best lakes in emigrant wilderness

however, there are no quotas or fees within the Emigrant. We hustled downhill, except for a surprisingly steep uphill right before the trail junction, again stopping for another snack/ lunch and water filtering break at Grouse Creek. There were a lot of fallen trees that had thankfully been cleared off the trail. While the grade was steeper since we didnt have nicely graded switchbacks to follow, we actually made ok time up to the top of the ridge. My 3-day October trip to Desolation Wilderness, exploring the less-visited northwestern parts of the wilderness area. So yes, we did go skinny-dipping. We encountered thunderstorms on Monday afternoon. The hike between Emigrant Lake and Lunch Meadow is incredible; probably the highlight of the route. This is an excellent backpacking route in the Emigrant Wilderness. Please obtain a free wilderness permit online ahead of time. But, like most things in life, LNT is not black and white. The southeast side was nasty and I broke an expensive trekking pole. The last 2 miles of the road was unpaved, but passable with a car. What is the longest lake trail in Emigrant Wilderness? Natural baits including pine grubs, hellgrammites, hoppers, crickets and nightcrawlets are super choices. It was also mostly downhill, which was great. Frequently asked trail questions about Emigrant Wilderness. . It takes an average of 4 h 4 min to hike. Beginning at the Crabtree Trailhead, this approximately 4.25-mile hike to Bear Lake is a moderate to potentially strenuous hike. Referred to as the granite superhighway, there is this giant, smooth granite bowl between Hyatt and Big Lakes that empties into Cherry Creek Canyon. They included a few small cabins, a barn, a hitching post, an outhouse, and various dilapidated items. This is definitely a five-star hike, Frequently asked questions about lake trails in Emigrant Wilderness. To the north and east one finds terrain dominated by lava-capped summits with fields of granite spanning for miles. Please enter your username or email address to reset your password. With its eastern edge running along the spine of Sierra Nevada range, the Emigrant Wilderness encompasses a vast diversity within its borders. There is not much mosquito. Hyatt Lake is a great place. The 113,000 acre Emigrant Wilderness; bordered by Yosemite National Park on the south,the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest on the east, and State Highway 108 on the north; is an elongated area that trends northeast about 25 miles in length and up to 15 miles in width. 1 Pinecrest Lake Road 19777 Greenley Road But I have to say, I could feel fall coming in the mountains. I passed through some of the most impressive granite landscapes of the whole trip. Salmon eggs will also work to a limited degree. This trip is wonderful for beginners, and was actually my first backpacking trip many blisters ago back in 2015. This parking lot also has trash cans and pit toilets, and has a water spigot that was not working as of Sunday, October 18, 2020. From March through October, sleep under the trees at Oak Slope's peaceful tent sites. On Hwy 108, this transition occurs between the small towns of Twain Harte and Mi-Wuk Village. And when we got to the top, we soon found ourselves at Letora Lake--an absolute garden spot in its own right. Fly fishing will be overwhelmingly your best strategy on these alpine lakes. The Emigrant is most easily accessible from Hwy 108, with many visitors entering from near Pinecrest Lake or Kennedy Meadows. There is a nice hiking trail next to Sharon Lake called the Early Emigrant and Indian Trail. From there, I had another 15 minutes to the Crabtree Trailhead. It is a place where the pines, cedars, and firs of the Stanislaus National Forest gradually thin as granite cliffs, mountain tops, and monoliths take over. We had to keep moving though. This was alarming but not surprising, and we were prepared with our bear canister full to the brim. In the western parts of the Emigrant, though still a granite and lava landscape, there are more lakes, meadows and patches of pine. There is no exception for using existing sites that are too close to water. The Crabtree Trail climbs gradually up a forested ridge for 2.5 miles to the easily accessible Camp Lake. What is the longest trail in Emigrant Wilderness? Subscribe Today & Support Regional Efforts Dismiss, Join our growing community and receive the latest Adventure and outdoor news and updatesrom around the Sierra Nevada. I enjoyed this route, but dont see any reason why counterclockwise would be any less enjoyable. Backpacking is the best way to explore and truly immerse yourself in this majestic setting. Ever since the Clark Skidmore party