John, Glen, Mark, Sal, Maggie, and I left the Gianelli Trailhead around noon. Elevation: +800ft. The Emigrant Wilderness is a glaciated landscape of scenic beauty. And we were not alone. 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. This trip is located in the Emigrant Wilderness on the Stanislas National Forest. 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. When you reach the Emigrant Wilderness sign, you already see Leavitt Peak. Backpacking Granite Lake, Emigrant Wilderness . Highlights include cliffs in the Granite Dome area and lakes such as Emigrant Lake, Huckleberry Lake, and Lake Lertoria. 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. If you ARE interested in going, we'll include a … Emigrant Wilderness, Iceland Lake. The northeastern third of the Wilderness is dominated by volcanic ridges and peaks; the remaining areas consist of many sparsely vegetated, granitic ridges interspersed with numerous lakes and meadows. The Emigrant Wilderness is a glaciated landscape of great scenic beauty. Emigrant Lake is considered one of the premier destinations in the Emigrant Wilderness. Most hikers break the trip into 2 days. This trip would start out at the Crabtree trailhead close to the site of my first outing of the FY08 backpacking season. And we met about ninety people and fifteen dogs on our first day's hike. To the south you can see far into the distance, across Emigrant Wilderness and towards the peaks in Yosemite, Long Lake with its little islands is prominent in the valley below. Features: Granite and Hidden Lakes are scenic gems nestled in a broad rocky and forested slope stretching from Silver Lake on Highway 88 up to a ridge the forms the northern boundary of the Mokelumne Wilderness. Gem Lake offers expansive views of the Sierra Nevada Northern Yosemite and Emigrant Wilderness. It can be reached via the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) from Sonora Pass. I look forward to returning the Emigrant Wilderness and Camp Lake … The lake has several campsites. It involved some basic topo map navigation, a certain amount of real effort, and just enough bushwhacking to keep many people from having a good time on a hike. The fires last September squashed our original plans of hiking the Thousand Island Lake loop, so I spent hours trying to find a last minute, not smokey/not on fire backpacking trip that my mom, my aunt and I could go on for their first backpacking trip. Emigrant Wilderness. No trail head marker exists at the beginning but the single track begins at the parking turnout. Starting Point: Upper Lewis Lake. From there, I had another 15 minutes to the Crabtree Trailhead. The Emigrant Wilderness is usually reached from highway 108, about 4 hours east of the San Francisco Bay Area, about one hour west of Mono Lake. Emigrant Wilderness Backpacking Trip August 16 - 25, 2019 Bob and Jennifer: 9 Nights, 10 Days, 22.6 Miles Backpacking, 50 Miles Day Hiking See Favorite Photos/Videos, Day by Day Narrative and Photos, Emigrant Wilderness Map, Equipment/Food/Supply Notes. It is the predominant mountain in this area with a smattering of picturesque lakes that provide both excellent camping and fishing opportunities. I thought to myself, I want to go there! We were a short distance from where we would be getting off the main trail to head towards Ridge Lake at the base of Granite Dome’s north face. It looks just like Yosemite, with one difference: This Sierra backpacking trip doesn’t require a reservation. Bear Lake sits just inside the Emigrant Wilderness nestled in a granite valley accompanied by a sea of conifers. Home › Forums › Campfire › Post-Trip Reports › Emigrant Wilderness, Iceland Lake. Looking south from Granite Dome peak, Long Lake is visible in the distance. It is accessed from Caples Lake. The granite, trees, and sky made the area feel like a zen garden. I haven’t adventured much off of Sonora Pass, so I immediately said yes! Photo by Maren Kasselik We hike across granite ridges, volcanic summits towering overhead and verdant meadows littered with crystalline lakes below. Trailhead: From Hwy 120 travel 14 miles East of Groveland and turn Left down Cherry Lake Road just after the bridge past Rainbow pools. We stopped for lunch at … But most of them were on their way out from Chewing Gum, Y Meadow, and Toejam Lakes. Sunshine warms granite next to an alpine lake in the Emigrant Wilderness. Ending Point: Granite Dome Summit. Backpacking Styx Pass: A Hidden Granite Wonderland in Northwest Yosemite & Emigrant Wilderness. We left the main trail about halfway between the trail split after Relief Reservoir and Sheep Camp. Granite Domes, beautiful meadows, lakes, rivers, flowers, and lots of nice runnable trails made for efficient movement through the wilderness. REI • ZPacks • Hyperlite • Patagonia • Arc'teryx • RBTR • Drop • Backcountry • Feathered Friends • CampSaver • Gaia • Mountain Hardwear. Rounded granite domes, alpine meadows, cascading streams, and stately forests greet backpackers on the 14-mile journey to the lake. Emigrant Lake Situated beneath a rocky cliff, Emigrant Lake is a popular hiking destination. Highest Elevation: 10322 ft. Park: Stanislaus National Forest (California, USA) Trail(s): Off Trail. It is only a short hike along the PCT to reach this lake from the Carson Pass trailhead. When they wrote "The Bear Went Over the Mountain" they were in the Emigrant Wilderness. The highest peak is Leavitt Peak (3526 m). Adventures Backpacking. The Emigrant Wilderness is over 100,000 acres with over 80 lakes within a granite basin filled with granitic domes, ridges, and small hills. On Sunday, we took a spur trail to view a snowmelt cascade & waterfall. Our first clue was the more than fifty cars at the trailhead. There are few crowds and tremendous beauty. After leaving the trail, we made our way up