This trail is great for a three or four day trip. The trail is primarily used for hiking and backpacking and is best used from August until September. Hardly any mosquitos, lots of refreshing swimming, perfect weather, beautiful scenery. Backpacking Emigrant Wilderness Supplemental Trail Notes . Sunday morning, we ventured on our snowshoes into Emigrant Wilderness. Wilderness permits are required, but they are easily obtained at any Stanislaus Forest ranger station. We extended it out past Deer Lake and cut south at Buck Lake to catch the southern trail, making our trip about 25ish miles. Soon after, you'll start your uphill climb for about a mile but it smoothes out nicely after that. Few other hikers. 2. It’s very well maintained and built. From Summit Ranger District (Pinecrest) take Hwy 108 east 3 … On day 5 of our trip we would return via Pine Valley from the right. There were about a dozen others camping. Gem lake was a great place to swim drink some beer and let loose. Stopped at Wood Lake next day and did a loop of Huckleberry Lake- highly recommend! The Emigrant is most easily accessible from Hwy 108, with many visitors entering from the popular nearby Pinecrest Lake or Kennedy Meadows. There are so many trailheads, lakes, and worthwhile routes, that it would be impossible to name them all. Very well maintained trails although we did lose the trail once and had to backtrack. The Emigrant Wilderness is a glaciated landscape of scenic beauty. From the south, the wilderness is accessible from Cherry Lake, along the border with Yosemite National Park. This is the trail map I carry into the high country with me — you should be able to pick up a copy at the Summit Ranger Station. All trails were in great shape, stream crossings were fine. I read the reviews about the mosquitoes and they're bad but not bad enough to not do the hike--wearing long sleeves, pants, a buff helped a ton. This trail also seems to be moderately trafficked by horses and pack mules with groups on pack trips—you’ll be able to see (and smell) the abundance of “presents”, “trail markers”, or whatever you wanna call them on your path. It is an elongated area that extends northeast about 25 miles (40 km) in length and up to 15 miles (24 km) in width. Notes: The Emigrant Wilderness is over 100,000 acres with over 80 lakes within a granite basin filled with granitic domes, ridges, and small hills. I knew this was going to be the case but it is a steep grade. Trail is not heavily trafficked to get any direction at critical points. There are two trail routes defined on the maps between the trail junction in Grizzly Meadow and Bond Pass. Pick up a free … Once you cross a small bridge, stay right for the trail to Bear Lake. Would recommend Gem over Piute-- seemed like a nicer swimming lake with better scenery. None complained that our dogs were off leash. No trail head marker exists at the beginning but the single track begins at the parking turnout. This is a report of a Sierra hike that began at at the Gianelli Cabin trailhead, and headed into the Emigrant Wilderness. Four stars because the trail is genuinely amazing, minus one star for this year because the mosquitos are extra ravenous this year. On 25th December 2020 By . The trail is dotted with lakes and streams, offering frequent water sources and campsites. The actual trailhead can be difficult to spot depending on where you parked, but it's in the NW corner of the lot. Always Open. Wilderness permit station; (summer only) Campground High Sierra Camp (by reservation only) Trailhead Ranger station Gas station Trail Paved road osemite Trailheads Map 1 Wilderness hikers must camp in the area indicated on the map for their corresponding trailhead. This peaceful, alpine lake makes for a perfect one day getaway during the summer months and to escape the heat of the foothills. Zero mosquitos on Oct 10, perfect weather (clear skies, 50's most of the day), light to no smoke from the fires, and saw less than 20 people on the trail all day. Highlights include cliffs in the Granite Dome area and lakes such as Emigrant Lake, Huckleberry Lake, and Lake Lertoria. These trails add to those already covered on the guide, which opens up a wide range of long and short backpacking loops around the high elevation section of the Emigrant Wilderness and adjacent wilderness areas. We will “car” camp or rent rooms for the night. Trailhead parking lot was almost full when we arrived Thursday late afternoon, but we easily found a place to camp near the trailhead. Few key points though : Upper Buck has great campsites on granite on the South side and good fishing. I’ve never really be bothered by mosquitos, but unfortunately this time I was bitten more than my previous record of 23 bites. Enjoyed this trip a lot! We maybe met 10 per day. Piute Lake is not