(13.5 miles--5 hours)
At the very source of Bridalveil Creek and only five hours' easy walk
from Glacier Point lies the picturesque Ostrander Lake, famous since
the early days for its splendid fishing. The round trip from Glacier
Point Hotel (twenty-seven miles) may be made in one day by good
hikers, but it is far better to camp at the lake at least one night in
order to be there for the best fishing. Motorists, by parking machines
at the trail junction six miles southwest of Glacier Point on the
Chinquapin Road, can easily make the round trip (fifteen miles) in one
day.
From ~Glacier Point~ we follow the ~Chinquapin Road~ about six miles
to the point where a sign indicates the ~Buck Camp and Ostrander Lake
Trail~ turning to the left. This trail bears south, crossing a small
tributary to ~Bridalveil Creek~, then continues through the open
lodgepole pine forest and crosses the main stream about two miles from
the road. A short distance beyond, the ~Buck Camp Trail~ (Trail Trip
21) continues up the south branch of the creek. Our trail turns
abruptly to the east (left) and again crosses the main stream,
following up the northeast bank. In the first two miles the trail is
good, but the remaining three miles are somewhat rough and steep.
~Ostrander Lake~ (Alt. 8600) is beautifully set in a glacial
amphitheater on the north side of ~Horse Ridge~ (Alt. 9600), which
towers 1000 feet above. It is shallow on the north and west sides but
deep under the bluffs, where are generally deep snowbanks. The lake
was stocked with rainbow trout in 1892, 1893, 1899 and 1911, and with
eastern brook trout in 1893 and 1899. Fishing is excellent.
~Buena Vista Lake~ (see Trail Trip 22) is about four miles distant and
may be reached by walking southeast about two miles through open
forest (no trail) on the north slope of Horse Ridge and joining the
~Buena Vista Trail~ in ~Buena Vista Canyon~. Here we may turn south up
the canyon, at the head of which is Buena Vista Lake.