Patches of trees and boulders, NO! 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. 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. Did not notice any mosquitos. And when we got to the top, we soon found ourselves at Letora Lake--an absolute garden spot in its own right. 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. 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. 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. We took this loop clockwise, heading in the direction of Camp Lake on the first day. The last 2 miles of the road was unpaved, but passable with a car. Rock and snow are the most durable surfaces to use while hiking off-trail. Be the first to know about new adventures. There are 14 trails in Emigrant Wilderness. 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. No trail head marker exists at the beginning but the single track begins at the parking turnout. But to be a good wilderness steward when youre off-trail, there are some key points you should follow. It can easily be completed in a three-day weekend, including travel time. The trail was very wide and sandy until we hit the border of the Emigrant Wilderness, when the trail turned into more of a trail than a dirt road. The water was so clear, we were a little sad that our day was too short to stop and soak in them. There are many opportunities to extend the loop or go slightly off-trail to different lakes, so we were grateful for our easy itinerary. Large groups are not recommended during busy times. Region: Pacific West (Stanislaus National Forest, Northern California)Length: 19.5 miles, 1-3 days, Elevation (average): ~7,000 feetTotal Elevation Gain: 3,172 feet. Theres none in the wilderness or Crabtree Road. It involved some basic topo map navigation, a certain amount of real effort, and just enough bushwhacking to keep many people from having a good time on a hike. 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. Trip report for Iceland and Ridge Lakes. The Backcountry Horsemen of California, Midvalley Chapter (BCHM) assist several National Forests in many capacities, including in Wilderness. This trip is wonderful for beginners, and was actually my first backpacking trip many blisters ago back in 2015. 2021 Valet marketing - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Valet Marketing. They were both closed by Sunday, October 18th, though were open earlier in October. We enjoyed some flat/ downhill trail as we walked above the reservoir, which was a nice break from the constant up. 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. This trail is 8.5 mi long with an elevation gain of 1,555 ft. The park's runner-up is Gianelli to Black Hawk Mountain, which will get you 1,779 m of elevation gain. But, like most things in life, LNT is not black and white. United States government. 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. With its eastern edge running along the spine of Sierra Nevada range, the Emigrant Wilderness encompasses a vast diversity within its borders. Was too muddy near the lake, so we camped before the lake. We chose to start our trip on the Crabtree Trail and return via Bell Meadow Trail for a change of scenery. Visitors are required to camp at least 100 feet away from water, trails, and no camping posts. Leave No Trace Center has good guidelines for following this rule. When shes not guzzling instant coffee in the backcountry, you can find her down the ski slopes or using inappropriatelanguage around children at the climbing gym. 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. Download free stock video footage featuring Reflection of rocky mountains on surface of alpine lake, tilt up and reveal of beautiful valley. This ~20-mile loop can quickly become 30 miles if you forget to start your loop back. " Lee Watts OpenMapTiles OSM 4.3 Miles Point to Point 9,748' High 8,476' Low 464' Up 1,378' A #10 Dave Davis or Model-T Ford Fender with a crawler behind it can produce astonishing results on these unpressured fish! Elevations range from below 5000 feet near Cherry Reservoir to 11,570 feet at Leavitt Peak. Sometimes on marked trails there are very obvious signs that say no fires above this elevation. This protects water, wildlife, habitat, and visitors opportunities for solitude. However, if youre planning on hiking this on a summer weekend I recommend getting to camp in the early afternoon. Heading east on the Bell Meadow Trail we climbed through a cool forest and descended into another canyon. There are 12 lake trails in Emigrant Wilderness. From Modesto, take the 120 toward Yosemite and merge onto the 108 toward Sonora. Enjoy hand-curated trail maps, along with reviews and photos from nature lovers like you. Precipitation averages 50 inches annually, 80 percent of it in the form of snow. 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. United States. Permits are required for overnight stays. While the durable surface is no longer a trail, you should still pay attention to your surroundings. Flies can range from #12 to #18 depending on the size of the indigenous trout. Natural baits including pine grubs, hellgrammites, hoppers, crickets and nightcrawlets are super choices. 