Sabrina Lake [2018]

The Sabrina Lake Trail is one of the more popular trails in Inyo National Forest, but given the vast playground that awaits visitors, it still manages to offer solitude and tranquility for those willing to hike to the end. For this trip, we set our destination for Moonlight Falls and the accompanying Moonlight Lake, one of the few alpine lakes at the end of the trail. We were totally unprepared for the beauty that awaited us. This is now my first backpacking trail.

Aug 2018

© Kevin Yao, 2026

This ended up being my favorite backpacking trail so far. On the first night, we stayed at Blue Lake and got ourselves set up right before golden hour.

This ended up being my favorite backpacking trail so far. On the first night, we stayed at Blue Lake and got ourselves set up right before golden hour. (1 of 14)

Playing around with reflections. Apparently, there was rain and snow just a couple of days before we went.

Playing around with reflections. Apparently, there was rain and snow just a couple of days before we went. (2 of 14)

Further in, there was a wide stream crossing. The water is super clear.

Further in, there was a wide stream crossing. The water is super clear. (3 of 14)

Gone wading.

Gone wading. (4 of 14)

Moonlight was our final destination where we spent another night.

Moonlight was our final destination where we spent another night. (5 of 14)

A long cascading stream draining out of Moonlight Lake.

A long cascading stream draining out of Moonlight Lake. (6 of 14)

The top of Moonlight Falls.

The top of Moonlight Falls. (7 of 14)

Mountain haze.

Mountain haze. (8 of 14)

High elevation meadows are the best. We had the place all to ourselves.

High elevation meadows are the best. We had the place all to ourselves. (9 of 14)

Moonlight Falls as the sun is setting.

Moonlight Falls as the sun is setting. (10 of 14)

The last bit of light before getting ready for the night.

The last bit of light before getting ready for the night. (11 of 14)

Took this shot from right outside of my tent. We're definitely far from civilization now.

Took this shot from right outside of my tent. We're definitely far from civilization now. (12 of 14)

What I love about backpacking is waking up to views like this.

What I love about backpacking is waking up to views like this. (13 of 14)

Intensely turquoise waters. Just don't try to go swimming in it, it is freezing.

Intensely turquoise waters. Just don't try to go swimming in it, it is freezing. (14 of 14)

This ended up being my favorite backpacking trail so far. On the first night, we stayed at Blue Lake and got ourselves set up right before golden hour.
Playing around with reflections. Apparently, there was rain and snow just a couple of days before we went.
Further in, there was a wide stream crossing. The water is super clear.
Gone wading.
Moonlight was our final destination where we spent another night.
A long cascading stream draining out of Moonlight Lake.
The top of Moonlight Falls.
Mountain haze.
High elevation meadows are the best. We had the place all to ourselves.
Moonlight Falls as the sun is setting.
The last bit of light before getting ready for the night.
Took this shot from right outside of my tent. We're definitely far from civilization now.
What I love about backpacking is waking up to views like this.
Intensely turquoise waters. Just don't try to go swimming in it, it is freezing.