Blue Canyon is a glaciated volcanic canyon in the Emigrant Wilderness (Stanislaus National Forest) in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California. The hike up the canyon to Blue Canyon Lake requires significant effort (stream crossings, trail finding, steep terrain, loose rocks) but in return it offers terrific plants, rocks and water.

Blue Canyon Lake

The lake at the top of Blue Canyon is crystal-clear and is surrounded by volcanic rock formations jutting skyward. With snow melting directly into the lake, the water was too frigid for me to swim in or even dip my feet in for long.

I brought my lightweight camp chair and took a brief lakeside rest, enjoying the natural tranquility before making my way back down the canyon. This area is a hidden gem: on that mid-August Tuesday afternoon I only saw one person and I had the lake to myself.

Birds and UFAs

I was all alone at the lake, or so I thought … until something small zoomed and buzzed towards me as I took in the alpine scenery. I didn’t get a great look, but based on its chirps and helicopter-like motion through the air it was a hummingbird. What a surprise! “Eagles, falcons, vultures, and woodpeckers?” – sure. I was not expecting to see such a tiny, powerful avian up so high in the mountains. Note to self: add “living large at 10,000 feet” to the list of amazing hummingbird attributes.

On my way back down the canyon I saw an unidentified flying animal (UFA) slowly and methodically visiting the taller, bell-shaped wildflowers. My first thought was hummingbird but that didn’t seem quite right. It lacked sleek looks and confident/sharp maneuvers. Instead the body was a bit awkward, about the size and shape of a Madeleine cookie, and its movement was just a touch on the slow side.

After much post-trip research, I determined it to be a yellow and black pollinator moth, colloquially called – wait for it – a hummingbird moth (and also “flying lobster”)! Of all the species of moths in that group, it seems most like a Hemaris diffinis to me.

Here is a video of the hummingbird moth at half speed:

Video at regular speed: https://youtu.be/ooTUVNE6dM8

And a few frame stills from the video. Yeah, I need a “real” camera to get higher quality shots.

The Hike

Basic info:

• Difficulty: moderate to strenuous
• Distance: 3.6 miles, out and back
• Elevation gain: 1,020 feet
• Starting elevation: 8,980 feet
• Time: it took me about 1 hr 45 min to get to the lake, though I stopped to check out wildflowers and find the trail (see below)

Finding the start: There isn’t any sign marking the trail. According to Hiking Northern California by Ron Adkison (2000) there are two starting points along CA Route 108, an upper and a lower. The two trails start out on different sides of the main creek for Blue Canyon, and meet shortly upstream.

I took the lower trail but the path wasn’t obvious and I spent a lot of time and mental cycles figuring out if I was going the right way or about to experience the canyon bottom the hard way. I definitely recommend the upper trail, which starts at a turnout ~100 yards before the “9000 feet elevation” sign (photo below). That path is more established and also sprouted more wildflowers.

From the turnout you go down the hill (there is a visible path) and hop over the first creek. From there it is up, up, up the canyon – mostly following the creek to its source.

The trail doesn’t have much shade, so be prepared for continued sun exposure. Bring plenty of water – the two medium-sized water bottles (maybe 1.25 liters) I had weren’t enough (time to invest in a more serious hydration option!)

Additional details:

• Trail description on alltrails.com
• Someone’s YouTube drone footage at the lake
• Description of Hummingbird moths (insectidentification.org)