June Lake

Imagine swimming in cool, blue waters with a clear sky above and the powdery white-and-gray Sierra Nevada on your horizon — that's June Lake. If you'd rather spend your time on the water than in it, anglers can complete a "Sierra Grand Slam" by catching all four varieties of the lake's trout in a single day. June Lake, one of the area's largest natural lakes, covers 320 acres and, according to previous visitors, is especially beautiful in the autumn when the leaves turn. Its epic landscape may look familiar; it has appeared in a number of car commercials.

June Lake in northern California is a popular destination for trout fishermen and visitors looking for quaint mountain towns. Summers are mild and even cool by southern California standards due to the high altitude, but winter conditions can be treacherous. The town and lake are an easy drive east of Yosemite National Park, allowing visitors to see many of the region's most notable areas quickly and easily.