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. Both result in similar elevation changes. The Fishing Advice 2021. Pinecrest, CA 95364. Author: United States. Emigrant Wilderness Think of Emigrant Wilderness as Yosemite's forgotten little brother. Day One: Crabtree Trailhead to Camp Lake, 3 milesDay Two: Camp Lake to Grouse Lake, 12.5 milesDay Three: Grouse Lake to Crabtree Trailhead, 4 miles. We passed the southern shore and set up in a little nook on the western side of the lake with a great view of Granite Dome. It is a place where the pines, cedars, and firs of the Stanislaus National Forest gradually thin as granite cliffs, mountain tops, and monoliths . Hyatt Lake is a great place. The views are awesome although this time it was a little bit hazy. There were remnants of recent visitors (Aspen Meadows Pack Station leads multi-day horse packing trips out here), but on this day we had the entire place to ourselves. From there, the trail descends into canyons and climbs ridges undulating in this familiar fashion for miles. #8 - Granite Dome Loop via Kennedy Meadows. (209) 965-3434. Crabtree Road is not paved, but 2WD cars are just fine. The weather forecast for the trip showed clear skies. In order to access the off-trail lakes for this trip, we headed south at Piute Meadow on a small connector trail to join up with the Bell Meadow trail near Groundhog Meadow (lots of meadows, I know!). 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. But I have to say, I could feel fall coming in the mountains. To get to the lakes, we had to hug the ridge to our left, due south west. Leave no Trace and off-trail backpacking. The trail is only maintained for part of this route. Thorston Tichenor There we were, sitting under a tree by a pristine creek in the Sierra wilderness. Here the colors of autumn were starting to show in the foliage framing the lake. Since it was now late in the day, the light was perfect. it is this direction which I believe provides the best experience. I'd like to go back and explore the big Cherry Creek Canyon below. This was a quick 2-mile jaunt to the peak's volcanic summit, where we enjoyed great views. Option to stay in Upper Relief Lakes. Official websites use .gov A .gov My water bottle had frozen overnight, but I slept warm. Cell Reception: Dont expect any. We didnt cross the creek until we hit the meadow. #7 - Granite Dome Loop via Kennedy Meadows. Access overall is good. Second, the lakes of the Emigrant Wilderness are known to have some large fish. If you're looking for elevation gain, Emigrant Wilderness has you covered. According to users from AllTrails.com, the best lake trail to hike in Emigrant Wilderness is. Stanislaus National Forest Backcountry Permit. An overnight camping permit is required if camping along the route. I decided to sleep under the stars without the tarp. Backpacking Hyatt Lake in Emigrant Wilderness. This hike has off-trail portions to get to Iceland Lake. It takes an average of 4 h 4 min to hike. Another note about the route: It looks very tempting to just cut across the landscape from the ridge to the eastern side of Iceland Lake. This trail is 8.5 mi long with an elevation gain of 1,555 ft. Around the lake, you'll find gentle hiking trails, swimming . The trail, which is not regularly maintained and may at times be hard to follow, initially descends slightly to 7300', then stays mostly flat before rising just before the lakes. Backcountry permits are easy to obtain without much advanced notice, and trailhead access is straightforward. Thankfully, this large creek was still flowing well, even in October. Camping is allowed anywhere LNT guidelines are followed. The area around the trailhead can be a little confusing! Backpacking Hyatt Lake, Emigrant Wilderness (2D/1N) Trip Details: Total distance: 13.0 miles Total elevation gain: 2,527 feet Route Type: Cross country out-and-back Wilderness Area: Emigrant Wilderness, Stanislaus National Forest Season: Early (early June in a low-snow year) There wasn't a soul around, the moon. The Emigrant Wilderness is over 100,000 acres with over 80 lakes within a granite basin filled with granitic domes, ridges, and small hills. Lot of consistent up hill at the start but then youre done and get to enjoy relatively flat trail the rest of the way. It is a good idea to download your map ahead of time or bring a printed copy. It takes an average of 4 h 4 min to hike. My 3-day October trip to Desolation Wilderness, exploring the less-visited northwestern parts of the wilderness area. How many lake trails are in Emigrant Wilderness? 2022 Backcountry Emily Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions. We deliver the definitive fishing material straight from the experts. Pingree, Black Hawk, Shallow Hyatt, Rosasco, Lost, Cow Meadow, Yellow Hammer, Big and Deer Lakes are just a few of the more productive waters. Starting Point: Kennedy Meadows. 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. Campfires are prohibited above 9000 feet, and no campfires are allowed within mile of Emigrant Lake. 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