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. Exactly as described. From Sonora, we turned east up Hwy 108, through Twain Harte and … You'll need a permit for this loop so make sure to stop by the Summit District Ranger Station in Pinecrest to pick yours up. Bear Lake sits just inside the Emigrant Wilderness nestled in a granite valley accompanied by a sea of conifers. Check out other trails in the Emigrant Wilderness Area. Driving to the Sierra. The trail is in good condition and the snow has melted. 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. There wasn’t water between wood lake (the one after lower buck lake) and grouse lake (6ish miles) so plan to pack water accordingly! the North side has plenty of shade and the terrain is lovely and changes as you hike. During two planned layover days, we will have the opportunity to explore more remote areas, swim, or just relax. 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. 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). We'll hike mostly on trail through classic Emigrant country past appropriately named Jewelry and Gem lakes and crossing Cherry and Piute Creeks. The South side of the loop is spectacular. Deer Lake rests deep in the Emigrant Wilderness amidst dozens of other lakes, each one as scenic and inviting as the next. Suddenly, I saw a big trout come up for a bite. The hot, pulled pork sandwiches were delicious. We went counter clockwise just to give us a shorter way out. Details. This trail goes by Camp Lake and Crabtree Camp. If you should seek other waters, nearby Emigrant Lake should be just what you were looking for. Try out Jewelry Lake and Wood Lake to camp. I barely made it through each days and was so wiped out every day it was difficult to enjoy the beauty of the trail. Definitely a bit smoky, but for the most part this wasn’t a big deal. Climbing. 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. Definitely could be done with one overnight! One day we hiked up through Salt Lick Meadow to Wire Lakes and Long Lake. Also one rancher who was bringing in his cows. 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. The trail is primarily used for hiking, camping, nature trips, and backpacking and is best used from April until October. I’d much rather hike down the south trail than up it, so I’d do the route clockwise if I went again. Horse Meadow looked cool. The hike is about 9 miles round trip. Elevation gain: 1,200 feet. 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. Last 2 miles to get to Crabtree were gravel road but easily passable with my 17yo 2WD car! Camping gear must be dropped off at the loading dock very early in the morning. The crossing at the “dam” was a bit high, but you could still wade across. Our plan was to hike the five-ish or so miles to Granite Lake. On the way, we passed multiple lakes and about 6 people who were backpacking and one day hiker. The trail runs along the north side. Ariend and I hiked this one week ago over 4 days, starting late Friday (around 6:30). This lake is easily approachable from Crabtree Camp. Day 4 – Gem Lake to Crabtree Trailhead. Great trip. At the junction to Horse Meadow we met a single woman hiker who was from Oakland, as is Jennifer. Not as rugged as some Sierra landscapes, this one was still appealing. Deer Lake is amazing and has some big rocks and an island in the middle of the lake. We hiked from the Crabtree trailhead through Grouse Lake and made it all the way to Deer lake. The trail to Bear Lake is easy to follow and all the intersections are well marked, however, various parts of the trail traverse over granite caps which make it easy to lose sight of the main trail. Beautiful place. The Packer will transfer our camping gear and backpacks to a drop point near Gem Lake. Bear Lake rests on Lily Creek just inside the Emigrant Wilderness. This is definitely much harder than I imagined! Almost no mosquitos! This peaceful, alpine lake makes for a perfect one day getaway during the summer months and to escape the heat of the foothills. It would have been nice to stay one more night or go on a weekend where it wasn’t freezing. Day 3 – Frasier Lakes to Gem Lake via Wood Lake. Very few people, I didn’t see anyone between emigrant lake and huckleberry lake. Long Way to Long Lake – Emigrant Wilderness: Stanislaus National Forest. Did this as an overnight with my dog 09/26-09/17/2020. So more people. 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. The trail is primarily used for hiking, running, camping, and backpacking. Crabtree TH to Bear Lake. 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. Camped at Camp, Upper Buck and Grouse. Camping at Bear Lake, however, is limited to a single night. We were fortunate to have great weather and almost no mosquitos. Fall is a close second due to the color change of the wonderful aspens. We had Buck lake to ourselves and it was amazingly beautiful. Just got back. In this case look out for rock stacks to lead the way. Anyway, so warm overnight I didn't need my sleeping bag. We cut through to Gem lake to get to Deer Lake. Did this loop over the weekend! “That’s a lot of cars,” we both exclaimed simultaneously as we arrived at the Crabtree Trailhead. Distance: 5 miles. A ranger that I met on the trail the day before said that he’d heard anglers catch 25-inch trouts there. 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. There was a fire near Bear Lake that brought smoke into the skies on Wednesday. Day 1 – Leavitt Lake to High Emigrant Lake over the volcanics of the Relief Peak Formation. Lake choked with lilly pads and only a small area to access the water. 