Trip Notes - YNP: Helen Lake/Kuna Crest

Photo: Nick's photo of Christina climbing the boulders of Kuna Crest with Helen Lake below and the Walker Fire in the background.

Photo Album: #158.  

Trail Head: Mono Pass Day Use parking lot.

Fee: $30 YNP entrance fee or pass.

Description: Moderately-strenuous 11.1-mile out and back on the Mono Pass trail to Spillway Lake, then cross-country up to Helen Lake. Also, a 15-mile cross-country loop from Helen Lake up to Kuna Crest South, navigate the chain of lakes under Kuna Crest, loop around and meet back at the trail somewhere near the Spillway Lake outlet.

Elevation gain: 1300 feet from 9626 at the trail head to 10,953 ft. at Helen Lake. 12,207 ft. at Kuna Crest South.

Flora: Mountain Sorrel, Swamp Onion, Tundra Aster, Sierra Gentian, Lemmon's Paintbrush, Little Elephant's Head, Seep-spring Arnica, Club-moss Ivesia, Pval-leaved Cushion Buckwheat, Mountain Redtop, Lyall's Lupine, Bolander's Yampah, False Dandelion, Green Raillardella, Applegate's Paintbrush, Sierra Arnica.

Fauna: Mule Deer, White-tailed Ptarmigan.

Dinner: Trail-gate at the trail head.

Participants: (13) Nicole Barraza, Monica Rose-Casey, Jeanette Farley, Chuck Flores, Steve Fotheringham, Barb Hayes, Ralph Medema, Christine Santos, Christina Phillips, Mary Tidball, Nick, Eric & Becky Teberg.

Comments: The Walker Fire was just a few hours old at the time. The hike to Helen Lake was amazing. Christina, Ralph and Nick climbed Kuna Crest South and circled around the lakes for a 15-mile trek with a 2600 ft. elevation change. We said good-bye to Chuck.