Hiking to Green Lake (Bridgeport, CA) - Trip Report
Green Lake is a hidden gem tucked away near Bridgeport, California. It requires a long drive down a 9 mile dirt road from the turn off of HWY 395. However, if you’re up to the slow, dirt road drive, that dirt road transforms into a completely different part of California. Green Creek meanders through beautiful tall green grass and beautiful aspen trees. The drive itself blew me away and the hike continued on with the same stunning views through the Hoover Wilderness.
Hiking Information
Location: Mono County - near Bridgeport, California
Trailhead & Parking: Google Maps
Date Hiked: June 3, 2020
Trail Type: Out & Back
Elevation Change: 1,148 ft
Distance Roundtrip: 6 miles
Nearest Restrooms: At the trailhead
Fees: An overnight permit is required for any backpacking trip in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, which has a fee on recreation.gov. Day hiking this area does not require a permit and has no fees.
ID# on Recreation.gov: HH082
Season Accessibility: May - November
Trail Tip: In the spring, this trail is especially lush with greenery and new wildflower blooms
The Drive/Parking
I headed out to the Green Creek trailhead on a Wednesday afternoon. This was my first time to this area, although I have looked for fall colors along some dirt roads near this area, but never down the Green Creek road. The road is a long dirt road which can take some time. However, when you drive into the area after about 6 miles you are transported into a very unique and beautiful part of California. The road has plenty of dirt roads for car camping and a few campgrounds along the way.
The Hike
The trail starts out very mellow, through a wooded area that leads to the Green Creek. Once you reach the aspens along the Green Creek, the trail pretty much stays next to the creek the whole way up.
Walking along the aspen trees, I met a sweet woman who pointed out I was actually looking at a dammed off part of the creek. She mentioned her and her husband have been coming up to this area for the last 20+ years and the dammed off section was a recent occurrence that she had not seen the year prior. I meandered about the area, admiring the work of some cool little beavers.
After the dammed off section, the trail continues along with a small incline through a rocky section, then back to more creek side views.
I was dumbfounded by how lush and green the trail consistently was. There were so many little streams crossing, new blooming flowers, and just about everything else was GREEN. I’m eager to get back to this trail to see how green holds up throughout the summer. You’ll continue along the magical greenery with a very minimal incline.
The trail starts to become more exposed with a more of incline, that means you’re getting close to the sign and fork in the trail.
Heading left will take you to Green Lake as well as more lakes beyond Green Lake (East Lake, Hoover Lakes, Gilman Lake, and Summit Lake). Heading right will take you to West Lake. So off to the left, the trail leads down to Green Lake. There is a wide creek crossing, but it can be avoided by staying to the right of the creek. You’ll find a section that is much more mild to cross, and I imagine the wide creek crossing will mellow down throughout the season.
Stay to the right of this creek to get to a more mild crossing to reach Green Lake
Green Lake is right beyond the creek crossing and I was genuinely shocked by the views at Green Lake. There was stunning peaks as well as a waterfall that reminded me of hiking in Montana. The water was blue-ish green, with shallow rock areas that reminded me of some parts of Lake Tahoe. It was an amazing sight to see for a hike I’d never heard of or knew much about. There even was a little worn down dock I found along the side of the lake. Remember to practice Leave No Trace ethics to keep places like this as beautiful as I found it and Happy Trails!
VIDEO OF MY ADVENTURE
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Tiare Kirkland
Hi! My name is Tiare, but you can just call me ‘T’. I’m a California based hiker and I spend most of my free time taking photos and videos of some of my favorite hikes. You can usually find me ‘Out Hiking’ in the Sierra Nevada mountain range or road-tripping to new areas. Read more about me here and follow along with my adventures by subscribing below!