steep granite slab. Anglers often spend a week there, working around its long shoreline. Gem Lake Loop, Emigrant Wilderness. One of the most difficult places to find in Emigrant Wilderness is Hyatt Lake. Still, the few who actually make to Hyatt Lake find the ordeal worthwhile. Mostly granite bedrock in this part of the Sierras; the long granite face on the far side of Emigrant Lake appears to have been polished by glaciers. A quick trip down memory trail to see what inspired this trip…while working on the Stanislaus National Forest in 2006 I was out exploring the forest along Highway 108 and stopped at a turnout to ogle Night Cap Peak and Granite Dome. It is possible to camp at the overlook on a broad ridge between Pingree and Big Lakes. With easy walking distance are a number other great lakes. ... Three Day Backpacking Trip To Styx Pass & Boundry Lake – Yosemite National Park & Stanislaus National Forest. The Emigrant Wilderness is the place to go to meet that other primal self, that person who walks quietly through the woods, over ridges, and past still lakes, who tends a campfire by night and bathes in the sun by day. Backpacking is the best way to explore and truly immerse yourself in … 5-star camping at Upper Buck Lake. Granite Lake Granite Lake is easily accessed from the Blue Lakes area. It is 13 difficult miles from Crabtree campground, a large part of it uphill. 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. With its eastern edge running along the spine of Sierra Nevada range, the Emigrant Wilderness encompasses a vast diversity within its borders. This outcrop appealed to my love of nature’s textures & patterns, caught in late afternoon light. Paulina Dao July 27, 2015. Granite Lake is an easy day hike destination for people who want to stretch their legs for 1.5 miles and perhaps take a plunge into a sub-alpine lake in a beautiful setting. Over the 4th of July weekend, my friend Blair invited me out on a girls’ only trip out to Granite Lake in Emigrant Wilderness. The trail weaves through the high alpine basin, crossing High Emigrant Lake, then to Emigrant Meadow Lake and continues to contour west moving through all the lakes and rivers. The northeastern section of the wilderness is characterized by volcanic ridgelines and peaks. A spring day at Piute Lake in the Emigrant Wilderness ~Photo: Adam Barnett . It was this bit of our humanity that we sought. And they were leaving, after all. 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. Granite Lake. This significantly reduced our pace. Lots of pegmatites and pancake inclusions (dark blobs of more mafic minerals), and flashing feldspar crystals to add variety. The trails looked really doable for the low velocity, reduced distance backpacker, which is pretty much what we are. The granite amphitheater formed the best playground without the distractions of iphones or ipads. Or continue hiking all the way to the High Sierra Wonderland of Granite Overlook. granite lake. We started at Kennedy Meadows and followed the horses and manure for five miles up to the junction with the trail to Lower Relief Valley. Take the PCT going south. Dogs are also able to use this trail. Viewing 6 posts - 1 through 6 (of 6 total) Forums are supported by our merchant partners . I planned a 3-night trip to Emigrant Wilderness to fish Emigrant Lake and some smaller lakes. ... Emigrant Wilderness Base Camp at Gem Lake; Emigrant Wilderness Sierra Nevada Wonderland of Granite Rocks; On My Bucket list: Major River Canyons of the Sierra Nevada de California ; Friends Guiding Friends Backpacking in the Sierra Nevada of California; Follow Blog via Email. This peaceful, alpine lake makes for a perfect one day getaway during the summer months and to escape the heat of the foothills. We spent Labor Day weekend hiking cross-country to Hyatt Lake in the Emigrant Wilderness--an adventure we're glad we did, but not one that we would recommend without reservation. Frog Lake The Pacific Crest Trail passes beside this lake. This time it was around Emigrant Wilderness, to a series of lakes for which there is no trail, only sloping slabs of granite and a topo map to guide us. The remaining sections are sparsely vegetated granite ridges, with lakes and meadows scattered around the area. There’s nothing like a relaxing weekend in the Sierra backcountry. Most of the lakes are surrounded by lodgepole pine. I picked up my Emigrant Wilderness permit at the Summit Ranger Station right after it opened at 8:30 am. Mileage: 2.5 mile. Kennedy Meadows to Granite Dome is a 20.1 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Pinecrest, California that features a lake and is rated as difficult. I also planned to do some off-trail exploration in the high country. For any of the following Favorite photos, click on the image to bring up the full resolution, uncropped version. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from June until October. Steep incline hike in the Emigrant Wilderness starting at Sonora Pass (108) and ending at Blue canyon lake, a glacial tarn sitting bellow a series of beautiful peaks. Many other trails crisscross the Emigrant Wilderness, from Leavitt Meadow on the East side, Kennedy Meadow on the West side, and other trailheads. Emigrant Wilderness - granite dome summit hike << Granite Dome Lakes Emigrant Summary. Granite Dome is a massive piece of granite in the heart of the Emigrant Wilderness. The streams are subject to heavy runoff from the winter snows and the streambeds are scoured leaving little habitat for much insect activity. 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. Emigrant Wilderness: ... from San Francisco and 125 miles from Lake Tahoe. Favorite Photos/Videos. There are ample climbing routes for all technical abilities, ranging from easy class II scrambles to more technical class V ascents.