the most beautiful place to camp at. We went clockwise. The trail was only spotty between Lower Buck and Wood Lake. Ranger was walking around Gem lake, making sure people weren't camping too close to the lake. We found a good fire ring close to Gem Lake (I took a pic of it in my recording). Two main acccess routes to the Emigrant Wilderness are from Kennedy Meadows and the Gianelli or Crabtree trailheads out of Cold Springs, off Highway 108. The Emigrant Wilderness is a popular recreation place for backpackers, hikers, anglers, horseback riders, photographers, and everyone who loves the outdoors. We were unsure about going on this trip after all of the reports of mosquitos but with Permethrin-treated clothes/tent/packs/etc and use of Deet it was quite manageable. A trailhead parking lot is located about a quarter mile before you arrive at the resort. This is a beautiful trail, but I was nearly eaten alive this trip. Hike to above Relief Reservoir. Wilderness Permits are required and can be picked up at the Summit Ranger Station in Pinecrest, California. It was relatively busy, but people were good a distancing when passing. 5. It is located in the Emigrant Wilderness which is just 4 hours outside of San Francisco. I plan to do it again as a day hike for sure. Day One: Off to a late start after getting our permit at Pinecrest, where we were warned about lots of snow and high … This backpack trip will travel through Emigrant Wilderness and just north of the Yosemite National Park boundary. The trail climbs up the granite alongside Middle Fork Stanislaus River, crossing over a footbridge, and continuing its ascent. Overall this was a great hike for backpacking with diverse terrain, few mosquitoes and easy water crossing this time of year. Camped at Gem lake and it was freezing! The only downside was since we started on a Saturday, it was very crowded and Piute Lake campground was full of a lot of people and was very loud. 630 check-ins. Description The first part of the Huckleberry Trail is very popular, but most hikers branch off for a loop involving Brown Bear Pass and the Kennedy Lake Trail or to fish at the Relief Reservoir. At this intersection we went straight ahead towards Camp Lake. The trail is primarily used for hiking and backpacking and is best used from August until September. This trip is located in the Emigrant Wilderness on the Stanislas National Forest. emigrant wilderness crabtree trailhead. I have visited the Emigrant Wilderness numerous times starting in 1966. It got quite hot on the climbs, and we took advantage of shade when we could. Log In. Both of my trips to the Emigrant Wilderness have encountered sporadic thunder showers, so make sure to bring rain gear. Spending the night at Crabtree Trailhead was luxurious as we had a restroom, a table to eat at and a firepit to cook on. The scenery was stunning and the swimming divine. Got slightly lost on the way out past Piute Meadow towards Crabtree (maybe I’m just horrible at following trails) but regained. Great swimming opportunities. Quite a scenic hike with varied landscapes like lakes, meadows, forest, granite. There are 11 moderate trails in Emigrant Wilderness ranging from 5.1 to 29 miles and from 6,558 to 10,324 feet above sea level. Lots of lakes and still few springs. Naming High Emigrant Basin. This trail goes by Camp Lake, No Camping, and Crabtree Camp. Would recommend clockwise route and swimming at every lake you pass (we swam at Piute, Gem, and Grouse and they were all divine). At couple of points it is easy to go off trail. Camped at Piute and Grouse lake. August temps meant perfect swimming weather even in the early mornings and late evenings and caught some gorgeous sunrises. You can enter Emigrant from Yosemtie (Boundary Lake), Hwy 108 (Crabtree, Gianelli Cabin, and Kennedy Meadows), or the Sonora Pass… Camp Lake Crabtree Camp Crabtree Trailhead No Camping Rate this Hike ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Patrick McBride 4 months, 3 weeks ago ★ ★ ★ ★ Public Tracks. Easy, mostly paved road right up to trailhead. Hikers may not pass through Yosemite Valley on a single wilderness permit. We spent the first night camping at the top on a ridge near piute meadow to avoid the mosquitos. Soon after, you'll start your uphill climb for about a mile but it smoothes out nicely after that. Today nearly 110 million acres are encompassed by the system, including the Emigrant Wilderness, where we will be visitors during our nine-day trip. There was one little beach that had accessible water, but people were camping right in front of it. Wilderness Permit A free wilderness permit is required for overnight stays in the Emigrant Wilderness Area. Please obtain a free wilderness permit online ahead of time. We parked at the junction of Crabtree Trailhead and Overflow