In all our trips up to the Alpine Lakes Wilderness area we have never ventured beyond Snow Lake. We have either gotten a late start, had somewhere we had to be or simply did not have the inclination or enough energy to do so, but yesterday we decided to go the distance. You continue west along the main trail around Snow Lake. The trip to Gem Lake adds 1 1/2 miles (each way) and 850 vertical feet of rough and rocky trail, but this additional height gives you some of the best views of Snow Lake as you circle around it. Gem Lake is certainly worth the extra miles and is the quickest way to get away from the Snow Lake crowds. 
