Lower Palisade Lake

Lower Palisade Lake lies still beneath the granite walls of the Palisades, with broken cloud overhead and golden grasses along the shore.

I found this high Sierra lake tucked between massive granite peaks, with a few patches of snow still visible on the distant summits. The mid-day sun was bright, highlighting the texture of the rock walls, and the clouds were building, promising an afternoon thunderstorm.

Sierra Nevada, California, USA · 2026