Frequently asked trail questions about Emigrant Wilderness. This ~20-mile loop can quickly become 30 miles if you forget to start your loop back. We enjoyed the spot, and we had it all to ourselves! The water was so clear, we were a little sad that our day was too short to stop and soak in them. Sierra Rec Magazine is the Sierra Nevadas only regional publication dedicated to outdoor lifestyle news and features for the entire Sierra Nevada Range. Easy access with over 1/4 mile frontage on the County maintained graded gravel . Nat Geo Map 307 (Yosemite NW/Hetch Hetchy Reservoir) is best. No trail head marker exists at the beginning but the single track begins at the parking turnout. Also, in October we saw only a handful of other people on trail. It was way too big for me to eat, especially right after breakfast. I cannot recommend this trip enough for beginner backpackers. Ready for your next hike or bike ride? I found a cliff overlooking the lake with a fire ring and a sheltered spot for my sleeping pad. To get to the lakes, we had to hug the ridge to our left, due south west. There are a few rocky sections, where the path is lined with small rocks across slabs of granite. I would certainly do it again and bring friends. In early August 2022, we headed to the High Sierra backcountry for a backpacking adventure that combined spectacular off-trail sections with highlights of the JMT. With our GPS and good sense of direction, we made our way up to Pingree Lake and enjoyed its cool water as the smoke from nearby wildfires closed in. There are 14 trails in Emigrant Wilderness. The Emigrant Wilderness is a glaciated landscape of great scenic beauty. Normally, youd just stop at the ranger station to pick up a permit for wherever you want to hike, but since offices were closed due to COVID, there was an easy online form to fill out, and your permit was available to print out right away. FAX (209) 533-1890 however, there are no quotas or fees within the Emigrant. But, we didnt have far to hike, so we enjoyed our breakfast and sleep. An overnight permit is required for backpacking this route. Hiking in Stanislaus National Forest: If this past year taught us anything, its to do your research before you go. The Emigrant has really went downhill the last few years as well as as other wilderness areas. We had identified this area from above, but still made the mistake. I found a campsite on the cliffs overlooking the lake a little ways off the trail. Crabtree Road is not paved, but 2WD cars are just fine. After that, it becomes an off-trail route with little evidence that there was ever a trail. Cross-country travel can seem like the exact opposite of Leave No Trace. Large boulders, epic rock formations, pine trees as far as the eyes can see, and plentiful lakes make this loop a serene escape from Californias busy cities. What is the longest lake trail in Emigrant Wilderness? Though the weather will be extremely pleasant in the summer, bugs will be out in full force. We stood in awe of the immensity of the bowl. I'd like to go back and explore the big Cherry Creek Canyon below. 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. One of the shortest routes into spectacular Emigrant Wilderness, the Burst Rock Trail puts the steepest climb at its beginning. They were both closed by Sunday, October 18th, though were open earlier in October. In the western parts of the Emigrant, though still a granite and lava landscape, there are more lakes, meadows and patches of pine. Posted September 11, 2015. 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. Around the lake, you'll find gentle hiking trails, swimming . Emigrant Lake has county recreational facilities and good amenities, including several campgrounds, two developed boat ramps and more. Both Salt Lick and Spring Meadows are phenomenal; Long Lakes is an option for sleeping as well. 93 Acres located on the scenic Old Emigrant Trail near the historic ghost town of Unionville, Nevada. More on this later. The Emigrant Wilderness is over 100,000 acres with over 80 lakes within a granite basin filled with granitic domes, ridges, and small hills. in On Adventures The trip to Iceland lake (in the area generally called "Granite Dome's Golden Trout Lakes" by the Emigrant Wilderness Guidebook) was our first ever backpacking Stanislaus National Forest. Elevation: +3000ft. Be the first to know about new adventures. Senate. 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. The nearest town is Pinecrest, a popular destination for both summer and winter tourists. Our eyes were set on Grouse Creek as some of us were getting pretty low on water. Went to Chewing Gum Lake over the Labor Day weekend. The Emigrant Wilderness is the Yosemite backcountry's underappreciated cousin. The Emigrant Wilderness borders right upon the northern end of Yosemite National Park and is quite a recreation destination. #1 Pinecrest Lake Road. There are wonderful campsites at nearly every lake on this loop. The evening was chilly, but I stayed warm by my campfire. 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 So continue south, passing by Ridge Lake before going to Iceland. Route finding is required, but this is gentle country. Call the ranger station for more information on these campgrounds. I walked down the trail a little bit more, studying the route we should take up the ridge. There are pros and cons to each month of the hiking season in Stanislaus National Forest. 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. The fall months are much cooler and provide less water, but there wont be any bugs. It was surprisingly delicious! Fortunately, the other end of the lake was much more suitable for camping. The Best Backpacking Destinations in Ansel Adams Wilderness; Explore Parker Lake; Explore John Muir Wilderness. The trail followed the edge of a large meadow on the Northside of Upper Buck Lake. A boat is really handy here to reach many of the best fishing spots. ( This millipede. 