Pyramid-Ball Lake Trail #43

The trailhead to Pyramid-Ball Lakes Trail #43 (elevation 5,920) is ½ mile from the road off Trail #13. A registration box intended for all upper Trout Creek area users is located at this junction. Take a left at the registration box to follow trail #43. The trail winds through spruce and alpine fir at a gentle grade. 

Bridges cross numerous creeks and seasonal drainages along the trail. At the ¾ mile mark, the trail approaches Pyramid Lake at its outlet. The hourglass shaped lake is set in a sub-alpine cirque with a headwall and scree field on the southwest side. Trail #43 crosses the bridge at the outlet, then switchbacks into a steep and rugged ascent from Pyramid Lake bowl. 

After reaching the top of the headwall at the 1 ¼ mile mark, the trail takes a short, less steep pitch through stunted trees and boulder strewn meadow to a trail junction. The right-hand trail leads 100 yards to the upper Ball Lake (elevation 6,708 feet). The left fork leads another 0.5 miles down to the lower Ball Lake. Both Ball Lakes sit at the base of another huge granite headwall with large scree fields descending to their edges.