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. Pinecrest, CA. Definitely will be back to do a longer loop. We started off at the Gianelli Cabin trailhead (elevation 8580’) behind the Pinecrest Ranger Station late Friday afternoon. Journals. Crabtree Trailhead is serviced by a very affordable Aspen Meadow Pack Station The cost is $200 per person (maximum of 75 lbs. All streams and creeks are dried up. You will hike several miles on pure granite. I liked that we got to see so many lakes, 10 or so. Then off to Buck Lake. No matter when you come you will likely encounter quite a few backpackers due to the proximity to the Emigrant Wilderness. Crabtree Camp Trailhead is open from June to November but depending on the snow levels opening and closing dates vary. Buck Lakes are tucked away deep in the Emigrant Wilderness, with 20 other lakes within a three mile radius. June 20, 2018. Part 1. Overall, stunning scenery. This place is magical. There is a peak between Gem and Jewelry Lake to climb to watch the best sunset of your life. This was very strenuous and was made way slower by all the snow on the south trail. Mosquitoes were definitely heavy but manageable, also watch out for the big biting ants. From Crabtree trail head to Bear Lake in the Emigrant Wilderness Area, the Sierra Nevada Mountains, California. Spent the first night at the trailhead, the Gem Lake, then Wood Lake. 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. But prettier. The trail is super super easy to identify and follow, which is awesome. Most backpackers take two days to make the 13-mile hike from the Kennedy Meadows trailhead to Emigrant Lake deep in the Emigrant Wilderness. I loved it, just wish I would have been more prepared for how hard it would be. Crabtree (Emigrant Lake) hiking trail in Tuolumne County, California. Emigrant Lake is a reservoir located 5 miles (8 km) southeast of Ashland, Oregon, at the southern end of the Rogue Valley. There were mosquitos too, but not so many above 8k ft yet. Crabtree Camp has plentiful parking although can get busy during the summer vacation season. Each site offers water, 50-amp electrical service, sewer, and 14' x 50' pads to accommodate larger RV's. I stood and watched the lake for a few minutes. We hiked the trail clockwise, and it was excellent. Early summer, after the snow melts, is arguably the best time for this hike since the lakes and creeks are at capacity. Photos. Campsite elevation: 7,600 feet. For the avid hiker, this might be considered "moderate". At 72-years of age, I finally got on one of those horses and rode 12 hours out to the lake. Flight. The trail is primarily used for hiking, camping, nature trips, and backpacking and is best used from April until October. Only one or two other groups at each lake each night but we started on a Monday. Not the ideal place for spending the night. Permits are easily acquired at any of the Ranger Stations and up to 15 backpackers can be accommodated on a trek. On Monday, we hiked out the entire 12 miles back to the trailhead. 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 –… of gear, food, and drinks) for the “drop camp”. As with Huckleberry and Twin Lake, no one else was present. Grouse Lake is small. There are several areas where the trail is rocky and easy to lose, just keep an eye on your map. Bear cansare not required. We will camp near pristine alpine lakes. Anglers often spend a week there, working around its long shoreline. Gluttons for punishment, we went back to the Emigrant Wilderness again, this time with Nikki, Steph's friend, in tow. For true backpackers! On Sunday, we hiked to Lower Buck Lake and camped. if you stop moving they will eat you a live. How to find us. Day 0: Travel to Trail Head. :-) This trip, we decided to go in to Granite Lake, which is sort of off-trail, though not by huge amounts. Beautiful 25 mile loop with plenty of options to set up a base camp and do day hikes. Check with the Summit Ranger District for area status before visiting. People go off the trail to the south side. Took 4 hours up and 3 hours down for this first-timer with a 30lb pack (including food and water). Start and end at the Crabtree Trailhead. Sugar Pine Railroad Grade (Strawberry Branch). Lots of variety in views and terrain which kept it exciting the whole way. 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. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/crabtree-trail I downloaded an offline map from maps.me that I preferred to using the AllTrails map. Water is not as frequent, though it shouldn't be an issue to fill up in the morning, at lunch, then finally at camp. The rocky shore dropped deep into the lake and offered trout places to hide. Over the 4th of July weekend, my friend Blair invited me out on a girls’ only trip out to Granite Lake in Emigrant Wilderness. I haven’t adventured much off of Sonora Pass, so I immediately said yes! You ... An alternative - and to some backpackers' minds an easier - route to Deer Lake is to begin at Crabtree Camp and head out past Camp Lake, Piute Lake, Gem Lake, and then on to Deer Lake. Did this loop Sunday 8/16 through Wednesday 8/19. Part 3. Length 17.7 mi Elevation gain 3264 ft Route type Out & back. Although the trip is rated moderate, we will We stayed there all three nights and did day hikes from there. The hike out the next day (it is a loop) was mostly downhill. 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). I’ve annotated every photo so please read the photo journal for a full description. Backpacking in Emigrant Wilderness: Crabtree Camp to Gem Lake. The hike is definitely buggy, but with magic bug repellent lotion (Ultrathon) and mosquito nets for our faces, we were fine. This trip started over a year ago, Spring of 2007, when I invited Liz to come hiking in the Sierra. Day 1 Camp Lake (3 miles in) Fall 2008: Emigrant Wilderness A Cross Country Ramble in the Emigrant Wilderness Part 1 - Crabtree to Boundary Lake . Views are similar to Yosemite (afterall, it's just a bit north of the park - same Sierra's). We camped at: We hiked the full loop. lly. Happy Hiking! Admittedly Grouse was a bit subpar for the area. Go clockwise. 