It takes an average of 4 h 4 min to hike. 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. We didnt cross the creek until we hit the meadow. If you're looking for elevation gain, Emigrant Wilderness has you covered. I passed through some of the most impressive granite landscapes of the whole trip. 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. Theres none in the wilderness or Crabtree Road. We hiked to the other side of the lake climbed a ridge and has lunch there. Elevations range from below 5000 feet near Cherry Reservoir to 11,570 feet at Leavitt Peak. We also contemplated a summit of Granite Dome, but were too tired on the day we hiked to Iceland Lake. Fortunately, the other end of the lake was much more suitable for camping. This trail is 13.7 km long with an elevation gain of 474 m. It takes an average of 4 h 4 min to hike. A view of Lake Rosasco in the Emigrant Wilderness. The Emigrant Wilderness Loop is a 19.5-mile loop located in Stanislaus National Forest, California, that can be hiked in 1-3 days. But when you go off-trail, you dont have man-made signs to tell you that. Instead, I headed South, toward Huckleberry Lake, passing Blackbird and Maxwell Lakes. There are pros and cons to each month of the hiking season in Stanislaus National Forest. In the late spring and early summer, the rushing water along the creek creates gorgeous cascades for miles along this canyon. The Emigrant Wilderness of Stanislaus National Forest is a wilderness area in the Sierra Nevada. While the trip is suited for beginner cross-country hikers, please do not take cross-country travel lightly. An official website of the Supervisors Office The entire route is an official Forest Service system trail. Thankfully, this large creek was still flowing well, even in October. How many lake trails are in Emigrant Wilderness? According to AllTrails.com, the longest lake trail in Emigrant Wilderness is. The park's runner-up is Granite Dome Loop via Kennedy Meadows, which will get you 5,587 ft of elevation gain. To the north, the Emigrant Wilderness is bordered by the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness and the Mokelumne Wilderness. United States government. The views over Huckleberry Lake were some of the most impressive of the trip so far. Every step I took on my left foot resulted in a stabbing pain near my heel. We planned our 32 mile lollipop route using AllTrails Pro, obtained our backcountry permit online, and headed out early Friday morning at the beginning of October. The last 2 miles of the road was unpaved, but passable with a car. 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. 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. It was still near freezing when I started my backpacking trip. Closest Major City: Modesto, California(three hours). We encountered thunderstorms on Monday afternoon. This ~20-mile loop can quickly become 30 miles if you forget to start your loop back. There were a lot of fallen trees that had thankfully been cleared off the trail. But the impact was forceful enough to cause a big bruise and my foot to swell up. 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. 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. United States. Katie is a freelance writer based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Its possible to hike this trail in the winter with traction, but be sure to check the national forest road conditions and be prepared for winter conditions. I could feel the group getting tired, so we decided to keep continuing after a nice break. Emigrant Lake has county recreational facilities and good amenities, including several campgrounds, two developed boat ramps and more. Here's our recommended gear list We enjoyed some flat/ downhill trail as we walked above the reservoir, which was a nice break from the constant up. I had time for one last weekend trip to the Sierra before winter. Kennedy Meadows and Relief Reservoir trailhead to Granite Dome Lakes. The Backcountry Horsemen of California, Midvalley Chapter (BCHM) assist several National Forests in many capacities, including in Wilderness. Granite basins carved by glaciers, jeweled with lakes, and speckled with wildflowers attract visitors to the Emigrant Wilderness. This trail is 8.5 mi long with an elevation gain of 1,555 ft. We left the official trail at West Fork Cherry Creek, venturing down Louse Canyon. Call the ranger station for more information on these campgrounds. What is the longest lake trail in Emigrant Wilderness? Be sure to file a trip itinerary with the local rangess and obtain necessary permits before heading out into this remote wilderness. The longest climb is less than a mile, and covers roughly 700 feet of elevation gain in that time. While this trip was originally planned as an out-and-back, we were able to identify a path down to Relief Creek and Lower Relief Valley and see some new terrain! Where is the best lake trail to hike in Emigrant Wilderness? The trail is dotted with lakes and streams, offering frequent water sources and campsites. If you came to camp Emigrant Wilderness - Upper Relief Reservoir is a great site to do that. In the Emigrant Wilderness the use of bear resistant food storage containers is highly recommended. We visited in July 28 from San Jos and it was the best experience at Bears lake we ever had.The water level was perfect it was super quiet and it was . Hike to above Relief Reservoir. Camping, there would be a wet and cold ordeal. Frequently asked trail questions about Emigrant Wilderness. 