Milk Lake and Five Color Lake are the primary hiking destination within Yading, a 10-kilometre round trip from the Luorong Pasture shuttle bus stop that involves about 400 metres of elevation gain from an already high starting point. Milk Lake sits at around 4,600 metres and is fed by glacial melt from the slopes below Mount Chanadorje; Five Color Lake, at around 4,700 metres, sits above it and is accessible by continuing up the same path for another 30 minutes.
The colour of both lakes changes through the day with light conditions — the milky calcium carbonate suspension of the lower lake catches early morning light differently from afternoon sun, and the reflected peak of Chanadorje appears in the water on calm mornings before the wind rises. The path to the lakes is well-marked, but altitude sickness is common among visitors who have not acclimatised properly; a significant proportion of visitors to the reserve are turned back or require assistance below the upper lakes. Don't rush the lower acclimatisation days.