Donning neck gaiters over our faces, we followed a horse trail down to what we thought was our trail intersection, but we were wrong! There are many opportunities to extend the loop or go slightly off-trail to different lakes, so we were grateful for our easy itinerary. Easy access with over 1/4 mile frontage on the County maintained graded gravel . Any time of year, head to Emigrant Lakethe Point RV park offers full hookups and lake views. I packed away my rod and continued along the lakeshore. Campfires are prohibited above 9000 feet, and no campfires are allowed within mile of Emigrant Lake. Some of the Emigrant still includes cattle grazing allotments, and you may encounter cows or their signs from July to September. Elevations range from below 5000 feet near Cherry Reservoir to 11,570 feet at Leavitt Peak. Official websites use .gov A .gov The area around the trailhead can be a little confusing! The next morning, the smoke had cleared and we headed out early for our climb back down to Louse Canyon. But I have to say, I could feel fall coming in the mountains. The Bell Meadow Trail parallels the Crabtree Trail, and can create a variety of nice loops to explore. Drive carefully on Crabtree Road, and look out for horse poop on the trail. The best camps for Emigrant Meadow Lake are located on and around the elevated granite formation between us and the lake. The southeast side was nasty and I broke an expensive trekking pole. I'd like to go back and explore the big Cherry Creek Canyon below. Elevation: +3000ft. Highest Elevation: 9200 ft. Park: Stanislaus National Forest (California, USA) Trail(s): Huckleberry Trail, Lunch Meadow Trail. For this trip, we decided to explore several lakes in the southwestern portion of Emigrant. Rules & regulations about fires. The hike leads into the 113,000-acre Emigrant Wilderness which was designated by Congress as such in 1975. October 24, 2020. Posted September 11, 2015. Cross-country travel can seem like the exact opposite of Leave No Trace. " Lee Watts OpenMapTiles OSM 4.3 Miles Point to Point 9,748' High 8,476' Low 464' Up 1,378' . ) or https:// means you've safely Long Lake is one of the numerous lakes in the Emigrant Wilderness enlarged by a rock dam at the outlet, which keeps the stream flow steadier throughout the summer. Both Salt Lick and Spring Meadows are phenomenal; Long Lakes is an option for sleeping as well. This takes you north of Yosemite National Park in Stanislaus National Forest. Salmon eggs will also work to a limited degree. Luckily we found our original route and headed over to Rosasco Lake, only to find a large group of campers with some aggressively barking dogs at the only viable site. Very nice, easy trail, with great scenery, leading to a lake that is fed by a creek. Only later did I remember that I had hit the outside of my foot against a sharp rock. The elevation gain was not particularly kind to me. Permits are required for overnight trips. The next night, we hid in a well-covered dirt site next to a smaller lake and woke up with zero condensation. If you're looking for elevation gain, Emigrant Wilderness has you covered. Stanislaus National Forest This trail is estimated to be 73.9 km long and takes on average 22 h 59 min to hike. Much respect! This is a historic route that is no longer maintained by the Forest Service. The entire route is an official Forest Service system trail. We deliver the definitive fishing material straight from the experts. If you're looking for elevation gain, Emigrant Wilderness has you covered. (A 9:00 hour day, 17.1 miles, 4,000 feet of elevation gain). The resort allows parking for a fee at their discretion, but there is also trailhead parking a half mile up the road, which also allows free overnight camping to wilderness permit holders. There are opportunities to camp at every lake, with plenty of spots featuring man-made fire rings. Read here for information on when visiting bear country. We chose to start our trip on the Crabtree Trail and return via Bell Meadow Trail for a change of scenery. The Emigrant Wilderness is best accessible from Hwy 108, either via Kennedy Meadows (no, not that one) in the north or via the town of Pinecrest and then Crabtree Road from the west, leading to several trailheads, including Crabtree and Gianelli. Off the 108, turn right onto Crabtree Road and 10 miles down the road is the parking lot and overnight campsite for this trailhead. Emigrant Wilderness Gianelli Trailhead. Stoves were still banned, so we had to cold soak our food, but good times were had. This trail does require some route finding along the overgrown section of trail between Letora and Huckleberry Lakes. Food storage: Bear canisters are not required in Stanislaus National Forest, but are highly recommended. The Emigrant Wilderness is the Yosemite backcountry's underappreciated cousin. There arent any excruciatingly long climbs, and the weather is pleasant well past August. Second, the lakes of the Emigrant Wilderness are known to have some large fish. There is some controversy about them, and some are being phased out, though not this one. These trails have an average 4.5-star rating from 1,485 AllTrails community reviews. This trail is estimated to be 45.9 mi long and takes on average 22 h 59 min to hike. Trip report for Iceland and Ridge Lakes. 