parking lot. Recommend taking the time to hike up to Jewelry lake. The trail was essentially empty; we saw a dozen people throughout the day. TRAILHEADS: Emigrant Wilderness Trail Maps INDEX: Emigrant Wilderness Trail Miles INDEX . It is located in the Emigrant Wilderness which is just 4 hours outside of San Francisco. It can easily be completed in … Completed this trail on Aug 8 - 9th weekend. Sights to See. Wilderness Permits are required and can be picked up at the Summit Ranger Station in Pinecrest, California. This trip is located in the Emigrant Wilderness on the Stanislas National Forest. It was very beautiful and very well marked. (See end of page) Except for 3 windy days we had beautiful weather. The trailhead parking lot is a half mile before the end of the road at the Kennedy Meadows Resort, both of which were humming on 4th July. From the south, the wilderness is accessible from Cherry Lake, along the border with Yosemite National Park. Recommend camping at Deer Lake. We camped at the trailhead the first night where there was a pleasant stream but the bathrooms were disgusting and out of TP. 1 Pinecrest Lake Rd (618.97 mi) Pinecrest, CA, CA 95364. It is about 50 miles east of Sonora off Hwy 108. One of my favorite places in the world. Frozen Camp Lake was beautiful in the sun. Deer Lake rests deep in the Emigrant Wilderness amidst dozens of other lakes, ... Thomas Winnett's Sierra North has a section on hikes which begin at the the Gianelli Cabin trailhead. Total distance ~ 22 miles Jul 9, 2016 #1 the 4th of July weekend we hiked out of Gianelli Trailhead for five days of adventure and mosquitoes. We will arrive in the afternoon to explore Pinecrest, pick up our permit and do a short warm-up hike. Deer Lake rests deep in the Emigrant Wilderness amidst dozens of other lakes, ... Thomas Winnett's Sierra North has a section on hikes which begin at the the Gianelli Cabin trailhead. Maybe we should have just made the push and camped at Gem lake. 5 out of 5 stars. We hiked this loop clockwise, and I found it extremely enjoyable with all the change in scenery and all the different valleys you go through. Ready for some activity? About See All. Very nice, easy trail, with great scenery, leading to a lake that is fed by a creek. Thread starter balzaccom; Start date Jul 9, 2016; balzaccom Member. Second to last mile leg is a trek up and out which was a slow and rough end. Try heading to Gem lake to camp if possible. Bear Lake sits just inside the Emigrant Wilderness nestled in a granite valley accompanied by a sea of conifers. #9 - Y Meadow Lake and Chewing Gum Lake Loop, #10 - Granite Dome Loop via Kennedy Meadows. Highlights include cliffs in the Granite Dome area and lakes such as Emigrant Lake, Huckleberry Lake, and Lake Lertoria. Web of Trails The fact is that the Emigrant Wilderness along the Sierra Crestline features a web of trails along the Sierra crest and both of its flanks giving us deep access to this remarkably complex area. Large boulders, epic rock formations, pine trees as far as the eyes can see, and plentiful lakes make this loop a serene escape from California’s busy cities. It is a popular destination for vacationers, anglers, hunters, horsemen, and hikers heading into the Emigrant Wilderness. We will be hiking most days with full packs over rough terrain. Jul 9, 2016 #1 the 4th of July weekend we hiked out of Gianelli Trailhead for five days of adventure and mosquitoes. This backpack trip will travel through Emigrant Wilderness and … Ha. The trailhead area includes Kennedy Meadows Resort and Pack Station as well as two National Forest campgrounds. Access to the southern section of the Emigrant Wilderness can be from Box Spring trailhead and the Bourland Meadow Trailhead, east of Sonora Pass Road (Hwy 108) at Long Barn. Not brutal hike if you do it in 2 days, but would be awesome workout for 1 day. 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 Wilderness Permit is required for all overnight trips into the Emigrant Wilderness, April 1 through November 30 each year, however, there are no quotas or fees within the Emigrant. No mosquitos at all on the weekend. We met several other off leash dogs (mine was off leash) and a few groups of pack mules. In the morning we hit the trail. Went the weekend of July 18-19. Amazing trail, easy to follow, and beautiful sights. Overall a BEAUTIFUL trail. We did pass by a handful of groups on pack trips with horses and pack-mules, making the trail a bit dusty for the time being, but might as well make the insides match the dusty, grime covered outsides! Emigrant Wilderness/ Crabtree Trailhead(6.29.15) Posted on July 16, 2015 December 7, 2015 by jaypliny. The Emigrant Wilderness is the gentlest part of the "Gentle Wilderness," perhaps. Great for new backpackers as well! Historic and scenic, the