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The Crabtree Trail climbs gradually up a forested ridge for 2.5 miles to the easily accessible Camp Lake. However, if you are not used to high altitude (elevation is about 8,500 feet) you might suffer from altitude sickness and get tired easily. 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. Watersheds drain to the Stanislaus and Tuolumne Rivers. Only later did I remember that I had hit the outside of my foot against a sharp rock. A one-night, 32-mile trip starting at Hunting Hollow, passing Kelly Lake, Coit Lake, and Pacheco Camp on the way to Mississippi Lake. I enjoyed this route, but dont see any reason why counterclockwise would be any less enjoyable. 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. The trail is dotted with lakes and streams, offering frequent water sources and campsites. Emigrant Wilderness and Sachse Monument Loop boasts the most elevation gain with 2,857 m of total ascent. Any time of year, head to Emigrant Lakethe Point RV park offers full hookups and lake views. But, like most things in life, LNT is not black and white. At this point, it had been over two full days since Id seen another person, and over a day since Id even seen a footprint. I didnt see any signs of fish, so I continued hiking to Buck Lakes. I gave it a few quick jigs and boomthe trout slammed the fly. Sunrise and Moonset under smoky skies over Hyatt Lake. The views over Huckleberry Lake were some of the most impressive of the trip so far. The best troutin is in the more remote lakes, many located in the southwestern portion of the area. Great weekend backpacking trip. 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. Did not notice any mosquitos. overview. FAX (209) 533-1890 For ramblings, rants, and the occasional dose of inspirational musing follow her on Instagram or her blogSmall Towns to Summits. Rules & regulations about fires. After all, doesnt LNT tell us to always stay on designated trails? I woke up as the sun began to illuminate the mountains. All Rights Reserved. Our eyes were set on Grouse Creek as some of us were getting pretty low on water. Like many of the other reviews, this is a great trail. In Emigrant Wilderness, that was above 9,000 feet. Please take a moment to learn our wilderness regulations and review Leave No Trace methods before visiting this outstanding national resource. The fall months are much cooler and provide less water, but there wont be any bugs. Suddenly, I saw a big trout come up for a bite. If you came to camp Emigrant Wilderness - Upper Relief Reservoir is a great site to do that. Much like in 2014 when we hiked Guadalupe Peak and El Capitan, my coworkers and good friends John and Michael made plans to explore the wilderness away from our normal haunts by tacking a vacation onto a work-related trip. Access overall is good. While the trip is suited for beginner cross-country hikers, please do not take cross-country travel lightly. My main concern was to stay warm at night. This protects water, wildlife, habitat, and visitors' opportunities for solitude. An overnight camping permit is required if camping along the route. This is a popular spot for picnicking day hikers and swimmers alike. October backpacking in Emigrant Wilderness. Ha. Nat Geo Map 307 (Yosemite NW/Hetch Hetchy Reservoir) is best. All photos taken with our . There are also two First Come, First Served designated USFS campgrounds on the road: Baker and Deadman. There is bear activity in this wilderness. Both Salt Lick and Spring Meadows are phenomenal; Long Lakes is an option for sleeping as well. Short, remote hike to some beautiful lakes. Campfires are prohibited above 9000 feet, and no campfires are allowed within mile of Emigrant Lake. We soaked our tired feet in the cold water and happily ate our dinner. Mileage: ~20 miles, ~2,500 elevation gain. 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 signs while driving in are very clear as to where you can and can not park overnight. We can also see this formation in the second image above. I passed through some of the most impressive granite landscapes of the whole trip. And finally, we had never been on a backpacking trip north of Mammoth Lakes, so the new location was appealing . In the afternoon, we climbed up the little hill behind our camp to scope out the terrain for the next day, to possibly change our route. The last climb up to the trailhead offered a new landscape of volcanic rock and bright-yellow aspen. 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. In the spring there will be more options to collect flowing water, but I would not hike this loop without a backup water filtration source. It is a place where the pines, cedars, and firs of the Stanislaus National Forest gradually thin as granite cliffs, mountain tops, and monoliths . The Emigrant Wilderness borders right upon the northern end of Yosemite National Park and is quite a recreation destination. A small stream that flowed through the field had frozen overnight. The streams are subject to heavy runoff from the winter snows and the streambeds are scoured leaving little habitat for much insect activity. This 2-night backpacking trip in Emigrant Wilderness lets you soak in nature in solitude. We enjoyed some flat/ downhill trail as we walked above the reservoir, which was a nice break from the constant up. An official website of the The best times to visit Emigrant Wilderness are from June to September, with afternoon thunderstorms always possible (so come prepared). From the Box Spring trailhead, you can reach the following lakes: Chain Lakes: 5 small lakes less than 7 acres each at 7586' elevation.2.2 miles from the trailhead . on official, secure websites. This was alarming but not surprising, and we were prepared with our bear canister full to the brim. 