3-day spectacular Emigrant Wilderness backpacking loop Category Weight Pack 2.47 lb Shelter 1.28 lb Sleep 2.82 lb Worn clothing 2.83 lb Carried clothing 2.95 lb Food, water, and cooking 1.72 lb Hygiene and medical 0.76 lb Electronics & navigation 1.95 lb Other 1.71 lb Total 18.49 lb Worn 4.1 lb Base Weight 14.4 lb Pack Weight qty The Emigrant Wilderness of Stanislaus National Forest is a wilderness area in the Sierra Nevada. Subcommittee on Forests and Public Land Management ISBN: Format: PDF, ePub, Mobi Bordering its more famous sibling to the north, this high country is defined by granite walls, domes, ridges, peaks and the meadows, creeks, and lakes that lay in their shadows. There is no exception for using existing sites that are too close to water. This required some steep climbing in the heat of the day, but proved to be a fun adventure. The night was wind-still, and there wasnt a cloud in sight. The hiking was a little slow going at the bottom here, since the trees were thicker, but we all spread out and tried to pick our best way up the slope. Explore the most popular lake trails in Emigrant Wilderness with hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you. Most of the lakes are surrounded by lodgepole pine. Both result in similar elevation changes. 2022 Backcountry Emily Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions. Fly fishing will be overwhelmingly your best strategy on these alpine lakes. The wide meandering creek flows out of Kennedy Lake, which is pretty, but muddy this time of year. I could feel the group getting tired, so we decided to keep continuing after a nice break. Once the pavement ended on Crabtree Road, we followed a nicely graded fire road past the horses of Aspen Meadow Pack Station to the trailhead parking area. The Emigrant Wilderness is a hiker's paradise, home to striking unspoiled nature: pristine alpine lakes, staggering granite peaks, towering sequoias, and rugged, mountainous landscape. Because of that, I brought 2 sleeping pads and my 10-degree sleeping bag. This trail is 8.5 mi long with an elevation gain of 1,555 ft. Emigrant Wilderness Think of Emigrant Wilderness as Yosemite's forgotten little brother. Check here to see if you can apply for an online permit. The longest stretch between lakes is ~4 miles, so two liters of carrying capacity is plenty. Towering granite peaks surrounded Upper Buck Lake. There are 14 trails in Emigrant Wilderness. The mosquitoes are thick near wet areas during June and July. Suddenly, I saw a big trout come up for a bite. We don't share your information with partners. The Cherry Creek, including the East Fork and North Fork, contain small 4-7" Rainbows and Brookies. Try your hardest to not camp on vegetation, and always try to look for previously impacted sites to concentrate impact. We enjoyed the different scenery along the Bell Meadows trail, and found a few groves of yellowing aspen along the way. As it is, we simply hiked by and tried to etch the images in our mind. 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. Be sure to bring sun protection despite the season, as there are long, exposed sections across granite before the trail ducks back into the forest. We left the official trail at West Fork Cherry Creek, venturing down Louse Canyon. (209) 965-3434. You should have a paper map and compass with you, and be familiar with reading topographical maps to understand the terrain you will be walking through. Emigrant Lake has county recreational facilities and good amenities, including several campgrounds, two developed boat ramps and more. As the smoke gradually began to thicken, we decided to make our way down towards Rosasco Lake for the night. The hike between Emigrant Lake and Lunch Meadow is incredible; probably the highlight of the route. Are there bears in Emigrant Wilderness? Emigrant Wilderness and Sachse Monument Loop boasts the most elevation gain with 2,857 m of total ascent. There is not much mosquito. Check out the links in the side bar for more info from the Stanislaus National Forest. Pingree, Black Hawk, Shallow Hyatt, Rosasco, Lost, Cow Meadow, Yellow Hammer, Big and Deer Lakes are just a few of the more productive waters. It takes an average of 4 h 4 min to hike. Along the way we met a friendly older gentleman who was going out for 2-3 weeks with his fishing gear. San Rafael Western Legacy District And The Black Rock Desert High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area. This trail has a lot of steep sections and loose rock. However, if youre planning on hiking this on a summer weekend I recommend getting to camp in the