Ten Lakes
Tucked into a high alpine basin in Yosemite's backcountry, Ten Lakes is a series of glacially carved lakes scattered across open granite terrain, offering some of the most dramatic wilderness compositions in the Sierra Nevada. The reflective surfaces of the lakes pair beautifully with surrounding peaks and open sky, and you have real variety here, from intimate shoreline shots to wide expansive views across the basin. Early morning is ideal, when calm winds give you still reflections and soft light rakes across the granite. A wide angle lens works well for capturing the lakes in context with the landscape, while a telephoto lets you compress distant ridgelines. Plan for a full day or an overnight backpacking trip, as the shortest approach from the Ten Lakes Trailhead is around six miles one way with significant elevation gain. Go in late summer for snow-free trails and peak wildflower color in the surrounding meadows. (Yosemite National Park, California, United States)
