Day 4 of the Grand Sawtooth Loop is the high-alpine day. You climb out of Middle Cramer Lake into a granite cirque, cross the highest pass of the day in the first few miles, then drop to Hidden Lake for a long lunch before one more pass and a rocky descent to Ardeth Lake. It’s about ten miles with plenty of lake time.
The Route
The day starts with a climb past Upper Cramer Lake, a large, crystal-clear lake. From there the trail climbs through a series of mirror-like tarns, and the trees fall away below you. You enter a gorgeous alpine cirque of orange and white granite, scattered with ancient, twisted whitebark pines. We passed one particularly gnarled tree and all said the same thing: “She’s seen some things.” The trail is a perfectly graded single-track through talus and scree, and the pikas were out in force, scurrying across the rocks all the way up.
By the time we reached the pass, the high point of the day, we had climbed about half of the day’s total gain in the first 2.5 miles. From the top, you can see Hidden Lake far below, which is not hidden in any sense of the word.
The descent to Hidden Lake passes water, mixed conifers and small ponds. Hidden Lake is nearly a mile long. We followed the creek that feeds it for about half a mile, then stopped for a long lunch and a swim.
After lunch, the trail passes Virginia Lake, Edna Lake and Vernon Lake (the lakes just keep coming). After Vernon, the trail gets steep for about half a mile, gaining close to 400 feet to a pass with a large lake at the top. You skirt the lake and then the trail drops steeply to Ardeth Lake.
This descent is the roughest trail of the whole loop. It’s more of a gully than a trail: loose cobble of every size, roots, steep step-downs and a few fallen logs to climb over. Take your time. At the bottom, the camp is at the northwest end of Ardeth Lake.
Highlights
- A morning swim at Middle Cramer Lake. Adam went in after breakfast, with fish rising all around and the waterfall roaring behind him.
- Ancient whitebark pines. The twisted trees in the cirque above Upper Cramer Lake have been there a long time.
- Pikas. Plump, healthy pikas were running all over the talus.
- Hidden Lake. A mile-long lake, a long lunch, and a swim in the middle of the day.
- A chain of lakes. Virginia, Edna and Vernon Lakes in quick succession. Adam also spotted a baby ptarmigan on this stretch.
- Ardeth Lake and the Ten Lakes Basin. A big camp, with lakes above it to explore.
How the Day Unfolded
My toe was taped to its neighbor, so I eased into the day, and Derek hung back with me. [JEFF: your take on the toe.] Before long we were in sync and climbing, deep in conversation about all sorts of things, and the effort of the switchbacks hardly registered. By the time we got to the top of the pass, we had climbed about half the day’s elevation gain.
We regrouped with the rest of the crew at the top, chatted with other backpackers, and had snacks and water. Seeing Hidden Lake below us, we agreed to stop there for lunch.
Adam and I swam in Hidden Lake while Derek soaked his feet. We relaxed for longer than we needed to. The next stretch looked easy on paper, a gradual climb over one more pass. The last half mile after Vernon Lake was steeper than it looked on the map, though.
The descent into Ardeth Lake was rough. Adam said he would much rather grind uphill than pick his way down loose rock, and most of us agreed. Ben and Adam arrived first and found a campsite big enough for five tents, and we all set up. Adam took off on a side trip to the Ten Lakes Basin above camp. Derek sat on a rock with his feet in the lake for 45 minutes, and the rest of us settled in, ate dinner in a circle and went to sleep.
Where to Stay
Ardeth Lake. A large campsite at the northwest end of the lake, big enough for five tents. We had company: other campers nearby played music, had a fire and let a dog roam around. Derek noted that two of those three were against the rules.
Where to Eat
Trail food all day. Lunch at Hidden Lake was a long break with plenty of water and a swim.
Practical Notes
- Big climb first. About half of the day’s gain comes in the first 2.5 miles, so start fresh and take it at a steady pace.
- Rough descent into Ardeth Lake. This is the one section of the loop where the trail itself slows you down. It’s steep, loose and rocky. Trekking poles help, and so does taking your time.
- Water: No problem on this day. There are lakes and creeks the whole way.
- Side trip: The Ten Lakes Basin above Ardeth Lake is worth the walk if you have the energy. Adam’s GPS had it at about 2.5 miles round trip with 360 feet of gain. It includes several lakes with good swimming and plenty of easy off-trail wandering.
- Company at Ardeth Lake: We weren’t alone. Expect other groups at camp.
- Cell service: None.
The Day in Numbers
| Distance | 10.0 mi (16.1 km) |
| Elevation gain | 1,903 ft (580 m) |
| Elevation loss | 2,034 ft (620 m) |
| Moving time | 5h 08m |
| Elapsed time | 7h 23m |
| Highest point | 9,481 ft (2,890 m) |
| Lowest point | 8,169 ft (2,490 m) |
| Start | Middle Cramer Lake |
| Camp | Ardeth Lake |
| Weather | Cloudy and brisk — perfect hiking weather |
| Swims | Hidden Lake |
Originally hiked August 6, 2025 with Jason Fitzpatrick, Derek Loranger and his daughter Sophia, Ben Novinger, and Adam Salinger.
Jeff has hiked and explored trails for over 50 years, covering everything from casual canyon walks to rugged multi-day Sierra routes. He started SoCalHiker.net in 2010 to document the trails he loves — and to make it easier for others to discover them.
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