Trail Overview
This trail takes you up to the Funnel Lake area, starting and stopping on S32E303 East about 3/4 mile apart in a loop configuration. The route offers views of the Eastern Sierras as you drive up the mountain and passes through a small pine forest partway through. It's a very dusty trail, so use caution if you're following anyone. People have stacked rocks along the way to make some sections easier to navigate. On the lower sections of both sides of the loop, the trail is more sandy with some rocks.
The sections near the top and the lake are almost all rock gardens and more challenging. See the difficulty section for more information. The short trail to Funnel Lake is at the top of this loop, FS32E304A.
Difficulty
Starting from the south loop side, the trail is mostly sandy for the first half mile before hitting a small rock garden. At one mile, you encounter a bigger rock garden, and from mile 1.5 to 2.5, you hit continual rock gardens that become increasingly more difficult and taller, but all obstacles remain under 18 inches, keeping most of the southside of the loop at a 4 rating. However, the rating jumps to 5 when heading back from the lake on the north side of the loop, where you immediately hit a hill with steps, rocks, and tree roots that are over 18 inches. After the initial challenging section, the remaining rock gardens are level 2 to 4. If starting from the north loop side, you'll travel almost 1.5 miles on pretty easy-flowing sandy roads with a few small rock gardens before the last half mile becomes harder, with the very last downhill featuring the level 5 area with larger than 18-inch drop-offs of rock and tree roots. 4x4 is a must, and lockers and traction control are very helpful. Stacking rocks may be needed, but the trail remains a fun challenge.
History
Funnel Lake, near Bishop, California, has a history intertwined with mining and recreation. It's located in the Bishop Creek Canyon, which was a hub for mining activity, particularly during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Later, the area became known for its recreational opportunities, including fishing and hiking.
