About Spectacle Lakes (Upper)
Spectacle Lakes (Upper) is one of the two Spectacle Lakes set in stark granite scenery at the foot of Ypsilon Mountain. The pair sits at 11,340 ft in the Mummy Range; viewed from above, the two lakes resemble eyeglasses — the source of the name. This is the upper (western) of the pair.
Access shares the Ypsilon Lake Trail from Lawn Lake Trailhead. Maintained trail ends at Ypsilon Lake; from there it's roughly 1.7 additional miles of fourth-class climbing to reach the Spectacle basin. The route involves real exposure and route-finding skills.
Both Spectacle Lakes are rated strenuous and not recommended for casual visitors. The setting — sheer granite walls dropping into deep alpine pools — is some of the most dramatic terrain in the park's north interior.
