Saddlebag Lake Resort
Water Taxi and Boat Rentals
Our water taxi connects you to the backcountry in minutes. Rent a kayak, bring your dog, or book a guided experience across pristine alpine waters.
Water Taxi:
Thursday – Sunday, 7:30am – 5pm
Boat rentals 7 days a week
Cashless, accepts credit cards
Stand-Up Paddleboard (SUP)
Stable boards, great for flat water cruising.
- 1 Life jacket (PFD)
- Paddle
- Basic orientation
Canoe
Classic canoe, great for exploring the shoreline
- 1 Life jacket (PFD)
- Paddle
- Basic orientation
Best for fishing
Rental Fishing Boat
Motorized aluminum ‘John’ boats, ready to fish.
- Life jackets (PFDs)
- Oars
- Anchor
- Basic orientation
Group friendly
Pontoon Boat
Spacious pontoon — rent the whole boat for the day.
- Life jackets (PFDs)
- 2 Paddles
- Capacity up to 12 passengers
Gateway to Yosemite
Saddlebag Lake Resort
Saddlebag Lake — connected by the high country, restored with care, and here to make your Sierra experience unforgettable.
Fishing
High-alpine trout fishing on Saddlebag Lake and the 20 Lakes Basin. Quick shore session, full day boat, family outing, or tackle the Sierra Grand Slam.
- Canoe, ‘John’, and Pontoon boat available for rental.
Hiking
World-class mountain trails at high altitude. From easy lakeshore walks to challenging alpine hikes.
- Explore the 20 Lakes Basin, a stunning network of alpine lakes all stocked with trout and connected by trail.
- Our Water Taxi drops you off at the far end of Saddlebag Lake, saving you 1.5 miles each way
- Overnight permits can be obtained at the Mono County Visitors Center in Lee Vining or at Tuolumne Meadows Ranger Station.
- Permits are not available at Saddlebag Lake Resort.
Camping
Granite peaks, alpine lakes, and starry nights above 10,000 feet.
- Saddlebag Lake Campground: 10,000 ft · Inyo National Forest
- Lower Lee Vining Campground: 7,300 ft · Lee Vining area
- Ellery Lake Campground: 9,650 ft · Highway 120 west
- Tuolumne Meadows Campground: 8,600 ft · Yosemite National Park
Group friendly
Water Taxi
Cross the lake in about 15–20 minutes and access routes toward the Hoover Wilderness. Classic, efficient, and wildly scenic.
- Thursday – Sunday, 7:30am – 5pm
- Boats depart every hour on the hour
- Boarding 10 min before departure
- Check in at the boathouse
- Pick one-way or round trip
- Dogs & big packs welcome
- Return whenever you’re ready (within operating hours)
Now available
Rentals
Walk up to the boathouse and get on the water. We’ll do a quick orientation and send you off.
- Life jackets (PFDs)
- Hourly & daily rentals
- Return on time — we’ll help you dock
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