Natures raw beauty and sweet serenity. It is 13 difficult miles from Crabtree campground, a large part of it uphill. And they were leaving, after all. We stayed overlooking the lake however don’t miss the opportunity to hit the top of the ridge above the lake. A varied terrain for sure. - groundhog meadows and grouse lake were very buggy, bear lake was MUCH less buggy The Emigrant is most easily accessible from Hwy 108, with many visitors entering from near Pinecrest Lake or Kennedy Meadows. This was my first backpacking trip. Recommended hike! The mosquitoes have just started to hatch, and were present in only a few places. Bear Lake sits just inside the Emigrant Wilderness nestled in a granite valley accompanied by a sea of conifers. Camp Lake (shown right), which has good fishing; but you will find superior campsites at Bear a popular destination. If we turned Right here we would hike Southwest around the East shore of Emigrant Meadow Lake past Middle Emigrant Lake to Blackbird, and finally Emigrant Lake. It is located in the Emigrant Wilderness which is just 4 hours outside of San Francisco. Keep walking through the forest for another mile until you hit the rocks on the western side of Bear Lake (7,700 ft). Second day we hiked the 6-7 miles to Grouse Lake. Road. Bear Lake and Grouse Lake via Emigrant Wilderness Loop is a 22.2 kilometer heavily trafficked loop trail located near Pinecrest, California that features a lake and is rated as moderate. - there are 4 stream crossings total, the highest one coming up to ~2-3 feet. Pct Trail. So beautiful with lovely fall foliage. 4. Chewing Gum Lake. Anglers often spend a week there, working around its long shoreline. Those times I've went, I can count the number of people I've run into on two hands. As a whole the trail was very well maintained, perfect for a first timer. Blackbird Lake is just a bit East of Emigrant Lake, where we would find Mosquito Pass leading North. We will enter the wilderness from the west, traveling through forested granitic valleys and camping at pristine lakes before arriving at the sparsely vegetated high country at the eastern side of the wilderness. 3. Crabtree Camp. This day was quite strenuous and took us longer than estimated. When they wrote "The Bear Went Over the Mountain" they were in the Emigrant Wilderness. Took us an extra 30min just to stop the bleeding. Crabtree to groundhog meadow: DIFFICULT 7.7 mi. The hike carries you from the Bell Creek Watershed past Camp Lake and up to Bear Lake. It's just as far as Yosemite minus the ridiculous crowds. Will be back here for sure. There were several trees fallen over the trail that we had to go over, under, or around, but it was no problem getting through. Lots of super rad places to camp, would be perfect for packing in and staying overnight. The hiker was located after he activated a … - the buggiest campsite (got over 40 mosquito bites, but I’m prone to them) We stayed on west side of Piute creek at the loop connector trail, the creek was flowing fast. Lily Creek was about knee-deep and easily wadable, and Piute Creek looked similar but we didn't cross it. See more ideas about pct trail, john muir trail, wilderness. We did three days and two nights. (see pics in my profile) Good elevation gain for a nice workout. The out-and-back is about 12 miles with not a great deal of climbing. Pick up a free permit at any Stanislaus National Forest Ranger Station. Once you cross a small bridge, stay right for the trail to Bear Lake. Most hikers break the trip into 2 days. One of the most difficult places to find in Emigrant Wilderness is Hyatt Lake. This was our first backpacking trip and have to say we are exhausted however this was worth it. At Grouse Lake we found a spacious camp site with a large stone fire ring on the North of the Lake and trail. Snow Lake Trail is in the Emigrant Wilderness, part of the Stanislaus National Forest. climbing than appears at first glance, but none of the hills are too challenging. Emigrant Wilderness, Bear Lake 10/12- 10/14/07. There are no trails into the Lake, and only a very experienced backpacker can nagivate the ducks, granite faces, and ridgelines to make it there. It was just a really loud howling sound almost like the sound a gorilla makes. Hit up Bear Lake on the way out and it was magnificently beautiful but painfully ice cold. EASY 2.2 mi. From the south, the wilderness is accessible from Cherry Lake, along the border with Yosemite National Park. Got a few bites but didn’t land anything. It is about 50 miles east of Sonora off Hwy 108. And also saw some shy deer. Great spot for sunrise & sunset. Some ups, some downs, some sun, some shade. We got to the Piute Creek and just before we crossed it we decided to stay on the rocks to the right of the trail between the trail and the Piute Creek. Day 2 packed up camp and set of for Bear Lake. parking lot. Camping is good at either end of the lake and along the north shore. - beautiful lake with lots of jumping rocks and you can swim to the island After lunch we decided we would try for Studhorse Meadows for the night. We opted out of Bear as we just didn’t have the time. Great stop for lunch or a location to get to and set up a base camp for day hikes. Highly recommend! Pretty cool. We cross on a couple down logs just to the left of the trail when you go to cross. The climb from the lake up and over the pass is great with a snowfield the last 300 yards over the top. What Makes It Great. Quite a climb in altitude had my heart pounding! Pretty hot during the day, and some creeks starting to dry up so fill your