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. This was a quick 2-mile jaunt to the peak's volcanic summit, where we enjoyed great views. Granite basins carved by glaciers, jeweled with lakes, and speckled with wildflowers attract visitors to the Emigrant Wilderness. We took a cross-country shortcut to Emigrant Meadow Lake along Cherry Creek, where we stopped for the night at 17:18. on official, secure websites. Once we scrambled down this bit, we found a small creek, and followed it, along a clear use or game trail. The park's runner-up is Granite Dome Loop via Kennedy Meadows, which will get you 5,587 ft of elevation gain. There are opportunities to camp at every lake, with plenty of spots featuring man-made fire rings. The fly dropped outside the cliff and sank. Rules & regulations about fires. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Just walking a few miles can make you feel as if you've left the wilderness behind for another one. If you're looking for elevation gain, Emigrant Wilderness has you covered. I didnt see any signs of fish, so I continued hiking to Buck Lakes. Enjoy hand-curated trail maps, along with reviews and photos from nature lovers like you. Most of the reliable water sources are lakes, which have a varying degree of swampy-ness. Pingree, Black Hawk, Shallow Hyatt, Rosasco, Lost, Cow Meadow, Yellow Hammer, Big and Deer Lakes are just a few of the more productive waters. Heading east on the Bell Meadow Trail we climbed through a cool forest and descended into another canyon. We soaked our tired feet in the cold water and happily ate our dinner. The area was first protected by the U.S. Forest Service as a protected primitive area in 1931, named after the historical mountain pass that follows the West Walker route over the Sierra. Highest Elevation: 9200 ft. Park: Stanislaus National Forest (California, USA) Trail(s): Huckleberry Trail, Lunch Meadow Trail. This page covers all necessary alerts for the area, and from there information about permits, closures, fire bans, etc., can be found. Camping is allowed anywhere LNT guidelines are followed. Beginning at the Crabtree Trailhead, this approximately 4.25-mile hike to Bear Lake is a moderate to potentially strenuous hike. Camp on surfaces that are hard. Sonora, CA 95370 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. United States. #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. You could easily spend another night up in this basin! 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. Instead, I headed South, toward Huckleberry Lake, passing Blackbird and Maxwell Lakes. It is a large lot with plenty of spots. 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. Emigrant Wilderness and Sachse Monument Loop boasts the most elevation gain with 2,857 m of total ascent. 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. Drive carefully on Crabtree Road, and look out for horse poop on the trail. Lot of consistent up hill at the start but then youre done and get to enjoy relatively flat trail the rest of the way. Read on to learn about the trip route! Varying terrain including forests, alpine lakes, and rocky ridges make for fun and enjoyable trips. Most of the buildings were made with local sugar pine logs and seemed to be in pretty good shape. Summers are generally dry and mild, but afternoon thundershowers occur periodically and nighttime temperatures could dip below freezing anytime. I planned to camp at Wood Lake. All photos taken with our . The Backcountry Horsemen of California, Midvalley Chapter (BCHM) assist several National Forests in many capacities, including in Wilderness. You can read about my most recent pack trip, to Emigrant Lake, on my blog: www.leehaskin.blogspot.com Unfortunately, the Brookies, although big, are taking over this amazing Rainbow fishery. According to users from AllTrails.com, the best lake trail to hike in Emigrant Wilderness is Gianelli Trail to Chewing Gum Lake, which has a 4.7 star rating from 315 reviews. 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. However, fires arent always allowed. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. But I have to say, I could feel fall coming in the mountains. 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. I packed away my rod and continued along the lakeshore. This required some steep climbing in the heat of the day, but proved to be a fun adventure. We set up our tent on the beach and met two other backpackers, who were heading back to their camp on the opposite side of the lake with some freshly caught trout. If you visit, permits are required for overnight trips. 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. 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. This takes you north of Yosemite National Park in Stanislaus National Forest. A one-night, 32-mile trip starting at Hunting Hollow, passing Kelly Lake, Coit Lake, and Pacheco Camp on the way to Mississippi Lake. Summit District. We hiked the loop in early October and only encountered a handful of other hikers over three days. View a mapof trail distances in the wilderness. 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 are also two First Come, First Served designated USFS campgrounds on the road: Baker and Deadman. The best times to visit Emigrant Wilderness are from June to September, with afternoon thunderstorms always possible (so come prepared). Read here for information on when visiting bear country. We took this loop clockwise, heading in the direction of Camp Lake on the first day. Snow Lake Tail Hiking Trail, Bridgeport, California Snow Lake Tail Intermediate 4.0 (1) Areas CA High Sierra Emigrant Wilderness " Head past 3 beautiful lakes with Quartzite and Bigelow Peaks as backdrops and impressive views of the Sanchse Monument. In the Emigrant Wilderness the use of bear resistant food storage containers is highly recommended. (209) 532-3671 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. There was a faint use trail, and a cairn (stack of rocks) on the other side of the creek. Return via Willow Ridge and Los Cruzeros. There are over 185 miles of trails designated for foot or horse traffic only. 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