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. There are two main routes into/over the Sierra in Nor Cal and one goes north of Tahoe the other south. The elevation gain was not particularly kind to me. Chewing Gum Lake is no exception. We followed our route over another rise and eventually made our way down the granite terrain to Hyatt Lake for the night. A ranger that I met on the trail the day before said that hed heard anglers catch 25-inch trouts there. The longest climb is less than a mile, and covers roughly 700 feet of elevation gain in that time. The Drive Up . Congress. After a warm breakfast and a large cup of coffee, I headed toward Emigrant Lake. The best camps for Emigrant Meadow Lake are located on and around the elevated granite formation between us and the lake. I would certainly do it again and bring friends. The nearest town is Pinecrest, a popular destination for both summer and winter tourists. Permit and Bear Canister Required. As we hiked further into the Emigrant, more rock formations began to appear and the crowds thinned. 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. Sand and dirt are also good choices. Was too muddy near the lake, so we camped before the lake. Their knowledge of traditional non-motorized skills and stock use are invaluable in moving heavy logs and rocks, especially in wilderness where motorized equipment is generally prohibited. Here the colors of autumn were starting to show in the foliage framing the lake. Dog friendly. Because of that, I brought 2 sleeping pads and my 10-degree sleeping bag. After taking a ton of photos that wouldnt do it any justice, we skirted around the upper flanks to a notch where our route would take us over to Big Lake. Of course, if there is an actual trail that you can follow, use the trail to reduce impact. Donning neck gaiters over our faces, we followed a horse trail down to what we thought was our trail intersection, but we were wrong! Senate. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock But its much less crowded than its neighbor to the South, offering more solitude for backpacking. The evening was chilly, but I stayed warm by my campfire. 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. This trail is 8.5 mi long with an elevation gain of 1,555 ft. Avoid wet grasses, meadows, and especially cryptobiotic soil. According to AllTrails.com, the longest lake trail in Emigrant Wilderness is Emigrant Wilderness and Sachse Monument Loop. 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. The longest stretch between lakes is ~4 miles, so two liters of carrying capacity is plenty. This is definitely a five-star hike, Frequently asked questions about lake trails in Emigrant Wilderness. Since we had a long day yesterday, and with most of us not getting great sleep the night before we started out hike, we had a slower morning getting ready today. Whatever you have planned for the day, you can find the perfect trail for your next trip to Emigrant Wilderness. A few of the lakes are a bit swampy, and you will want to wade out into the water to collect away from the mud. Emigrant Wilderness is in Stanislaus National Forest, North of Yosemite. The trail steadily climbs after this creek, but thankfully a lot of it is lightly shaded. Heads up, on the drive to access this route you may come across a few creek crossings that may be unpassable or difficult if the water level is high. (209) 532-3671 Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. 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. My 3-day October trip to Desolation Wilderness, exploring the less-visited northwestern parts of the wilderness area. We didnt cross the creek until we hit the meadow. Emigrant Wilderness and Sachse Monument Loop. Many are not on marked trails and some rock scrambling may be necessary. Once we broke above the brush again, we had amazing views of Relief Valley and the ridges we were going to crest tomorrow. Emigrant Wilderness Think of Emigrant Wilderness as Yosemite's forgotten little brother. Looking for a more strenuous hike? Click here to download royalty-free licensing videos from Videvo today. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Bear Lake sits just inside the Emigrant Wilderness nestled in a granite valley accompanied by a sea of conifers. United States. For this trip, we decided to explore several lakes in the southwestern portion of Emigrant. They greeted me with a surprised hello, human! Clearly, they hadnt seen others in a while either. I'd like to go back and explore the big Cherry Creek Canyon below. At Huckleberry Lake, I left the main trail and headed up towards Letora Lake. The mosquitoes are thick near wet areas during June and July. Hikers with strong backs should also consider packing in a small inflatable boat. If you are driving in from Hwy 108, the parking lot will be up a hill to your left, right across from Deadman Campground. So continue south, passing by Ridge Lake before going to Iceland. Cross-country travel can seem like the exact opposite of Leave No Trace. 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. #10 - Emigrant Wilderness and Sachse Monument Loop. Gradual sloping granite, YES! They included a few small cabins, a barn, a hitching post, an outhouse, and various dilapidated items. With four distinct seasons and mild weather, this Southern Oregon spot offers year-round adventure. Backcountry permits are easy to obtain without much advanced notice, and trailhead access is straightforward. 2022 Backcountry Emily Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions. The Lake is just as beautiful as usual, but it was crowded on Saturday and Sunday. 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. Terrain varies from rolling hills to ridges and granite domes, with many lakes surrounded by stands of lodgepole pine. Crabtree Road is not paved, but 2WD cars are just fine. Thankfully, a group of us were all able to get time off, so we set off for the mountains! 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