7.5 km blue singletrack trail. What an amazing place with great fishing and super nice spots to stop and camp. Part 2. But where are all the people? Emigrant Lake is considered one of the premier destinations in the Emigrant Wilderness. It is there, but with the heat, it is not abundant. We detoured to Bear Lake first, which was pretty crowded. Dogs are also able to use this trail. destinationisolation / July 25, 2013. Day 6: On our last night, we may choose to camp at Piute Meadow, or Lily Pad Lake or Grouse Lake. Today just brief notes on our trip… We left El Dorado Hills around 9 am, heading south on Hwy 49 towards Sonora. It has an elevation of 2,241 feet (683 m) above sea level. You can camp there. No arrangement required and there’s no quota. This is a difficult out and back trail to Bear Lake in Emigrant Wilderness. Crabtree Camp to Buck Lakes is a 25.3 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located near Pinecrest, California that features a lake and is rated as moderate. Food . Very beautiful. We did the full loop and there were so many inclines, declines with boulders, large rocks and steep steps . June 19, 2020. Tumtum: Home. The Point RV Park, OPEN YEAR-ROUND, features 32 sites with full hookups, overlooking beautiful shoreline on the lake's north end. The Gem Lake Loop is located in Emigrant Wilderness, which borders Stanislaus National Forest and Yosemite National Park, and offers incredible views, smaller crowds, and diverse terrain. I did an overnight and after I set up my tent I did not go out Day 2 Deer Lake, Northside ( 10 miles in) Elevation loss: 1,500 feet. Emigrant Lake was much larger than any of the lakes I visited the day before. Also, the crossing at Wood Lake was too deep, so we had to hike an extra mile to get around. Yes, get water when you can. You will pass Camp like about 2 … 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. Along the way, we stopped for lunch and to pick up crickets at a gas & bait shop near Angels Camp. She's one of those athletic types, so we let her carry the stove and water filter to slow her down. 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. Bugs were few, mainly in the meadows. For the hardly athletic, out of shape, older folks, this loop is quite challenging. Bear Lake sits just inside the Emigrant Wilderness nestled in a granite valley accompanied by a sea of conifers. I want to come back in the spring or early summer to see the flowers and running water. Kayaking. Only a few bites at Grouse but didn't even break out the Deet. This peaceful, alpine lake makes for a perfect one day getaway during the summer months and to escape the heat of the foothills. Lots of obvious camp sites there. We hiked three miles in Friday night and camped Saturday night at wood lake before hiking out in the morning. No issues at night, either. At Emigrant Lake we were not allowed to have a fire, the first time for that. 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. 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) 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 reflection of light at sunset on the granite mountains is really magical as the mountains turn pink and gold. However, the mosquitoes are really bad! We the walked along Cherry Creek (East Fork), for a bit, which was quite pretty, as shown here (35 seconds). Dont miss it. 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. Tons of variety. There are trout at Jewelry Lake, Deer Lake, and the Buck Lakes, however, they are difficult to catch, easily spooked with a light bite. Nice hike this time of year. Also: cows with loud bells. I sure was sore, but it was worth it. Day 2 – High Emigrant Lake to Frasier Lakes, with perhaps the most stunning camp view you’ll ever see. High 80, low 47. Rounded granite domes, alpine meadows, cascading streams, and stately forests greet backpackers on the 14-mile journey to the lake. Since no hikers had been out and back, they had little information about […] 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. We drove out Friday night, camped at the trailhead, and started on the trail at 8 am Saturday morning. That was amazing!! Crabtree Trail Head Bear Lake Big Lake Buck Lake Camp Lake Cow Meadow Lake Deer Lake ... My uncle talked for years about the trout in Huckleberry Lake, and I’ve always wanted to go there. There was also a cold snap that weekend, so nighttime temperatures were freezing, bring layers. 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. When we hit Bear Lake, we turned left and continued up to the northeast corner, keeping the lake on our right. You can enter Emigrant from Yosemtie (Boundary Lake), Hwy 108 (Crabtree, Gianelli Cabin, and Kennedy Meadows), or the Sonora Pass (Leavitt Peak). The trail this time of year is doable and open. It was a pretty moderate hike. Loved it. Sierra 2008. The highlights of this hike are of course Bear Lake but also Camp Lake (about halfway in), gorgeous vistas and several lush meadows. This trip would start out at the Crabtree trailhead close to the site of my first outing of the FY08 backpacking season. It's about 10 miles by that route. No mosquitos! Day 4 we hiked the final 5 miles and drove home 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. We took the north trail out and made it to Jewelry Lake to camp Saturday night. Did it in 4 days, 3 nights. The water was refreshing for a dip days 2 and 3! A buddy and I hiked most of this loop August 27 - 30. 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