| Length: 10 miles round trip | | | | Bear right at a trail junction at 1.5 miles, then continue |
| Hiking time: 6 hours or overnight | | | | on to the Desolation Wilderness boundary at 2.8 |
| High point: 8,380 feet | | | | miles. If you want to cool off on a warm day, look |
| Total elevation gain: 1,600 feet | | | | for some small pools in the creek about 100 yards |
| Difficulty: easy to Lake Sylvia, moderate to Lyons | | | | past the boundary. The path then climbs past granite |
| Lake | | | | boulders and hillocks to a crossing of Lyons Creek at |
| Water: available from lakes and Lyons Creek; purify | | | | 4 miles and then to a trail junction at 4.1 miles. |
| first | | | | Sylvia Lake lies 0.4 mile down the right fork. Several |
| Maps: USGS 7.5' Pyramid Peak, USFS Desolation | | | | campsites lie between lodgepole pine and mountain |
| Wilderness | | | | hemlock near the west shore. From the lake's edges |
| Information: Pacific Ranger District, Eldorado National | | | | you can see mighty Pyramid Peak and its |
| Forest; 530-644-2349 | | | | accompanying granite ridges. Consider the 1-mile |
| This hike takes you along the waters of Lyons Creek | | | | cross-country hike northeast along a small creek to |
| to some of the most beautiful territory in Desolation | | | | granite-encased Noelle and Mozelle Lakes. Here, |
| Wilderness: the Crystal Range and Pyramid Peak, and | | | | nestled under Pyramid Peak's shoulder, you're much |
| also Lyons Lake. You must obtain a permit for this | | | | more likely to find solitude. |
| hike. Call Pacific Ranger District for more information. | | | | A left turn at the trail fork will take you 0.5 mile up a |
| Take the paved road signed for Wrights Lake, which | | | | steep granitic ridge to Lyons Lake. This large, deep, |
| is on the north side of Highway 50 about 46 miles | | | | granite-ringed body of water ranks as one of the |
| east of Placerville and 17 miles west of the junction | | | | prettiest anywhere. The Crystal Range's exfoliated |
| of Highways 50 and 89. Follow Wrights Lake Road | | | | granite rises over 1,500 steep feet on the east side, |
| (Road 11N26) 4 miles, then turn right at a dirt road | | | | and more moderately sloping granite lies to the north |
| signed for the Lyons Creek Trail for the final 0.4 mile. | | | | and west. Granite slabs and granite sand beaches |
| The trail travels most of its length near the granite | | | | surround the entire lake, making an invigorating swim |
| and mountain alder-lined banks of Lyons Creek. | | | | into the deep cold water easy. Look for campsites |
| Lodgepole pine is the primary tree species, and as | | | | on the southeast side of the lake or search near the |
| you continue you'll pass by several meadows and | | | | lake's perimeter for a level granite slab. An easy |
| seasonal streams. Numerous wildflowers provide a | | | | northwesterly cross-country scramble up the rock of |
| multi-hued display in midsummer; look for corn lily, | | | | at least 150 vertical feet will reward you with |
| brodiaea, and lupine. Glimpses of 9,983-foot Pyramid | | | | southward views of Round Top and other peaks in |
| Peak lead you onward. | | | | Mokelumne Wilderness. |