early afternoon. The streams are subject to heavy runoff from the winter snows and the streambeds are scoured leaving little habitat for much insect activity. A Wilderness Permit is required for all overnight trips into the Emigrant Wilderness, April 1 through November 30 each year, (Why?) There is a wealth of lakes spread out among the 100,000 acre of this pristine wilderness. In late spring/early summer there will likely still be snow on the grow; however, the streams will be flowing with water (and who doesnt love snowcapped views?). I ate dinner, watching the sunset reflect off the calm lake. but muddy this time of year. If you are driving in from Hwy 108, the parking lot will be up a hill to your left, right across from Deadman Campground. Like many of the other reviews, this is a great trail. Hyatt Lake is a great place. After all, doesnt LNT tell us to always stay on designated trails? At the trail junction, we turned north and climbed 500ft up a ridge to the intersection with Crabtree Trail, ultimately making our way back to the trailhead. The closest snow to the bay is likely Chews Ridge or Junipero Serra/Santa Lucia/Pimkolam in Los Padres :) If you want snow the Sierra is your choice in Northern California. The Emigrant Wilderness is a hiker's paradise, home to striking unspoiled nature: pristine alpine lakes, staggering granite peaks, towering sequoias, and rugged, mountainous landscape. In the Emigrant Wilderness the use of bear resistant food storage containers is highly recommended. Wanting more privacy, we ventured along to a small tarn just below the lake and found a great spot for our tent. Ultra-light Krocadiles, Rooster Tails, Mepps and Panther Martins can also be trolled or fan-casted from the bank on almost any of the Emigrant Wilderness Lakes. Looking for a more strenuous hike? To the north, the Emigrant Wilderness is bordered by the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness and the Mokelumne Wilderness. The Lost Coast Trail is a 26.4-mile point-to-point backpacking route along Californias North Coast. Trail engineers had carved stairs into the granite in a few sections, and we marveled at the high cliffs along the way. The Backcountry Horsemen of California, Midvalley Chapter, Wilderness Volunteers Projects (National). My favorite part of any drive into the Sierra Nevada is the transition between oak woodland to incense cedar and pine. Hikers with strong backs should also consider packing in a small inflatable boat. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock This is a popular spot for picnicking day hikers and swimmers alike. With four distinct seasons and mild weather, this Southern Oregon spot offers year-round adventure. This volunteer group works in all three wilderness areas within the Stanislaus, primarily cutting out the logs which fall across trails using both human and stock power. Thankfully, we didnt have to backtrack too much, we just traversed the ridge to our left, westwardly, until we hit the first major creek drainage (which was dry), which was the safest way down. From the south, the wilderness is accessible from Cherry Lake, along the border with Yosemite National Park. 93 Acres located on the scenic Old Emigrant Trail near the historic ghost town of Unionville, Nevada. I decided to sleep under the stars without the tarp. TDD (209) 533-0765, Summit Ranger District The road to the trailhead is accessible to most passenger vehicles with decent clearance at low water levels, but high clearance 4WD is needed for any creek fords at high water levels. But to be a good wilderness steward when youre off-trail, there are some key points you should follow. 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. Most of the reliable water sources are lakes, which have a varying degree of swampy-ness. We crossed the dry creek bed and climbed a steep, rocky slope up to beautiful Rosasco Lake. Though the weather will be extremely pleasant in the summer, bugs will be out in full force. The Fishing Advice 2021. We encountered thunderstorms on Monday afternoon. Sierra Rec Magazine is the Sierra Nevadas only regional publication dedicated to outdoor lifestyle news and features for the entire Sierra Nevada Range. I was happy we scouted the area yesterday, as we found a quick, straightforward path to the ridge overlooking Relief Reservoir and the valley. No more than 15 people and 25 head of stock are allowed on overnight trips. Route finding is required, but this is gentle country. We hiked the loop in early October and only encountered a handful of other hikers over three days. Backpacking and Hiking in the West This trail is 8.5 mi long with an elevation gain of 1,555 ft. So you need to know the regulations for where you are and make sure you dont have fires if you reach a certain elevation. Emigrant Wilderness - granite dome lakes << Hiking In Emigrant Summary Granite Dome Hike >> Stats to Reach Lakes. I stopped at Camp Lake to fill up on water and