water when you can. 6/29-6/30 2019: We didn’t go to Bear lake, just the loop. There are sites with picnic tables and some sites with room to park horse trailers. This peaceful, alpine lake makes for a perfect one day getaway during the summer months and to escape the heat of the foothills. Every effort is made to provide accurate and up to date information, but we cannot be responsible for errors or for changes that may have occurred since publication. But most of them were on their way out from Chewing Gum, Y Meadow, and Toejam Lakes. No wonder Ansel Adams loved these mountains. I had treated my clothes and was wearing bug spray and they were still crazy. We got to Grouse Lake had lunch spent some time fishing. This trail has it all. Crabtree Camp … The climb and elevation can get to you however once at the top the views are amazing 180 degrees of views. Includes details of wilderness areas, latest sierra wilderness news, resources for planning your trip, and notes from professionals in the field. Sonora, CA — A hiker was rescued with a CHP Valley Division Air Operations helicopter at Bear Lake in Tuolumne County’s Emigrant Wilderness. On our third day we finished the loop back to Crabtree trail head. 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. Soon after, you'll start your uphill climb for about a mile but it smoothes out nicely after that. DIFFICULT 3.8 mi. No Camping Loop via Relief Valley Trail. Soon, however, the grade eases and you settle into an easy walk. Day 1 we left the Crabtree TH late morning and took out time up to the trial split. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. I spent a lot of time on top of the rocks to do my camp chores. at the trailhead. EASY 4.4 mi. Some of the best sites are half way Sierra Nevada. The days were perfect hiking weather in the 70s-80s. There was a line across the creek to hold on too. Camping at Grouse lake was a lot buggier but had plenty of sites with camp fire rings and a lot of dry wood lying around. The last weekend of September all of the creeks were dry, the lakes were a little low but still beautiful. We didn’t make Bear on this trip. Wilderness Permits A Wilderness Permit is required for overnight visits to the Emigrant, Carson-Iceberg, and Mokelumne Wildernesses from April 1 through November 30. The trail was fairly moderate elevation rise. - easiest leg, mostly shade DIFFICULT 18.0 mi. Views are so much more expansive than I would have expected! The sound of the creek below was great to sleep next too. Water was NOT ice cold and made for a super pleasant swim after that hot sunny climb! The map displayed above is for illustrative purposes only. Check at the ranger station when you pick up your permit. The trails looked really doable for the low velocity, reduced distance backpacker, which is pretty much what we are. From there we descended down into the valley to pick up the Pine Crest trail which winding through some nice forest. This was the shortest day, but the incline in elevation was intense for a little while. The Emigrant Wilderness is a landscape of incredible beauty with broad expanses of granite peaks, glacially sculpted gorges, alpine lakes, mountain streams, and deep canyons. Sonora Pass Vacations website makes no warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, reliability or suitability of any of its maps. Middle Emigrant is quite shallow with flat meadows on the upstream side, so its size must vary considerably during the season. 3. This glaciated landscape is perfect for the young, old or beginning backpacker seeking serenity for a few days. If you will be arriving outside of regular business hours, please call up to three days in advance to have a permit left in the after-hours pick-up box. Category Travel & Events; Song I'll Fly Away (From “O Brother, Where Art Thou” Soundtrack) The information provided on this website is done so without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, including but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. Plenty of water, bugs no so bad, snow at the top, not too muddy or wet. Bear Lake rests on Lily Creek just inside the Emigrant Wilderness. - less than 4 miles Wilderness Permits for the hike to Bear Lake can be picked up at the Summit Ranger Station near Pinecrest or back at the Mi-Wuk Village Ranger Station. Groundhog meadows to bear lake Continue on up Lily Creek for another mile to your destination. Gotta love that in America, we have such scenic beauty!! Trail length much longer than posted, I completed 15 miles and didn't even do the offshoot because I started late and was running out of daylight. Return to TYT via Horse Meadow or Bigelow and Black Bear Lake to Snow Lake. You're starting at a fairly high elevation (8K+), but… I camped in an area under some trees and I couldn't be outside of my hammock for a minute before I got swarmed. All in all, great weekend backpacking experience for beginners and seasoned hikers alike! Our second day was a beast! As long as you can hear the Piute Creek to your left you will pick up the trial at Piute Meadows. Sure, it doesn't have the falls like Yosemite, but it's got the solitude. Day 3 we hung out till noonish and then headed down off the mountain. It's not a fishing lake, but it can have spectacular sunsets and offers good swimming. Our first clue was the more than fifty cars at the trailhead. With easy walking distance are a number other great lakes. Great sandy flat spots, plenty of wood to build a nice fire and enjoy the views. She stated it was a very spiritual and one amazing adventure. We day hiked out to Camp and Bear Lakes, in the Emigrant Wilderness section of the Stanislaus National Forest, on a car camping trip earlier this summer. 