best lakes in emigrant wilderness

More on this later. Daytime temperatures were in the low 60s and nighttime lows int the 20s. This takes you north of Yosemite National Park in Stanislaus National Forest. The drive from San Jose to Pinecrest Lake is an easy 3 1/2 hours, with minimal traffic to contend with. Kennedy Meadows and Relief Reservoir trailhead to Granite Dome Lakes. 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. Option to stay in Upper Relief Lakes. 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. 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. 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. Days: 2 days, 1 night. 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. Once we scrambled down this bit, we found a small creek, and followed it, along a clear use or game trail. I kept going. In fact, I hadnt seen a single fresh human track on the trail since Emigrant Lake. Beautiful views. Once back at the car, we changed our clothes, put our sore and tired feet in our trusty Crocs, and headed down the mountain. 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. . The Cherry Creek, including the East Fork and North Fork, contain small 4-7" Rainbows and Brookies. 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. These are typically self-serve, free, and unlimited at any Stanislaus National Forest ranger station. With its eastern edge running along the spine of Sierra Nevada range, the Emigrant Wilderness encompasses a vast diversity within its borders. Salmon eggs will also work to a limited degree. Great trail. This 2-night backpacking trip in Emigrant Wilderness lets you soak in nature in solitude. Lots of river access along the way which was great for a hot weekend. The Emigrant Wilderness is the Yosemite backcountrys underappreciated cousin. 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. Many are not on marked trails and some rock scrambling may be necessary. The Backcountry Horsemen of California, Midvalley Chapter, Wilderness Volunteers Projects (National). I planned to camp at Wood Lake. A ranger that I met on the trail the day before said that hed heard anglers catch 25-inch trouts there. We hiked the loop in early October and only encountered a handful of other hikers over three days. Casey and I have a penchant for off-trail exploring and navigation, and the Emigrant is a granite wonderland perfectly suited to this endeavor. Both Salt Lick and Spring Meadows are phenomenal; Long Lakes is an option for sleeping as well. My water bottle had frozen overnight, but I slept warm. The Best Backpacking Destinations in Ansel Adams Wilderness; Explore Parker Lake; Explore John Muir Wilderness. (209) 965-3434. This trail is 8.5 mi long with an elevation gain of 1,555 ft. It was much cooler, especially in the shade! Permits are required for overnight stays. Second, the lakes of the Emigrant Wilderness are known to have some large fish. We didnt cross the creek until we hit the meadow. The Emigrant Wilderness is over 100,000 acres with over 80 lakes within a granite basin filled with granitic domes, ridges, and small hills. Backcountry permits are easy to obtain without much advanced notice, and trailhead access is straightforward. Edit 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! 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 Backpacking and Hiking in the West Like Yosemite, it has towering granite mountains and spectacular alpine lakes. Camp: Gem Lake. I passed through some of the most impressive granite landscapes of the whole trip. Backpacking to Upper Lewis Lake and Granite Dome in Emigrant Wilderness What Is Happy July 9, 2015 Second annual backpacking trip up to Emigrant Wilderness for the 4th of July. Trip report for Iceland and Ridge Lakes. If you are driving in from Hwy 108, the parking lot will be up a hill to your left, right across from Deadman Campground. I packed away my rod and continued along the lakeshore. Most of the buildings were made with local sugar pine logs and seemed to be in pretty good shape. And finally, we had never been on a backpacking trip north of Mammoth Lakes, so the new location was appealing . According to AllTrails.com, the longest lake trail in Emigrant Wilderness is Emigrant Wilderness and Sachse Monument Loop. Cross-country backpacking in Emigrant Wilderness. You cant get down this way. Climbing up the boulders, we were amazed to see horse poop, a sign that they too ventured along this steep path. 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. So yes, we did go skinny-dipping. Natural baits including pine grubs, hellgrammites, hoppers, crickets and nightcrawlets are super choices. A #10 Dave Davis or Model-T Ford Fender with a crawler behind it can produce astonishing results on these unpressured fish! We crossed the dry creek bed and climbed a steep, rocky slope up to beautiful Rosasco Lake. The entire route is an official Forest Service system trail. So you need to know the regulations for where you are and make sure you dont have fires if you reach a certain elevation. Location: Stanislaus National Forest, Emigrant Wilderness, near the town of Sorona, CA in Northern California east of the San Francisco Bay Area. This time we chose a lesser known wilderness area within the Stanislaus National Forest called the Emigrant Wilderness. I also planned to do some off-trail exploration in the high country. The night was wind-still, and there wasnt a cloud in sight. This trail has a lot of steep sections and loose rock. This is an excellent backpacking route in the Emigrant Wilderness. The water was so clear, we were a little sad that our day was too short to stop and soak in them. Top 10 Backpacking Trails John Muir Wilderness; Emigrant Wilderness; Explore Granite Chief Wilderness; Explore Golden Trout Wilderness; Jennie Lakes Wilderness; Destinations . Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock A GPS device will also come in handy. The elevation gain was not particularly kind to me. After a warm breakfast and a large cup of coffee, I headed toward Emigrant Lake. Permits are required for overnight trips. 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. FAX (209) 533-1890 The best fishing within the Southern Emigrant Wilderness is within it's lakes. 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. My first trip to the Sierras this year was on July 4th for an overnight stay in Emigrant Wilderness. Crabtree Road is not paved, but 2WD cars are just fine. I stood and watched the lake for a few minutes. Stranislaus Wilderness Volunteers is a group of citizens who formed in 1991 with a shared love of wilderness and are dedicated to protecting it. It can easily be completed in a three-day weekend, including travel time. You must arm yourself with a good topographical map and a compass to find some of these high country lakes. This protects water, wildlife, habitat, and visitors opportunities for solitude. Purchase maps at any Stanislaus National Forest Ranger Stationor the Forest Service online store. No holding of more than 4 head of stock within mile of the following lakes:, Gem, Jewelry, Long, Maxwell, Pingree, Piute and Rosasco. We left the trail at a relatively obvious spot to cross the creek. In the morning, my foot was feeling worse. I could feel the group getting tired, so we decided to keep continuing after a nice break. Easy access with over 1/4 mile frontage on the County maintained graded gravel . For more information on how to get a wilderness permit for the Emigrant Wilderness, click here. While the durable surface is no longer a trail, you should still pay attention to your surroundings. it is this direction which I believe provides the best experience. Stanislaus National Forest Check here to see if you can apply for an online permit. Senate. We soaked our tired feet in the cold water and happily ate our dinner. Katie is a freelance writer based in Salt Lake City, Utah. A boat is really handy here to reach many of the best fishing spots. Looking for a more strenuous hike? We had identified this area from above, but still made the mistake. For more information please visit the Stanislaus National Forest Recreational Opportunity Guides listed below: Operated under special use permitwithin the Stanislaus National Forest. Sand and dirt are also good choices. No more than 15 people and 25 head of stock are allowed on overnight trips. The elevation profile is comparable for both options. There arent any excruciatingly long climbs, and the weather is pleasant well past August. Immediately I noticed that something wasnt right. 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. Bank anglers will find places to get to . Nat Geo Map 307 (Yosemite NW/Hetch Hetchy Reservoir) is best. When I got to the West side of the lake, I was disappointed to notice that it was a shallow, swampy lake. However, if youre planning on hiking this on a summer weekend I recommend getting to camp in the early afternoon. 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