The Great Outdoors

Day Three

Cloverleaf Creek Campsite to Mackenzie Lake

Fed by glacial meltwater and snowpack, the rivers and lakes in the Sierras are renowned for their glittering, crystal-clear waters.

Popular activities in these areas of the parks include fishing, kayaking, and swimming, with many such lakes set against a majestic mountain backdrop.

Be sure to pack a camera (and your swimsuit)!

—Henry Herrington, Backpacking the Sierras: A Beginner’s Handbook (Fourth Edition)