Plenty of lakes to grab water from, though in mid-day, the heat got to me and I ended up without water on an incline. Day 1 – Leavitt Lake to High Emigrant Lake over the volcanics of the Relief Peak Formation. But where are all the people? We detoured to Bear Lake first, which was pretty crowded. The lake has an average surface area of 806 acres (3.26 km 2), and an average volume of 40,530 acre feet (49,990,000 m 3). The South side of the loop is spectacular. We hiked from the Crabtree trailhead through Grouse Lake and made it all the way to Deer lake. During two planned layover days, we will have the opportunity to explore more remote areas, swim, or just relax. Rounded granite domes, alpine meadows, cascading streams, and stately forests greet backpackers on the 14-mile journey to the lake. Sierra 2008. The hike is about 9 miles round trip. Fall is a close second due to the color change of the wonderful aspens. Camp Lake is a perfect resting spot half way in but before moving on to Bear Lake make sure and climb up to the top of the granite on the south side of the lake for magnificent views overlooking Pine Valley. The trailhead at Crabtree Camp is easily accessible by most vehicles despite the three miles of forest service dirt road (4N26), which is maintained for passenger vehicles. Exactly as described. All in all it was a great trip and I'll be back to venture further to Buck lakes and Emigrant lake in the future. There was a fire near Bear Lake that brought smoke into the skies on Wednesday. Check with the Summit Ranger District for area status before visiting. Did this loop over the weekend! From Crabtree trail head to Bear Lake in the Emigrant Wilderness Area, the Sierra Nevada Mountains, California. Lake choked with lilly pads and only a small area to access the water. We started off at the Gianelli Cabin trailhead (elevation 8580’) behind the Pinecrest Ranger Station late Friday afternoon. Also, the crossing at Wood Lake was too deep, so we had to hike an extra mile to get around. On the way, we passed multiple lakes and about 6 people who were backpacking and one day hiker. Buck Lakes are tucked away deep in the Emigrant Wilderness, with 20 other lakes within a three mile radius. Day 2 – High Emigrant Lake to Frasier Lakes, with perhaps the most stunning camp view you’ll ever see. One day we hiked up through Salt Lick Meadow to Wire Lakes and Long Lake. This trip would start out at the Crabtree trailhead close to the site of my first outing of the FY08 backpacking season. At Emigrant Lake we were not allowed to have a fire, the first time for that. At 72-years of age, I finally got on one of those horses and rode 12 hours out to the lake. It has an elevation of 2,241 feet (683 m) above sea level. Start and end at the Crabtree Trailhead. Wilderness Permit: A free permit can be picked up from the Pinecrest Summit Ranger Station which is only about 7 miles from the crabtree trailhead. Since no hikers had been out and back, they had little information about […] No mosquitos! Go clockwise. Crabtree (Emigrant Lake) hiking trail in Tuolumne County, California. Food . Yes, get water when you can. Only a few bites at Grouse but didn't even break out the Deet. For true backpackers! Fall 2008: Emigrant Wilderness A Cross Country Ramble in the Emigrant Wilderness Part 1 - Crabtree to Boundary Lake . Trailhead to Huckleberry lake on Saturday and then back to Crabtree on Sunday. The rocky shore dropped deep into the lake and offered trout places to hide. Pinecrest, CA. We the walked along Cherry Creek (East Fork), for a bit, which was quite pretty, as shown here (35 seconds). The trail is in good condition and the snow has melted. Very few people, I didn’t see anyone between emigrant lake and huckleberry lake. Anyway, so warm overnight I didn't need my sleeping bag. Off the beaten path, including a road that turns into gravel and potholes (our VW Golf did fine at slow speeds and with proper road assessment to navigate the deeper holes) From Sonora, we turned east up Hwy 108, through Twain Harte and … A buddy and I hiked most of this loop August 27 - 30. Gem Lake via Crabtree Trailhead is a 17.7 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Pinecrest, California that features a lake