Pets allowed
Allowed
Elevation Gain
1,900.00 ft (579.12 m)
Trail type
There-and-back
Distance
7.80 mi (12.55 km)
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

Tucked away in a granite valley under the shadow of Ycatapom Peak, Lilypad Lake is a quaint location in the Trinity Alps Wilderness. Most lakes in this wilderness are receive far less visitors than places in the Sierra Nevada or the Cascades, making them great for more private backpacking trips. Lilypad Lake, however, sees far less visitors than other popular destinations in the Trinity Alps. Part of this reason may be the lack of a deep or large lake for swimming or swimming spots, but Lilypad Lake still makes a great destination, especially if you seek solitude with a lake on one side of your camp and a small meadow on the other. The nearby Ycatapom Peak offers a great day hike scramble for better views of nearby wilderness areas.

Lilypad Lake's surface is almost entirely covered with water lilies during the summer. The main species of water lily in this lake is Nuphar polysepala, or the Indian or yellow pond-lily. The scientific name derives from the Greek word for water lily, noúfaro. Polsepalum means many sepals. Sepals are protective coverings for an angiosperm's flower in bud. This species of water lily can be found from Northern California all the way north to Alaska. According to some sources, the seed of this species can be popped like popcorn and eaten! (Though you should never eat wild plants unless you are very knowledgeable on the subject.)

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Spring
Summer
Fall

Congestion

Low

Parking Pass

Not Required

Pros

Unique lake covered in lily pads. Solitude.

Cons

Difficult to find a swimming spot.

Trailhead Elevation

4,158.00 ft (1,267.36 m)

Features

Backcountry camping

Location

Nearby Adventures

Comments

07/05/2024
Thank you for this information! It helped us re-route due to road closures. We went in and stayed one night and it was really lovely. Not the best road situations right now, but it is possible. Check the forest service website.
Have updates, photos, alerts, or just want to leave a comment?
Sign In and share them.