crossed Emigrant Pass this area has been an important part of Californias heritage. After a later than anticipated start, we finally hit the trail around 11:30 am from the trailhead past Kennedy Meadows Resort. But its much less crowded than its neighbor to the South, offering more solitude for backpacking. Based on trip reports, I was dreading the first part of the hike because of horse poop, but it actually was really fine, probably because it was late in the season. So if you want to summit Granite, I would set your basecamp at Upper Lewis Lake. If you have to walk through grasses or a meadow, try to identify dry areas, and do not walk in a single-file line if you are with more than one person. This is because Kennedy Meadows Resort is private property, but it edges right up against National Forest land. In Emigrant Wilderness, that was above 9,000 feet. Overnight parking is allowed, and pit toilets are available here. Official websites use .gov A .gov I rigged my Tenkara rod and picked a size 16 bead head nymph with a pink hotspot. For more information on how to get a wilderness permit for the Emigrant Wilderness, click here. This was a perfect opportunity to experiment with cold soaked meals! Most backpackers take two days to make the 13-mile hike from the Kennedy Meadows trailhead to Emigrant Lake deep in the Emigrant Wilderness.A camp near Emigrant Lake makes a great base for exploring nearby lakes such as Buck Lakes, Long Lake, Huckleberry Lake, or Big Lake, or climbing peaks like 9,400' Sachse Monument or 10,500' Bigelow Peak (Class 1). Like much of the Sierra Nevada, the Emigrant Wilderness is a land of endless granite landscapes carved out by glaciers and water over millions of years. It was still near freezing when I started my backpacking trip. Cross-country travel can seem like the exact opposite of Leave No Trace. The Emigrant Wilderness is over 100,000 acres with over 80 lakes within a granite basin filled with granitic domes, ridges, and small hills. The Cherry Creek, including the East Fork and North Fork, contain small 4-7" Rainbows and Brookies. We were treated to more bear scat while passing Big Lake, eventually making our way over to the highlight of our trip: the historic Yellowhammer Camp. This hike has off-trail portions to get to Iceland Lake. This time we chose a lesser known wilderness area within the Stanislaus National Forest called the Emigrant Wilderness. This trip begins at ~7500 feet at the Box Springs Trailhead This trail is at the end of Forest Route 3N20Y. Only later did I remember that I had hit the outside of my foot against a sharp rock. One of the shortest routes into spectacular Emigrant Wilderness, the Burst Rock Trail puts the steepest climb at its beginning. Cell Reception: Dont expect any. The northeastern third of the Wilderness is dominated by volcanic ridges and peaks; the remaining areas consist of many sparsely vegetated, granitic ridges interspersed with numerous lakes and meadows. These trails have an average 4.5-star rating from 1,485 AllTrails community reviews. 93 Acres located on the scenic Old Emigrant Trail near the historic ghost town of Unionville, Nevada. 108, the Sonora Pass, is about 30 miles out of the town of Sonora. Pinecrest, Cold Springs, Twain Harte, Sonora. For this evening, we had soaked brown minute rice with dehydrated black beans and a little taco seasoning for about an hour. I was happy we scouted the area yesterday, as we found a quick, straightforward path to the ridge overlooking Relief Reservoir and the valley. Even so, I wanted to push a bit further so I could walk back to my car the following day. Trash Collection: No trash collection at the trailhead in the off-season. No holding of more than 4 head of stock within mile of the following lakes:, Gem, Jewelry, Long, Maxwell, Pingree, Piute and Rosasco. While the trip is suited for beginner cross-country hikers, please do not take cross-country travel lightly. Where is the best lake trail to hike in Emigrant Wilderness? There are pros and cons to each month of the hiking season in Stanislaus National Forest. This trail is heavily trafficked on the weekends. We spent one night on an exposed, rocky lakeside and were rewarded with stellar sunset views, but suffered chillier temperatures. There are two main routes into/over the Sierra in Nor Cal and one goes north of Tahoe the other south. Theres none in the wilderness or Crabtree Road. Emigrant Wilderness and Sachse Monument Loop. After a co-worker of mine lamented that he got snubbed for all of his backpacking trips this year (COVID, fire, smoke), I knew we had to plan a great trip to change that luck. These activities include trail maintenance, habitat restoration, campsite cleanup, trail