and is rated as difficult. There were some beautiful lakes that popped up and I only ran into a single rancher the entire way back until I was about a mile to the trailhead. It's about 10 miles by that route. Also: cows with loud bells. This place is magical. Deer Lake rests deep in the Emigrant Wilderness amidst dozens of other lakes, each one as scenic and inviting as the next. She's one of those athletic types, so we let her carry the stove and water filter to slow her down. Crabtree Camp has plentiful parking although can get busy during the summer vacation season. the North side has plenty of shade and the terrain is lovely and changes as you hike. The highlights of this hike are of course Bear Lake but also Camp Lake (about halfway in), gorgeous vistas and several lush meadows. Trail is a bit rocky, Granite Dome to Ridge Lake and Iceland Lake, Gianelli Trail to Chewing Gum Lake, Leopold Lake, Deer Lake and Gem Lake, Bear Lake and Grouse Lake via Emigrant Wilderness Loop, Aspen Meadow Road, Crabtree Camp and Buck Lakes Loop, Emigrant Wilderness and Sachse Monument Loop. When we hit Bear Lake, we turned left and continued up to the northeast corner, keeping the lake on our right. However, the mosquitoes are really bad! Horse Meadow looked cool. The Point RV Park, OPEN YEAR-ROUND, features 32 sites with full hookups, overlooking beautiful shoreline on the lake's north end. Dont miss it. The trail this time of year is doable and open. Details. We hiked the full loop. Beautiful place. Also one rancher who was bringing in his cows. The Hike: Piute Lake (Emigrant Wilderness in the Sierra Nevada mountains) Trailhead: Crabtree (In and out with lollipop loop) Duration: 3 days 2 nights Length: 16 miles (13 additional miles for the day hike) Elevation Gain: 1600 ft (1,100' additional gain for the day hike) The Pack: Osprey Exos 58 Sleep System: my favorite set up –… Camping gear must be dropped off at the loading dock very early in the morning. We drove out Friday night, camped at the trailhead, and started on the trail at 8 am Saturday morning. No issues at night, either. We took the north trail out and made it to Jewelry Lake to camp Saturday night. Distance: 5 miles. It would have been nice to stay one more night or go on a weekend where it wasn’t freezing. I loved it, just wish I would have been more prepared for how hard it would be. The trail is primarily used for hiking, camping, nature trips, and backpacking and is best used from April until October. Emigrant Lake is a local oasis nestled between the hills of Ashland and a great opportunity to get away from it all without having to go too far from home. Journals. Almost no mosquitos! Bear cansare not required. Nice hike this time of year. All streams and creeks are dried up. June 20, 2018. I want to come back in the spring or early summer to see the flowers and running water. We hiked three miles in Friday night and camped Saturday night at wood lake before hiking out in the morning. Day 4 – Gem Lake to Crabtree Trailhead. We went counter clockwise just to give us a shorter way out. This was very strenuous and was made way slower by all the snow on the south trail. Flight. Day 3 – Frasier Lakes to Gem Lake via Wood Lake. This is a difficult out and back trail to Bear Lake in Emigrant Wilderness. Dogs are also able to use this trail. All of these are lovely, but if I do it again I'll push on to Jewelery Lake for the first night and maybe spend a night at Upper or Lower Buck Lakes instead of Wood. Only one or two other groups at each lake each night but we started on a Monday. Grouse Lake is small. Driving to the Sierra. The lakes on the way are all pretty great and makes for a great hike with lots of little stops at lakes on your way. I did an overnight and after I set up my tent I did not go out June 19, 2020. Views are similar to Yosemite (afterall, it's just a bit north of the park - same Sierra's). Mosquitoes were definitely heavy but manageable, also watch out for the big biting ants. “That’s a lot of cars,” we both exclaimed simultaneously as we arrived at the Crabtree Trailhead. There was also a cold snap that weekend, so nighttime temperatures were freezing, bring layers. Crabtree Camp to Buck Lakes is a 40.7 kilometer moderately trafficked loop trail located near Pinecrest, California that features a lake and is rated as moderate. You can camp there. People go off the trail to the south side. Gluttons for punishment, we went back to the Emigrant Wilderness again, this time with Nikki, Steph's friend, in tow. