Black and white photo of a hiker sitting on a rock gazing at Banner Peak across Thousand Island Lake.

Banner Day

Thousand Island Lake, Ansel Adams Wilderness, California

Arrival evening at Thousand Island Lake, the most photographed water on the John Muir Trail. Sometimes the icon is best shot by way of the people looking at it.

Nikon Z 7_2 · 17-35mm f/2.8D · 17mm · f/5 · 1/1600 · ISO 560

July 16, 2025

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More from Thousand Island Lake, Ansel Adams Wilderness, California

Six-second twilight exposure of Banner Peak over Thousand Island Lake with pink afterglow on the summit.

More from JMT

A fisherman casting into Purple Lake in morning light while another hiker watches from the shore trees.The Milky Way core over two backpacking tents at a wilderness camp above Rainbow Falls at night.Black and white view up the columnar basalt cliff of Devils Postpile with a pine at the rim.Hikers resting beside the Lyell Fork in Tuolumne Meadows below granite domes, Yosemite National Park.Cathedral Peak reflected in still water at sunset under textured cloud, Yosemite National Park.