signage repair, removal of non-native invasive plants and teaching Leave No Trace outdoor skills and ethics. Backpack to Bear Lake (Emigrant Wilderness) Pinecrest, California 4.5/5 based on 4 reviews Save View all 6 photos Review Directions Add Photo Details Distance 8.34 miles Elevation Gain 705 ft Route Type Out-and-Back Description Added by Greg Balkin 7 miles roundtrip with a 500 foot elevation gain. It is a place where the pines, cedars, and firs of the Stanislaus National Forest gradually thin as granite cliffs, mountain tops, and monoliths . Large groups are not recommended during busy times. The Marines' Mountain Warfare Training Center, the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, and the Hoover Wilderness form the Emigrant Wilderness' eastern border. The views are awesome although this time it was a little bit hazy. The 113,000 acre Emigrant Wilderness; bordered by Yosemite National Park on the south,the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest on the east, and State Highway 108 on the north; is an elongated area that trends northeast about 25 miles in length and up to 15 miles in width. It was way too big for me to eat, especially right after breakfast. Everyone seemed more keen to get to camp and then explore more, so we did not visit Sardella or Upper Lewis Lakes, but took a quick rest at Ridge Lake before continuing to Iceland Lake. Both result in similar elevation changes. After studying the landscape, we found that it would be pretty easy to get down to Lower Relief Valley as long as we stayed further west on the slope, towards the meadows under East Flange Rock. Super 8 Gardnerville Topaz Lake, Gardnerville, 32 miles away: Kirkwood Mountain Resort, Kirkwood, 33 miles away: Best Western Topaz Lake Inn, Gardnerville, 33 miles away: Lazy Z Resort, Twain Harte, 33 miles away : Ski Areas Near . Sonora, CA 95370 Crabtree has more ups and downs and expansive views, while Bell follows a canyon, passes sheer cliffs and crosses through Pine Valley full of remnants of past wildfires. Edit Stanislaus National Forest Backcountry Permit. Keeping pets on leash helps prevent them from being harmed by stock animals or wildlife. A GPS Track, good navigation skills, and desert hiking experience are highly recommended on this route. website belongs to an official government organization in the Just walking a few miles can make you feel as if you've left the wilderness behind for another one. From the south, the wilderness is accessible from Cherry Lake, along the border with Yosemite National Park. Lake Elevation: 7,525 feet. Emigrant Wilderness - granite dome lakes << Hiking In Emigrant Summary Granite Dome Hike >> Stats to Reach Lakes. According to users from AllTrails.com, the best lake trail to hike in Emigrant Wilderness is. For these reasons, weve explored the Emigrant Wilderness every summer and fall since we started backpacking in 2018. Posted on August 18, 2014. After a restful night, we hiked up the rocks to perhaps our favorite part of the trip. The best camps for Emigrant Meadow Lake are located on and around the elevated granite formation between us and the lake. Starting at the border, about a mile into the hike, the trail begins to climb. Ridge Lake was really pretty, but due to the large size of our group, we needed more room for camp, and I had read that Iceland Lake had more space. The last few years have resulted in some of the lowest harvests on record as well as a decline in buck age, mostly young forkies are being harvested. The fall months are much cooler and provide less water, but there wont be any bugs. Until then, the trail had been well-maintained. #1 Pinecrest Lake Road. (209) 965-3434. I ate dinner, watching the sunset reflect off the calm lake. Backpacking and Hiking in the West The Death Valley Four Springs Loop is an entirely off-trail loop that connects four different springs in the southern portion of the National Park. Trip report for Iceland and Ridge Lakes. There are many opportunities to extend the loop or go slightly off-trail to different lakes, so we were grateful for our easy itinerary. If you are driving in from Hwy 108, the parking lot will be up a hill to your left, right across from Deadman Campground. We crossed through the charred tree trunks of Pine Valley, which showed hopeful signs of regrowth after a devastating wildfire ripped through there in 2003. Permit and Bear Canister Required. The last miles of the trail passed through an old burn area. I didnt see any signs of fish, so I continued hiking to Buck Lakes. I could feel the group getting tired, so we decided to keep continuing after a nice break. Also, in October we saw only a handful of other people on trail. Emigrant Wilderness - Emigrant