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/crabtree-trail For the avid hiker, this might be considered "moderate". Crabtree Camp Trailhead is open from June to November but depending on the snow levels opening and closing dates vary. Emigrant Wilderness Stanislaus National Forest Dates: May 26-29 Appx 30 Mile loop Tom Harrison Trail Map Temp: Night 28-35F Day 50-60F Crabtree trail head to Upper Buck loop Check in at ranger station around noon on Saturday as it started to drizzle. This peaceful, alpine lake makes for a perfect one day getaway during the summer months and to escape the heat of the foothills. Emigrant Lake is considered one of the premier destinations in the Emigrant Wilderness. Definitely could be done with one overnight! The reflection of light at sunset on the granite mountains is really magical as the mountains turn pink and gold. Elevation gain: 1,200 feet. I’d much rather hike down the south trail than up it, so I’d do the route clockwise if I went again. No arrangement required and there’s no quota. For the hardly athletic, out of shape, older folks, this loop is quite challenging. The trail is primarily used for hiking, running, camping, and backpacking. Day 3 Grouse Lake (the least pretty (20 miles in) of the lakes, but the camping is quite lovely - get back up into the rocks to avoid the skeeters). Great trip. There wasn’t water between wood lake (the one after lower buck lake) and grouse lake (6ish miles) so plan to pack water accordingly! destinationisolation / July 25, 2013. Along the way, we stopped for lunch and to pick up crickets at a gas & bait shop near Angels Camp. Emigrant Lake was much larger than any of the lakes I visited the day before. Did this as an overnight with my dog 09/26-09/17/2020. We had Buck lake to ourselves and it was amazingly beautiful. Campsite elevation: 7,600 feet. Bugs were few, mainly in the meadows. of gear, food, and drinks) for the “drop camp”. The TripOur journey starts at the Crabtree Trailhead and climbs through forests to reach the high country, where we will find sparsely vegetated granitic valleys and lush meadows. Over the 4th of July weekend, my friend Blair invited me out on a girls’ only trip out to Granite Lake in Emigrant Wilderness. Definitely will be back to do a longer loop. Although the trip is rated moderate, we will On Monday, we hiked out the entire 12 miles back to the trailhead. 7.5 km blue singletrack trail. You will hike several miles on pure granite. Photos. It is there, but with the heat, it is not abundant. Bear Lake sits just inside the Emigrant Wilderness nestled in a granite valley accompanied by a sea of conifers. How to find us. Overall, stunning scenery. Lots of obvious camp sites there. Most backpackers take two days to make the 13-mile hike from the Kennedy Meadows trailhead to Emigrant Lake deep in the Emigrant Wilderness. Definitely a bit smoky, but for the most part this wasn’t a big deal. The trail runs along the north side. Day 4 we hiked the final 5 miles and drove home There is a peak between Gem and Jewelry Lake to climb to watch the best sunset of your life. Camped at Camp, Upper Buck and Grouse. Sugar Pine Railroad Grade (Strawberry Branch). We were fortunate to have great weather and almost no mosquitos. This trip idea belongs to Tal, and he is undisputably The Host; please direct all meaningful questions to him. Today just brief notes on our trip… We left El Dorado Hills around 9 am, heading south on Hwy 49 towards Sonora. I barely made it through each days and was so wiped out every day it was difficult to enjoy the beauty of the trail. Loved it. :-) This trip, we decided to go in to Granite Lake, which is sort of off-trail, though not by huge amounts. Part 1. Crabtree TH to Bear Lake. Our plan was to hike the five-ish or so miles to Granite Lake. Sure, some of those other lakes require a lot of up-and-down and round-about hiking, but Buck Lakes will provide enough great fishing to keep you busy