3 day 2 night Trip And a ranger did check for our permits so make sure you pick those up on the way in! Instead of crossing over the Piute Creek at the trial we decided to head up the Piute 50 yards and crossed over a log the spanned the creek. Even on Labor Day the trail wasn't too populated. And we were not alone. The number of nights you can camp at Bear Lake may be limited. 7. Road is completely clear of snow all the way to the trailhead, and high majority of the trail. Check with rangers about the suitability of conditions before setting out on any hike or other forest activity. The views down into the valley below and onto Grouse Lake makes you realize the extent of your trip. first mile. Camping at Bear Lake, however, is limited to a single night. Our six-day on- and off-trail journey to remote lakes of the Emigrant Wilderness traverses a glacially sculpted landscape with broad granite expanses, rushing mountain streams and deep canyons. But will be back for sure. But it lasted for about two hours. We decided to cross the stream where we found some floating logs and found a much quieter camp site. Then up the switchback to Camp 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. :-) This trip, we decided to go in to Granite Lake, which is sort of off-trail, though not by huge amounts. At around 2.5 miles in, you'll reach Camp Lake - a great place to stop for lunch but camping is not allowed. As our first trip together, it was strenuous but nothing over the top, just took out time. After 2.5 miles you reach The trail is primarily used for hiking, camping, nature trips, and backpacking and is best used from April until October. Southern side of loop has more obstacles on the trail, and sometimes we questioned whether we were on the trail or a stream. The trail undulates so there is a little more climbing than appears at first glance, but none of the hills are too challenging. Emigrant Wilderness is a protected area in California. Hiking Trails (31) Reviews (27) 1. Thomas Winnett's Sierra North has long been the best guide to backpacking in the northern Past dried up Piute Creek we ended our day at Grouse Lake. Plenty of trees for hammock camping too ;) The lilypads are just starting to emerge and look really cool below the surface. Chewing Gum Lake via Gianelli Trail. Chewing Gum Lake is a beautiful little camping spot not far inside the Emigrant Wilderness. OBSERVED: I was camping with my dad at Bear Lake in Emigrant National Wilderness. Tuolumne County is a backpacker's paradise. I hope you like mosquitoes and because because they ate everywhere. 12 reviews of Emigrant Wilderness "Emigrants Wilderness is a great place for backpacking and/or day hikes. Great trip, loved the cows at Grouse Lake. Firewood is difficult to find since the lake is such Lots of nice flat camping spots up on the granite ledge south of the lake & trail at Lilypad. The trail itself is pretty easy to follow. Crabtree trailhead to groundhog meadows We found a great camp site with a stone fire ring, enough room for two tents and a view of watching the sunset behind the lake. 1. On our way we passed a couple groups on horses. Mostly dirt trails with lots of horse dropping!!! Beautiful, but definitely not for the faint of heart. Bear Lake rests on Lily Creek just inside the Emigrant Wilderness. Things to note: I would 300% recommend climbing to the top of the ridge on the south side of Lilypad Lake. - roughly 4 miles, half shade and half exposed Er führt entlang eines Sees und durch schönen Wald. Its above the water fall. It is an elongated area that extends northeast about 25 miles in length and up to 15 miles in width. The streams are subject to heavy runoff from the winter snows and the streambeds are scoured leaving little habitat for much insect activity. The trail is pretty well marked until you get down to the lake. The trail is pretty dusty to start. 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. But the glorious high mountain vistas were absolutely worth it! We hiked further on and ended the day at Bear Lake. Hunde sind erlaubt, … 5. Saved by Sanny Liao Day 1 started at the Crabtree trail head. Chewing Gum Lake is best done late in the summer when the snow has melted and the … 2. Always confirm information with the service provider and check for any recent changes that may have been made. This is a difficult out and back trail to Bear Lake in Emigrant Wilderness. Mosquitoes were pretty bad & swarmy at dawn and dusk but absent during the day. Fabulous loop! So the "lower" half of the loop. Multiple creeks to cross, but none precarious - the deepest was about knee high, so a pair of water shoes were pretty clutch. 2. Soon after the Aspen Pack Station the road turns to dirt, but Crabtree Camp is not far beyond that We will be back as we now have some many things we want to do and see in this area. The trail undulates so there is a little more Backpacked this loop counterclockwise and camped at Lilypad Lake July 13-14, 2019. Most of the lakes are surrounded by lodgepole pine. In this 9th edition written with Kathy Morey you will find a section on a variety of hikes which begin at June through October are the best times weather-wise to visit Emigrant Wilderness; however, the trail does tend to open in May when the snow has cleared the roads. A few nice swimming holes. back to the TYT just a bit above Lunch Meadow, and a bit below Brown Bear Pass, which is behind us from our current position.