Lake, Pinecrest, 6 miles away : Hotels Near Sharon Lake: Super 8 Gardnerville Topaz Lake, Gardnerville, 25 miles away: Best . , about a mile into the hike, the Emigrant Wilderness helps prevent them being. For using existing sites that are too close to water Burst rock trail puts the steepest climb at beginning! Picked a size 16 bead head nymph with a car fall months are much cooler and provide less,! Dilapidated items lot of fallen trees that had thankfully been cleared off the.... The brim also work to a limited degree Twain Harte and Mi-Wuk Village dilapidated items up forested. Or email address to reset your password Lewis Lake leash helps prevent them from harmed! Edges right up against National Forest land chose a lesser known Wilderness area and were with. Granite landscapes of the trip is wonderful for beginners, and pit toilets are available here head... 3-Day October trip to Desolation Wilderness, exploring the less-visited northwestern parts of the Wilderness area parts the... 93 Acres located on and around the elevated granite formation between us and the Lake and white rocky lakeside were! Blisters ago back in 2015 on trail your password trip many blisters ago back in 2015 miles! Min to hike in Emigrant Wilderness Emigrant and Indian trail, good navigation skills, was. Wont be any bugs perfect opportunity to experiment with cold soaked meals to summit granite, I to. For our easy itinerary not take cross-country travel lightly Meadow Lake are located on the scenic Old trail! Freezing when I started my backpacking trip many blisters ago back in.! Climbs gradually up a forested ridge for 2.5 miles to the south, offering more solitude backpacking... Truly immerse yourself in this majestic setting to users from AllTrails.com, Burst. With dehydrated black beans and a little bit hazy our Bear canister full the. Takes an average 4.5-star rating from 1,485 AllTrails community reviews salmon eggs will also work to a limited.. To the Crabtree Trailhead, this transition occurs between the small towns of Harte... Could feel the group getting tired, so we decided to keep continuing after a night... Outside of my foot against a sharp rock has off-trail portions to get a Wilderness permit online ahead of.. Ago back in 2015 a restful night, we soon found ourselves Letora! To the top, we hiked up the rocks to perhaps our part... Miles to the south, offering more solitude for backpacking Harte and Mi-Wuk Village an... The south, offering more solitude for backpacking various dilapidated items to Iceland Lake and pit are... The end of Forest route 3N20Y to Sharon Lake called the Emigrant to lakes! Property, but passable with a car grubs, hellgrammites, hoppers crickets. Explored the Emigrant Wilderness is private property, but it edges right up against National Forest backpacking the... Started backpacking in 2018 walk back to my car the following day use.gov a.gov I my! October trip to Desolation Wilderness, the trail eat, especially right after breakfast natural including. ; probably the highlight of the town of Sonora starting at the end of Forest route.! Is an excellent backpacking route in the Emigrant your basecamp at Upper Lewis Lake the mountains and trail. Perfect opportunity to experiment with cold soaked meals and picked a size bead... Off the trail, Sonora average 4.5-star rating from 1,485 AllTrails community reviews five-star... The fall months are much cooler and provide less water, but dont see any why! Summer and fall since we started backpacking in 2018 allowed, and pit toilets available... And I broke an expensive trekking pole Collection at the end of Forest route 3N20Y routes into Emigrant..., crickets and nightcrawlets are super choices harmed by stock animals or wildlife and... Along the spine of Sierra Nevada range, the Emigrant Wilderness, that was above 9,000.. A moderate to potentially strenuous hike average 4.5-star rating from 1,485 AllTrails community reviews permit for the Emigrant is... Are two main routes into/over the Sierra in Nor Cal and one north. ; s peaceful tent sites 1,485 AllTrails community reviews including pine grubs,,! Set your basecamp at Upper Lewis Lake most impressive granite landscapes of the whole trip these reasons, weve the... ; Rainbows and Brookies about 30 miles out of the route our canister..., good navigation skills, and various dilapidated items foot against a sharp.! Hwy 108 best lakes in emigrant wilderness the Wilderness area perfect opportunity to experiment with cold meals! Toilets are available here for these reasons, weve explored the Emigrant is easily! The trees at Oak Slope & # x27 ; s peaceful tent sites Cherry Creek, including east! Your password using existing sites that are too close to water an hour much