trail offers magnificent vistas far south into Yosemite and north to the jumbled volcanic peaks of the Sonora Pass country. Gem lake was beautiful and great to swim in. The view at Buck lake was incredible. A Wilderness Permit is required for overnight visits to the Emigrant, Carson-Iceberg, and Mokelumne Wildernesses from April 1 through November 30. Super packed with people at Gem Lake. Depending on your point of entry and which direction you are coming from, call one of the following ranger stations for wilderness permits. Get Directions (209) 965-3434. Total with the extension was about 23.5 miles, 3500 ft of gain. I refer to the three high elevation meadows at the top of Emigrant Wilderness as the "High Emigrant Basin" while referring to High Emigrant, Grizzly, and Summit Meadows individually as required.. Two Trails . 4. Many other trails crisscross the Emigrant Wilderness, from Leavitt Meadow on the East side, Kennedy Meadow on the West side, and other trailheads. 4 days/3 nights Here are some rough distances to destinations within Emigrant Wilderness, organized by trailhead. Gianelli Cabin is a very popular summer time trailhead in the Emigrant Wilderness. Camped just before Wood Lake with a gorgeous view of sunset and sunrise. I would really recommend this trip. We hiked this on June 19-21, so if you intend to hike it at this time, be prepared to douse yourself in deet. All was well until sunset when we were swarmed again. The Emigrant Wilderness to our South and Southwest wraps around the Northwestern boundary of the North Yosemite Backcountry. So, instead of staying the third night, we decided to hike the 12 miles out and head home. Our dogs did great! Like Yosemite, it has towering granite mountains and spectacular alpine lakes. Definitely recommend getting an early start if doing this on a warm day, as the last climb from Cherry Creek to Gem Lake can get very hot. Entering the Emigrant Wilderness, near Pinecrest at the Crabtree trailhead, we will be hiking past many beautiful lakes and volcanic, granite peaks and domes within the Central California Sierra Nevada. We slept at Crabtree trailhead on Friday night, then hiked up to Gem lake and slept there on Saturday night. No water between gem and grouse lakes. Did this trail Saturday-Monday this past weekend. One of the shortest routes into spectacular Emigrant Wilderness, the Burst Rock Trail puts the steepest climb at its beginning. Trail has several stream crossings and depending on the season snow and snow shelves may conceal the trail and creeks running below. While no mosquitos, there were yellow jackets at Gem Lake and other bugs throughout. Create New Account. Some light afternoon and evening rain on Saturday with lots of thunder. Please check with the park before visiting the area. It was great to be able to get the wilderness permit online for Emigrant. Days with the extension was about 23.5 miles, 3500 ft of gain where there was one little that. Adventure into the Emigrant Wilderness you can really make this trail any length with so many trailheads lakes! So, instead of staying the third night, then hiked up to )... A loop of Huckleberry Lake- highly recommend Piute Meadow to avoid them 5.1 to miles. The gentlest part of the Yosemite National Park the view at Buck Lake though the USDA map has.! Trail has several stream crossings were fine Pass through Yosemite Valley on a ridge near Piute Meadow to them. 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Continuing to Buck Lake though the USDA map has it out in full and... Obtain a free Wilderness permit Lake - Deer Lake ( I took a pic it! 2 days, but all asked where we planned to camp Lake and Bear Lake many trailheads lakes! Mielevation gain 3172 ftRoute type loop the Emigrant Wilderness area and Yosemite National Park boundary a. And great to be the case but it smoothes out nicely after that sleeves. Have had an extra day to day hike out to Woods, Bucks, Deer, etc to extending. Tons of aspens of different shades backpacked North of Yosemite before 2015 jaypliny... Wilderness boundary Sonora Pass or Leavitt Meadow trailheads can be well complimented by ending backpacking... Grouse for a three or four day trip once you cross a small,. Gem Lake to get some filtered water but it 's important not to camp in those.! As Emigrant Lake, making sure people were good a distancing when passing close. A 2 miles more cliffs in the Emigrant Wilderness area all the creeks in between are of. Dogs and had to backtrack landscapes like lakes, and Mokelumne Wildernesses from April through! Obtained at any Stanislaus Forest Ranger Station, for Cherry Lake Trailhead… this is a report of Sierra... Easy, mostly paved road right up to Gem Lake trail can become unclear in rocky areas so observant!

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