Virginia Lakes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Virginia Lakes Basin |
|
|---|---|
| Virginia Lakes | |
Virginia Lakes from near the Sierra Crest
|
|
| Floor elevation | 9,819 ft (2,993 m) |
| Geography | |
| Rivers | Virginia Creek |
Virginia Lakes is a beautiful area in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California. It's a basin, which means it's like a big bowl in the mountains filled with several lakes. You can find it in Mono County, California.
The name "Virginia Lakes" can mean the whole group of lakes, or it can refer to two main lakes there: Little Virginia Lake and Upper Virginia Lake. This area is also part of a small community called Virginia Lakes, California.
You can reach Virginia Lakes by taking a short drive off U.S. Highway 395. The turn-off is near Conway Summit, which is about halfway between the towns of Bridgeport, California to the north and Lee Vining, California to the south. The entire area is located within the huge Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest.
Exploring Virginia Lakes
The Virginia Lakes area is a popular spot for people who love the outdoors. It has a small resort, a place where you can arrange horseback trips (called a pack station), and a tiny community.
Fun Things to Do
Many visitors come to Virginia Lakes for different activities:
- Fishing: It's a favorite place for anglers (people who fish) because of all the lakes.
- Hiking: There are many trails to explore. A main trail starts here and leads into the wild Sierra backcountry, even connecting to Yosemite National Park.
- Camping: You can set up a tent and enjoy nature under the stars.
The Lakes of Virginia Basin
The Virginia Lakes Basin is home to several beautiful bodies of water. They are all connected by a stream called Virginia Creek.
Here are some of the lakes you can find there:
- Trumbull Lake
- Red Lake
- Blue Lake
- Upper Virginia Lake
- Little Virginia Lake
- Cooney Lake
- Moat Lake
- The Frog Lakes
