Virginia Lakes Rd. sunset drive

Travel up Virgina Lakes Rd. from HWY 395 to Trumbull Lake campground in the Humboldt Toiyabe National Forest. Early October sunset and fall colors. Turnoff is at the top of Conway summit north of the town of Lee Vining and south of Bridgeport. Virginia Lakes is well known to campers and anglers who enjoy relatively high elevation Eastern Sierra scenery. Hiking west further into the Sierras will lead to Yosemite National Park wilderness areas. The ghost town of Bodie is to the east, easily accessed from a road junction a few miles further north on HWY 395. At about 9,000' elevation Trumbull Lake campground can be chilly at night and elevation effects may be felt by those un-acclimated to the thinner air. Moving slowly while setting up camp and maybe planning a few acclimation days before trying any strenuous hiking can increase the Sierran enjoyment. The camping season is short at that elevation. Many years see reduced access due to lasting snow coverage in the campground, sometimes well into July. Bears are a feature in the Virginia Lakes area and require precautions with food and trash. The black bear's appetite and food drive is as impressive as it is seemingly insatiable.