Miller Lake and Upper Sweeney Lake Loop Hike

Immerse yourself in the high country and revel in the beauty of the granite oasis on the Miller Lake and Upper Sweeney Lake Loop Hike. This epic expedition boasts picture-perfect scenery, so make sure your camera is charged! Traveling through a diversity of terrain, including shaded forests and exposed meadows, we encourage hikers to dress in layers as insurance against varying terrain. Note the bugs here are relentless, so make sure you wear bug spray! Additionally, while unlikely, bear encounters are possible, so make sure to carry a can of bug spray.

Embark on your adventure along the Miller Lake and Upper Sweeney Lake Loop from the Pole Creek Trailhead. Setting out from here, you will be led southeast into a swathe of woodlands bisected by Faler Creek. Keeping left at the first intersection, the Pole Creek Trail will eventually deliver you to another junction. Veer right here, and you will be diverted onto the Miller Lake Trail, which traces the wildflower-dotted shoreline of the alpine lake. From here, the path will pass Middle Sweeny Lake, where you will merge onto the northernmost branch of the Sweeny Creek Trail. After passing Upper Sweeny Lake, you will confront another juncture, turn left here, and reconnect with the Pole Creek Trail.

Wander this path to Photographers Point and revel in the expansive views of the Winds that stretch for as far as the eye can see. When you are through admiring the scenery, follow the Pole Creek Trail all the way back to the trailhead.