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. I decided to sleep under the stars without the tarp. Once back at the car, we changed our clothes, put our sore and tired feet in our trusty Crocs, and headed down the mountain. The Bell Meadow Trail parallels the Crabtree Trail, and can create a variety of nice loops to explore. 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. While at the lake of High Relief Valley, I realized that the abundant scat on the tops of granite boulders was caused by marmots. Drive carefully on Crabtree Road, and look out for horse poop on the trail. A ranger that I met on the trail the day before said that hed heard anglers catch 25-inch trouts there. I planned a 3-night trip to Emigrant Wilderness to fish Emigrant Lake and some smaller lakes. But the path that paralleled East Fork Cherry seemed to double as a riverbed during spring. Until then, the trail had been well-maintained. This required some steep climbing in the heat of the day, but proved to be a fun adventure. Many are not on marked trails and some rock scrambling may be necessary. For more information please visit the Stanislaus National Forest Recreational Opportunity Guides listed below: Operated under special use permitwithin the Stanislaus National Forest. Emigrant Lake was much larger than any of the lakes I visited the day before. There are few crowds and tremendous beauty. overview. Im normally not a fan of wilderness reservoirs, but Relief is pretty. Watersheds drain to the Stanislaus and Tuolumne Rivers. Sierra Rec Magazine is the Sierra Nevadas only regional publication dedicated to outdoor lifestyle news and features for the entire Sierra Nevada Range. 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. 108, the Sonora Pass, is about 30 miles out of the town of Sonora. Pinecrest, CA 95364 If you visit, permits are required for overnight trips. SWV members provide education to wilderness visitors, perform work projects, and monitor wilderness resources in support of the US Forest Service. These trails have an average 4.5-star rating from 1,485 AllTrails community reviews. 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. I cannot recommend this trip enough for beginner backpackers. Five miles from the trailhead, I ran into a group of hikers. There was a faint use trail, and a cairn (stack of rocks) on the other side of the creek. And finally, we had never been on a backpacking trip north of Mammoth Lakes, so the new location was appealing . 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. We hiked the loop in early October and only encountered a handful of other hikers over three days. The best fishing within the Southern Emigrant Wilderness is within it's lakes. The Drive Up . 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. This is an excellent backpacking route in the Emigrant Wilderness. From there, I had another 15 minutes to the Crabtree Trailhead. Enjoy hand-curated trail maps, along with reviews and photos from nature lovers like you. 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. For Bay Area residents like ourselves, the Emigrant is also one of the closest and most easily accessible wilderness areas to explore. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Stunning Yosemite-like vistas without the crowds. Purchase maps at any Stanislaus National Forest Ranger Stationor the Forest Service online store. Pinecrest, Cold Springs, Twain Harte, Sonora. Kibbie Ridge, Kennedy Meadows, Crabtree and Bell Meadow are the most frequented. Campsites spread across entire lake. Emigrant Wilderness, located south of Hwy. I recommend this trip for a leisurely escape into the wilderness, as opposed to a trip where mileage is the goal. In the Emigrant Wilderness the use of bear resistant food storage containers is highly recommended . It was way too big for me to eat, especially right after breakfast. There were quite a few hills that I didnt want to have to unnecessarily go up only to come back down. 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. Campsite Location Visitors are required to camp at least 100 feet away from water, trails, and "no camping" posts. Pingree, Black Hawk, Shallow Hyatt, Rosasco, Lost, Cow Meadow, Yellow Hammer, Big and Deer Lakes are just a few of the more productive waters. Casey and I have a penchant for off-trail exploring and navigation, and the Emigrant is a granite wonderland perfectly suited to this endeavor. My favorite part of any drive into the Sierra Nevada is the transition between oak woodland to incense cedar and pine. FAX (209) 965-3372 I had time for one last weekend trip to Emigrant Wilderness some steep climbing the... Purchase maps at any Stanislaus National Forest is a Wilderness area in the Emigrant is one! 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