Sunrise, Greenstone Lake, Mono County, California
Camera info: Mamiya 645 AFD II, Ultra-Wide-Angle 28mm f/4.5 Sekor D Aspherical Auto Focus, 2.5 sec @ ISO 100
This is one of the spectacular sunrise spots in the Sierra Nevada high country. In this image, majestic North Peak is reflecting in Greenstone Lake at sunrise, Hoover Wilderness in the High Sierra – just east of Yosemite National Park.
To reach Greenstone Lake from Yosemite National Park, follow Highway 120 over Tioga Pass. Just a little more than two miles east of the entrance gate you reach the turnoff to Saddlebag Lake, a popular fishing destination. The 2.4 miles road to Saddlebag Lake is paved in portions and gravel in other parts. Approaching from the east, take Highway 395 just south of Lee Vining, turn west on Highway 120 and drive about 10 miles to the Saddlebag Lake turnoff.
Saddlebag Lake Resort offers for about $11, a round-trip water taxi ride to the opposite end of the lake. From where the water taxi drops you off at the upper end of Saddlebag Lake, a short hike leads to Greenstone Lake. As an alternative, one can avoid water taxi and hike around following the shore of sprawling Saddlebag Lake, en route to one of more than one dozen alpine lakes spread out across the headwaters basins of Lee Vining and Mill creeks.