layer down. So if you want to summit Granite, I would set your basecamp at Upper Lewis Lake. (209) 965-3434 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. But the impact was forceful enough to cause a big bruise and my foot to swell up. The Lake is just as beautiful as usual, but it was crowded on Saturday and Sunday. In the Emigrant Wilderness the use of bear resistant food storage containers is highly recommended . According to users from AllTrails.com, the best place to hike in Emigrant Wilderness is Gianelli Trail to Chewing Gum Lake, which has a 4.7 star rating from 315 reviews. Days: 2 days, 1 night. The trail is only maintained for part of this route. After the fill-up in the shade, we continued down the trail, which turned slightly uphill again while we hiked above Relief Reservoir. LockA locked padlock Download free stock video footage featuring Reflection of rocky mountains on surface of alpine lake, tilt up and reveal of beautiful valley. Long-distance hiking along the PCT usually requires planning many months in advance, as PCTA-issued permits and some Park and Forest Unit permits are limited. There is bear activity in this wilderness. Summit District. 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. Emigrant Wilderness - Granite Lake, Pinecrest, 2 miles away : Hotels Near Toejam Lake: Tamarack Lodge At Bear . It is amazing we enjoy some of the most pristine country, anywhere, and a horse pack trip is perhaps the best fishing value, for quality trout fishing. Click here to download royalty-free licensing videos from Videvo today. According to users from AllTrails.com, the best lake trail to hike in Emigrant Wilderness is. Mileage: 9 miles. Because of the fire ban that summer, we couldnt use any fuel sources to cook our meals. Located 15 miles into the Emigrant Wilderness near Yellowhammer Lake, the existing Yellowhammer Camp was constructed in 1922 by Fred Leighton at the site of an old cow camp cabin from the 1890s. The Emigrant Wilderness is a landscape of incredible beauty with broad expanses of granite peaks, glacially sculpted gorges, alpine lakes, mountain streams, and deep canyons. Author: United States. There was a faint use trail, and a cairn (stack of rocks) on the other side of the creek. Congress designated the Emigrant Wilderness in 1975, but most of the area was protected as a Forest Service Primitive Area since the 1920s. It felt like plantar fasciitis but had appeared suddenly. My Garmin Fenix 6 Sapphire watch and GaiaGPS phone app were great companions to the map & compass. It is a place where the pines, cedars, and firs of the Stanislaus National Forest gradually thin as granite cliffs, mountain tops, and monoliths . Read on to learn about the trip route! 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. Cross-country backpacking in Emigrant Wilderness. Campsites spread across entire lake. Of course, we did exactly what we should not have done: we went too far to the north east and reached a dropoff. #7 - Granite Dome Loop via Kennedy Meadows. At Huckleberry Lake, I left the main trail and headed up towards Letora Lake. Backcountry permits are easy to obtain without much advanced notice, and trailhead access is straightforward. Smoke from nearby wildfires didnt deter us, as the air quality wasnt terrible and we needed a good dose of adventure before the winter storms arrived. Set on the top of a ridge, sprinkled with forested islands, and surrounded by inlets and white granite points, it would make a great place to spend a day exploring. Start at Crabtree Trailhead.Day 1: Camp Lake, Piute Lake, Gem Lake, Jewelry Lake, Deer Lake, Buck Lakes.Day 2: Emigrant Lake, Maxwell Lake, Huckleberry Lake, Letora Lake, Cow Meadow Lake, Wood Lake.Day 3: Buck Meadow, Grouse Lake, Pine Valley, Crabtree Trailhead. The best route up also looks like its near Upper Lewis Lake, and we did not venture over that way. Backpacking Hyatt Lake in Emigrant Wilderness. #1 We spent Labor Day weekend hiking cross-country to Hyatt Lake in the Emigrant Wilderness--an adventure we're glad we did, but not one that we would recommend without reservation. We followed our route over another rise and eventually made our way down the granite terrain to Hyatt Lake for the night. Thankfully, a group of us were all able to get time off, so we set off for the mountains! You can also take the short spur to Bear Lake, on the junction directly after Camp Lake. It can easily be completed in a three-day weekend, including travel time. Spend eight days backpacking deep into the heart of the Emigrant Wilderness, the High Sierra's best kept secret just north of Yosemite National Park. About This Home. This trail is 8.5 mi long with an elevation gain of 1,555 ft. Ready for your next hike or bike ride? I recommend this trip for a leisurely escape into the wilderness, as opposed to a trip where mileage is the goal. Unlike our first two days, we had to get up and hiking early today, since we had miles to hike and a long drive home ahead! You could easily spend another night up in this basin! Once we scrambled down this bit, we found a small creek, and followed it, along a clear use or game trail. 