Virginia Lakes: Camping, Fishing & Hiking in the Eastern Sierra

Virginia Lakes is a cluster of nearly a dozen alpine lakes at 9,800+ ft off Conway Summit — drive-to trout fishing, a lakeside campground, and a trailhead straight into the Hoover Wilderness, all six miles from Highway 395.

The Overiview

Virginia Lakes sits in a high glacial basin beneath Dunderberg Peak and Black Mountain, six miles up a road off Highway 395 between Bridgeport and Lee Vining. The basin holds nearly a dozen lakes in all — Big Virginia, Little Virginia, and Trumbull are the three you can drive right to, while the rest are just a short hike up the trail.

I first came here in August 2025 on a whim passing by and got a campsite next to the water at Trumbull Lake. Since then, it’s been one of my favorite places to explore and recreate in the Sierras. It has everything from fishing its crystal clear waters, hiking to its surrounding peaks, and enjoying the views at camp high up in the alpine.

The Camping

Trumbull Lake Campground is the main base — about 45 sites tucked into lodgepole pines overlooking the lake, at roughly 9,500 ft. Half the sites are reservable through Recreation.gov and half are first-come, first-served. Amenities are simple: bear boxes, vault toilets, potable water, and garbage. It’s typically open early June through about October 15 and the road opens the weekend before the fishing season opener weekend.

I was able to stay at campsites 8 and 10 here. Both are next to the lake and near the bathrooms which were in good condition. Be sure to bring extra layers or blankets as it can get colder since it’s a bit higher in elevation. There is also a resort with small, cute cabins on Little Virginia lake that are over 100 years old! The resort has a small cash-only café, store with basic camping necessities, and showers.

The Fishing

The fishing can get really busy in the peak summer months, with anglers lined up along the shores of Little and Big Virginia Lake. To get away from the crowds I’d point you to Trumbull Lake or a hike up to one of the smaller alpine lakes. I’ve also had the lakes nearly to myself coming up the week after the fishing opener weekend in May — and the fish are aggressive that early in the season.

Where to Fish it

• Big Virginia: Shore fishing right from the parking lot — use chunk bait or Mice Tails and cast straight off the bank.

• Little Virginia: Walk across the bridge in front of the resort café to the far end of the lake, and cast chunk bait, Mice Tails, jigs, or spinners into the deeper drop-off there.

• Trumbull Lake (drive-to): Hike to the end of the lake and out onto the rock structure — there are nice drop-offs by the creek inlet. Chunk bait and a Mice Tail work when there’s heavy pressure.

• Red Lake (¼-mi walk): A short side trail south of the parking lot to a secluded cirque with wild brook and rainbow — work the inlet and outlet.

• Blue & Cooney (1–1.2 mi hike): Clear water; work the deep shores and the inlets.

• Frog Lakes (1.5 mi): Shallow tarns teeming with tiny wild brookies — fast, fun fishing for kids and fly-rodders.

Tackle, bait, and even a California fishing license can be picked up at Virginia Lakes Resort on Little Virginia Lake, which is handy if you’ve driven up unprepared.

The Hiking

The Virginia Lakes Trailhead, at about 9,850 ft at the end of the road, is the basin’s other big draw — a gateway into the Hoover Wilderness and on toward Yosemite’s high country. The classic outing climbs past a chain of alpine lakes, gaining elevation steadily with big views back down to the Bridgeport Valley.

In the winter, I’ve hiked up Black Mountain on a backcountry snowboarding tour but have yet to do any serious hiking out in the area. I’ve also gone a bit past Frog Lakes while fishing, but hopefully I can get out and peak-bag Excelsior one day. Take it slow — the elevation can get to you up here.

A few of the lakes along the trail, with round-trip distances from the trailhead:

• Red Lake: ~0.6 mi round-trip, easy. A quick payoff to a secluded cirque lake.
• Blue Lake: ~0.8 mi round-trip, easy. Clear water, with old Cooney’s Cabin above it.
• Cooney Lake: ~2.4 mi round-trip, moderate. Waterfall-fed and ringed by cliffs.
• Frog Lakes: ~3.3 mi round-trip, moderate. Marshy tarns and wildflowers; a good half-day turnaround.

Find It & Know Before You Go

Getting here is easy. From Highway 395 at the top of Conway Summit — about 12 miles south of Bridgeport, or 13 miles north of Lee Vining — turn west onto Virginia Lakes Road and follow it roughly six miles to the lakes. The road is paved nearly the whole way, with just the last short stretch to the trailhead turning to gravel. Any car can make it.

Know before you go

• Season: Virginia Lakes Road and the campground are seasonal — generally open June through mid-October, closing once the snow flies. The road opens the weekend before the fishing opener in spring.
• No cell service: There’s no reception once you turn off 395, so download maps and directions before you leave the highway.
• Elevation: The basin sits near 9,800 ft and the trailhead’s about 9,850 ft. Take it slow and give yourself time to adjust if you’ve come up from sea level.
• Bears: Black bears are active in the basin — use the bear boxes and store all food and scented items properly, day and night.
• Licenses & permits: A current California fishing license is required to fish. Overnight trips into the Hoover Wilderness need a wilderness permit.

Thanks for reading my first post! Hope I can bring more adventures to you in the future. Virginia Lakes will for sure be a place I come back to every year.