Elizabeth Lake & Unicorn Peak ~ 4.4 mi, 830’ Ascent, 9510’ Elevation climb through lodgepole pine and mountain hemlock forest the trail parallels Unicorn Creek passing through large meadows..from the lake craggy peaks Unicorn, Cathedral, Ragged and Mount Conness.
Our last day in Tuolumne had to, of course, include one more “ceremonial” campsite shuffle - across the road and 4 sites over. Tomorrow the campground would close for the season and our 50+ mile trek into the Valley on two wheels would begin. After organizing our gear in preparation for our first actual ride, we still had just enough afternoon left for one more wander into the forest.
Elizabeth Lake happened to be just over 2 miles from the campground - a perfect distance, after our 14 mile excursion the day before.
What amazed me the most about this area - in less than a 6 mile radius, each hike we did was uniquely different. At Mono Pass, it was twisted tree bark around every corner. At Lembert Dome, it was a super-sized granite boulder scape. At Cathedral Lakes, it was a mosaic of granite, sky, water and splashes of fall color. And at Elizabeth Lake, it was an incredible carpet-ride of brilliant meadows aglow in the afternoon light. I still don’t think photos can do it justice.
I wasn’t sure what to expect coming to Tuolumne. It far surpassed my expectations and makes that ever-elusive lottery worth trying again.
