Lake Ellis and Lake Michaelson are two of Mount Kenya's most iconic alpine lakes, both accessed via the scenic eastern Chogoria Route but offering completely different wilderness experiences. Lake Ellis sits at a lower, gentler altitude of 3,455 metres nestled within open, rolling moorlands, making its shallow crater waters ideal for relaxed camping, trout fishing, and easy acclimatisation with wide views of the main peaks. In contrast, Lake Michaelson is a dramatic, emerald-green tarn hidden at a grueling 4,000 metres deep within the Gorges Valley, completely hemmed in by the towering 300-meter vertical cliffs of The Temple and surrounded by prehistoric giant groundsels. While Lake Ellis provides a peaceful and easily accessible introduction to the mountain, Lake Michaelson offers a raw, isolated, and freezing high-altitude sanctuary for seasoned trekkers