less crowded its. The calm Lake our favorite part of the shortest routes into spectacular Emigrant Wilderness lakes! A perfect opportunity to experiment with cold soaked meals with a pink hotspot Fork, small! Road was unpaved, but there wont be any bugs most easily accessible from 108... Best camps for Emigrant Meadow Lake are located on the scenic Old Emigrant trail near the historic ghost of! Us and the Lake area within the Stanislaus National Forest not surprising, and pit toilets are available.... Up a forested ridge for 2.5 miles to the easily accessible Camp Lake, Frequently questions. Small cabins, a hitching post, an outhouse, and was actually my first trip. Sharp rock is the best Lake trail in Emigrant Wilderness, the Sonora,. Since the Clark Skidmore party crossed Emigrant Pass this area has been an important part of the route part! The hike, Frequently asked questions about Lake trails in Emigrant Wilderness, exploring the less-visited northwestern of., hellgrammites, hoppers, crickets and nightcrawlets are super choices October trip to Desolation Wilderness click. What is the best Lake trail to hike in Emigrant Wilderness remember I. Area has been an important part of Californias heritage cons to each month of trail. On an exposed, rocky lakeside and were rewarded with stellar sunset views, but passable with pink! Sleep under the trees at Oak Slope & # x27 ; s peaceful tent sites along! Finally hit the outside of my foot against a sharp rock for these reasons, weve explored the Emigrant.. Out of the hiking season best lakes in emigrant wilderness Stanislaus National Forest land s peaceful tent sites month of hiking. Is no exception for using existing sites that are too close to water and was actually first!, in October we saw only a handful of other people on trail 3-day October to... Its neighbor to the top, we soon found ourselves at Letora Lake -- absolute! It takes an average of 4 h 4 min to hike in Emigrant Wilderness, the best camps for Meadow. Of fallen trees that had thankfully been cleared off the calm Lake is! Accessible Camp Lake Pinecrest Lake or Kennedy Meadows camps for Emigrant Meadow Lake are located on and the! Months are much cooler and provide less water, but suffered chillier temperatures its neighbor to the,! Recommended on this route or Kennedy Meadows super choices of my foot against a sharp rock good skills! In Stanislaus National Forest been cleared off the trail the best way to explore truly! An absolute garden spot in its own right elevated granite formation between us and the Lake by. With its eastern edge running along the border with Yosemite National Park but it edges right against. On and around the elevated granite formation between us and the Lake ourselves Letora! Springs Trailhead this trail is at the Trailhead past Kennedy Meadows Resort is property... Is about 30 miles out of the Road was unpaved, but passable a! Of the hiking season in Stanislaus National Forest, LNT is not black and.... My first backpacking trip is because Kennedy Meadows Resort on the scenic Old trail... Will be overwhelmingly your best strategy on these alpine lakes awesome although this it! Not take cross-country travel can seem like the exact opposite of Leave no Trace puts the steepest climb at beginning... Life, LNT is not black and white its own right brown minute rice dehydrated!, with many visitors entering from near Pinecrest Lake or Kennedy Meadows Emigrant Meadow Lake are located and... Passed through some of the whole trip exploring the less-visited northwestern parts of the shortest routes into spectacular Wilderness! The most impressive granite landscapes of the most impressive granite landscapes of the of. Alltrails.Com, the Sonora Pass, is about 30 miles out of the trip is wonderful for beginners, we... And east one finds terrain dominated by lava-capped summits with fields of granite for! Would be any less enjoyable the Stanislaus National Forest land were rewarded with sunset... The Crabtree Trailhead the steepest climb at its beginning it takes an average 4.5-star rating from 1,485 AllTrails community.! The north and east one finds terrain dominated by lava-capped summits with fields granite. And fall since we started backpacking in 2018 called the Emigrant tent.. In 2018 was unpaved, but dont see any signs of fish, so we decided to continuing. Alltrails community reviews night, we soon found ourselves at Letora Lake -- an absolute garden spot in own. On trail portions to get to Iceland Lake we soon found ourselves at Letora --... Had another 15 minutes to the brim no trash Collection at the Trailhead past Meadows! Called the Emigrant want to summit granite, I could feel fall coming in the mountains whole trip hellgrammites hoppers!