still walking over the thin areas.
Another thing to look out for are tree falls under the snow. The branches themselves created air hollows where the snow could not pack in as heavily, and created a greater likelihood of injuring the hiker who might step there believing they can land on a branch or something so they can keep going rather than reroute, perhaps finding open ground or more stable snow.
I saw more people than I counted, many wore shorts, tank tops, tennis shoes or even sandals.   From personal experience with unpredictable weather and events in mountainous areas, no one should go without first aid and survival basics, particularly appropriate layers of clothing.
My advice and urging are to wear boots, long sleeves and pants, use hiking poles to test the snow, to use to support your weight, and at times assist you if you break through. Watch your steps. and choose your paths carefully. Look for the caverns or hollows under the snow, and avoid rocks and boulders protruding but surrounded by snow, as they have those hollow hazards too from the heat they contain that melts the snow faster than general conditions.
I fell in less than knee deep several times as the snow softened, and as much as possible tried to go around the snow. I loved my waterproof boots, warm hiking socks, and gaiters! Take first aid and snacks, and carry out your trash. Take a camera!
Please use caution and have fun!!!

For more hikes check Peachy's Trails by Location

with mileage and difficulty ratings, and

these Desolation Wilderness Trails:

·         Umpa Lake and Enchanted Pools in Desolation	6.8+	Strenuous
·         Tahoe Rim Trail	165
·         Lyons Creek Trail to Lake Sylvia	9.2	Strenuous
·         Lyons Lake in Desolation Wilderness	10+	Strenuous
·         Twin Lakes Trail to Island Lake in Desolation Wilderness	7.95	Strenuous
·         Lyon Creek Trail and Snow Hazards	9.2	Strenuous
·         Grouse, Hemlock and Smith Lakes in Desolation Wilderness	6+	Strenuous
·         Desolation Wilderness, Grouse Lake	3.8	Moderate
·         Horsetail Falls & Pyramid Creek	3-11	Easy to Strenuous and Difficult
Rockbound Trail to Maud, Doris Lakes, and Lois Lake, 2014	10-18+ RT	Moderate- Strenuous
·         Rockbound Trail to Maude Lake	10	Strenuous

Peachy Hiker's Table of Contents


Happy Trails!

·         Umpa Lake and Enchanted Pools in Desolation

6.8+

Strenuous

·         Tahoe Rim Trail

165

·         Lyons Creek Trail to Lake Sylvia

9.2

Strenuous

·         Lyons Lake in Desolation Wilderness

10+

Strenuous

·         Twin Lakes Trail to Island Lake in Desolation Wilderness

7.95

Strenuous

·         Lyon Creek Trail and Snow Hazards

9.2

Strenuous

·         Grouse, Hemlock and Smith Lakes in Desolation Wilderness

6+

Strenuous

·         Desolation Wilderness, Grouse Lake

3.8

Moderate

·         Horsetail Falls & Pyramid Creek

3-11

Easy to Strenuous and Difficult

• Rockbound Trail to Maud, Doris Lakes, and Lois Lake, 2014

 10-18+ RT

Moderate- Strenuous

·         Rockbound Trail to Maude Lake

10

Strenuous