for a long weekend in the back country. With easy walking distance are a number other great lakes. The crossing at the “dam” was a bit high, but you could still wade across. In this case look out for rock stacks to lead the way. It was a pretty moderate hike. We stayed there all three nights and did day hikes from there. Last 2 miles to get to Crabtree were gravel road but easily passable with my 17yo 2WD car! I stood and watched the lake for a few minutes. This is definitely much harder than I imagined! Very beautiful. Each site offers water, 50-amp electrical service, sewer, and 14' x 50' pads to accommodate larger RV's. There are trout at Jewelry Lake, Deer Lake, and the Buck Lakes, however, they are difficult to catch, easily spooked with a light bite. I liked that we got to see so many lakes, 10 or so. Anglers often spend a week there, working around its long shoreline. Permits are easily acquired at any of the Ranger Stations and up to 15 backpackers can be accommodated on a trek. We cut through to Gem lake to get to Deer Lake. Try out Jewelry Lake and Wood Lake to camp. That was amazing!! I haven’t adventured much off of Sonora Pass, so I immediately said yes! This trip started over a year ago, Spring of 2007, when I invited Liz to come hiking in the Sierra. This peaceful, alpine lake makes for a perfect one day getaway during the summer months and to escape the heat of the foothills. I did a ~30 mile loop solo from Crabtree to Emigrant Lake via Gem Lake and Deer Lake, then Emigrant L. to Woods Lake, and back along the Buck Meadow Creek and Grouse Lake. Admittedly Grouse was a bit subpar for the area. From Crabtree Camp to Lily Pad Lake September 24, 2012 February 13, 2014 / Tara Taft With our 45-pound packs on our backs, we began our journey about 8:30 a.m. and set out on the Crabtree trail in the Stanislaus National Forest before entering the Emigrant Wilderness. Part 3. The hike out the next day (it is a loop) was mostly downhill. As with Huckleberry and Twin Lake, no one else was present. July 26 & 27, 2008 - Emigrant Wilderness - Crabtree to Granite Lake Another attempt at a partial off-trail trip and in a place that is becoming very familiar....Emigrant Wilderness. On Sunday, we hiked to Lower Buck Lake and camped. The hike is definitely buggy, but with magic bug repellent lotion (Ultrathon) and mosquito nets for our faces, we were fine. Bear Lake rests on Lily Creek just inside the Emigrant Wilderness. Suddenly, I saw a big trout come up for a bite. Deer Lake is amazing and has some big rocks and an island in the middle of the lake. Lots of variety in views and terrain which kept it exciting the whole way. Bear Lake sits just inside the Emigrant Wilderness nestled in a granite valley accompanied by a sea of conifers. We did the full loop and there were so many inclines, declines with boulders, large rocks and steep steps . Tumtum: Home. The hot, pulled pork sandwiches were delicious. High 80, low 47. We camped at: Spent the first night at the trailhead, the Gem Lake, then Wood Lake. Tons of variety. This peaceful little lake makes a great early season hike as well as an easy trek for those wishing to get away for the weekend without spending all day on the trail. No matter when you come you will likely encounter quite a few backpackers due to the proximity to the Emigrant Wilderness. if you stop moving they will eat you a live. lly. We hiked the trail clockwise, and it was excellent. Not the ideal place for spending the night. What an amazing place with great fishing and super nice spots to stop and camp. Check out other trails in the Emigrant Wilderness Area. Although the elevation change is around 600 ft the trail undulates throughout the hike so the amount of climbing is a bit more, albeit easily done by most. Just got back. This lake is easily approachable from Crabtree Camp. I downloaded an offline map from maps.me that I preferred to using the AllTrails map. We'll hike mostly on trail through classic Emigrant country past appropriately named Jewelry and Gem lakes and crossing Cherry and Piute Creeks. Water is not as frequent, though it shouldn't be an issue to fill up in the morning, at lunch, then finally at camp. 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