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. . A GPS Track, good navigation skills, and desert hiking experience are highly recommended on this route. Emigrant Wilderness - Emigrant Lake, Pinecrest, 6 miles away : Hotels Near Sharon Lake: Super 8 Gardnerville Topaz Lake, Gardnerville, 25 miles away: Best . The Department of Fish and Game estimates that 42 lakes in this basin have rainbows, 28 have brookies, 6 have goldens, 2 have rainbows and brookies and 1 has rainbows and brown trout. Permits are required for overnight trips. Stanislaus National Forest Backcountry Permit. We can also see this formation in the second image above. A view of Lake Rosasco in the Emigrant Wilderness. Submit your trip report here, Route is between 6,500 and 7,500 feet of elevation, Short uphill and downhill sections, no long climbs, A few rocky patches, but mostly dirt trail, Loop starts and ends in a free, large parking lot with pit toilets, Free, self-serve permits available at ranger stations. The elevation profile is comparable for both options. Around the lake, you'll find gentle hiking trails, swimming . This means camping at least 200 feet from water, 100 feet from established trails, and away from fragile terrain such as meadows. The Best Backpacking Destinations in Ansel Adams Wilderness; Explore Parker Lake; Explore John Muir Wilderness. This trail is heavily trafficked on the weekends. No trail head marker exists at the beginning but the single track begins at the parking turnout. Travel & camp on durable surfaces. We all took a break at the first major overlook, enjoying the warm, mid-October sun and the most fall colors we had seen so far in the season. We hiked to the other side of the lake climbed a ridge and has lunch there. For more info on how to protect your food (and Sierra Bears) check out the bear section. on official, secure websites. More on this later. A one-night, 32-mile trip starting at Hunting Hollow, passing Kelly Lake, Coit Lake, and Pacheco Camp on the way to Mississippi Lake. The waypoints mapped here indicate suggested places to camp each night to break up the days, but there are other options out there. Waste MUST be packed out from November to May. Im normally not a fan of wilderness reservoirs, but Relief is pretty. After our cross-country foray, we welcomed the sight of groomed trail and our speed increased. Best Hiking Trails in Emigrant Wilderness - California | Gaia GPS United States California Emigrant Wilderness Best Hiking Trails in Emigrant Wilderness 66 reviews fullscreen link Driving Directions Seasonal Popularity J F M A M J J A S O N D 0 200 400 600 Overview Emigrant Wilderness is a protected area in California. Pinecrest, Cold Springs, Twain Harte, Sonora. And remember, you also need a California Fire Permit if you want to have a fire or operate a camp stove! There are two main routes into/over the Sierra in Nor Cal and one goes north of Tahoe the other south. For Bay Area residents like ourselves, the Emigrant is also one of the closest and most easily accessible wilderness areas to explore. I rigged my Tenkara rod and picked a size 16 bead head nymph with a pink hotspot. My water bottle had frozen overnight, but I slept warm. I walked down the trail a little bit more, studying the route we should take up the ridge. This hike has off-trail portions to get to Iceland Lake. No holding of more than 4 head of stock within mile of the following lakes:, Gem, Jewelry, Long, Maxwell, Pingree, Piute and Rosasco. To get to the lakes, we had to hug the ridge to our left, due south west. Beginning at the Crabtree Trailhead, this approximately 4.25-mile hike to Bear Lake is a moderate to potentially strenuous hike. After a restful night, we hiked up the rocks to perhaps our favorite part of the trip. Top 10 Backpacking Trails John Muir Wilderness; Emigrant Wilderness; Explore Granite Chief Wilderness; Explore Golden Trout Wilderness; Jennie Lakes Wilderness; Destinations . On this day, the air was crisp and we were excited to start our trek into the unknown. Closest Major City: Modesto, California(three hours). Bordered by Yosemite National Park to the south and Toiyabe National Forest to the east, Emigrant Wilderness is a prime destination for solitude-seeking Bay Area backpackers. Trash Collection: No trash collection at the trailhead in the off-season. On the way, I lost count of the many mounds of berry-filled bear scat we passed. For this evening, we had soaked brown minute rice with dehydrated black beans and a little taco seasoning for about an hour. Lodge at bear near Cherry Reservoir to 11,570 feet at Leavitt Peak time of year, head to Emigrant Point... Highlight of the reliable water sources are lakes, so we set off the. 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