The Ottoway Lakes Loop

The Merced River flows into Echo Valley.

Echo Valley

The Ottoway Lakes Loop, September 2004

Further along the trail there is an open knoll with your first views of Echo Valley and the high country above. Beyond the knoll the trail drops down on rocky trail to level Echo Valley. When last I was there about 12 years ago, the area had undergone a burn that had just about wiped out all the trees of this valley. Now I saw only little evidence of the burn and the burned trees were replaced with thousands of new young green trees from a foot or two high to 30 or so feet high, already a thick forest. The ancient shallow lake bottom provided a fertile ground for the new trees.

Echo valley ahead, with the echo creek canyon on the right where a trail climbs towards Clouds Rest and Sunrise HSC.

The trail wandered around a bit while heading for the Echo Creek Bridge near the next trail junction in more mature shaded forest. Beyond the bridge and junction, again festooned with iron Yosemite trail signs, the trail took off southwest to exit Echo Valley.

Ten years ago this was how Echo Valley Looked: burned. It is quite different today with a lot of new growth. Looking back towards Merced Lake.

More young forest decorated the way and one cannot but speculate that a shortcut could be had going towards Merced Lake, but I would bet there is a lot of fallen timber and thick growth in the way. The trail would be faster.

10 years ago, the valley was just beginning to recover from the burn. I believe this is looking south.

The trail met the river once again and the views became more attractive and open. More sculpted and glacier smoothed granite decorated the countryside, but it was only a prelude to what lay ahead.