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Photo: Luke Lempart Image 1 of / 20 Caption Close Image 2 of 20 The South Ridge Trail leads to an overlook of the lake The South Ridge Trail leads to an overlook of the lake Photo: Simon Williams/The Nature Conservancy Image 3 of 20 Free kayaks and motorboats are available for use Free kayaks and motorboats are available for use Photo: Simon Williams/The Nature Conservancy Image 4 of 20 Heading out on free kayaks at Independence Lake Heading out on free kayaks at Independence Lake Photo: Simon Williams/The Nature Conservancy Image 5 of 20 Image 6 of 20 Spawning pair of cutthroat trout in Upper Independence Creek Spawning pair of cutthroat trout in Upper Independence Creek Photo: Mike Conner /The Nature Conservancy Image 7 of 20 Lahontan cutthroat trout in Upper Independence Creek Lahontan cutthroat trout in Upper Independence Creek Photo: Simon Williams/The Nature Conservancy Image 8 of 20 Lahontan cutthroat trout with spectacular colors Lahontan cutthroat trout with spectacular colors Photo: Mike Conner/The Nature Conservancy Image 9 of 20 Bear takes a sniff at picnic site at Independence Lake Bear takes a sniff at picnic site at Independence Lake Photo: Dave Mandrella/The Nature Conservancy Image 10 of 20 Image 11 of 20 Bears will often use trees as scratching posts and leave deep gouge marks Bears will often use trees as scratching posts and leave deep gouge marks Photo: Mike Conner/The Nature Conservancy Image 12 of 20 As spring arrives, "Mahala Mat" wildflowers front the forest near lake shore As spring arrives, "Mahala Mat" wildflowers front the forest near lake shore Photo: Simon Williams/The Nature Conservancy Image 13 of 20 Gorgeous shot of butterfly in spring at Independence Lake Preserve Gorgeous shot of butterfly in spring at Independence Lake Preserve Photo: Mike Conner/The Nature Conservancy Image 14 of 20 A pristine Sierra meadow at 7,000 feet in Reserve A pristine Sierra meadow at 7,000 feet in Reserve Photo: Simon Williams/The Nature Conservancy Image 15 of 20 Image 16 of 20 This is one of the few places that can change how you feel This is one of the few places that can change how you feel Photo: Simon Williams/The Nature Conservancy Image 17 of 20 Quiet morning kayak launch on crystal water Quiet morning kayak launch on crystal water Photo: Simon Williams/The Nature Conservancy Image 18 of 20 Independence Lake watershed basin is framed by mountain rims Independence Lake watershed basin is framed by mountain rims Photo: Simon Williams/The Nature Conservancy Image 19 of 20 Cutthroat trout doing their thing to make little cutthroats Cutthroat trout doing their thing to make little cutthroats Photo: Simon Williams/The Nature Conservancy Image 20 of 20 Sierra lake's wildlife show, free kayaks (16 pics) 1 / 20 Back to Gallery

If you hit it right at Independence Lake, high in the Sierra Nevada, the scene can be like a wildlife movie filmed in Yellowstone.

Along a stream that feeds into Independence Lake, bears sometimes emerge from forest to feed on spawning cutthroat trout, just as occurs in the Yellowstone River above Yellowstone Lake. Some of the females have two cubs with them.

They all hope to snatch a big fish. Bald eagles and osprey can wait nearby, then soar, hover and dive for the leftovers. Independence Lake Preserve is also the location of verified wolverine sightings, by Preserve Manager David Mandrella in 2012 and 2013.

At Independence Lake, parking, access, and the use of boats with motors, kayaks and float tubes is free.

There is no other destination in California where you can get use of a motorboat, kayak or float tube for free. The Nature Conservancy, which owns Independence Lake Preserve, is showcasing its crown jewel in its fifth year of operation.

The lake is full and beautiful. Despite the drought and many reservoirs already half empty, Independence is right to the brim. It is located about 20 miles north of Truckee, nestled at 6,949 feet in a forested basin. As spring arrives to the high country, the wildlife spectacle is expected to last just another week or so.

Independence and its watershed is best known for its trout, with one of only two wild, self-sustaining lake populations of Lahontan cutthroat trout in the world (the other is Summit Lake/Quinn River in Nevada). The lake also has schools of smaller kokanee salmon and a sprinkling of huge but elusive brown trout.

To see the full story, including the legends of giant trout, a ghost that wears a plaid shirt, and how The Nature Conservancy is providing access to a lake that was off limits for 50 years, get the Thursday Chronicle or check at www.sfgate.com/outdoors.

Contact: The Nature Conservancy, Nevada Field Office, (775) 322-4990, Nevada@tnc.org; www.nature.org/IndependenceLake.

Tom Stienstra is The San Francisco Chronicle’s outdoors writer. E-mail: tstienstra@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @StienstraTom

What sets you free? Hike. Bike. Camp. Fish. Boat. Wildlife watch. Explore.