The following day saw swarms of mosquitoes around Gem and Piute lakes (and again at Cherry Creek). The Emigrant is most easily accessible from Hwy 108, with many visitors entering from near Pinecrest Lake or Kennedy Meadows. Start and end at the Crabtree Trailhead. Mosquitoes at only a few places on the trail, particularly near Lilypad and Deer Lakes, and essentially none at Gem or Piute Lakes. Kim met me at the trailhead and she cooked a great meal and we shared our adventures of the day. Check out other trails in the Emigrant Wilderness Area. Great trail but the mileage is closer to 20...just hiked it yesterday (7-27-19). The water conditions at Piute left a lot to be desired, but Gem Lake had crystal clear waters as long as you avoided the little inlets with poor circulation. This trip is located in the Emigrant Wilderness on the Stanislas National Forest. Dogs are also able to use this trail. I would recommend this trail, but perhaps later in the year when the mosquitoes are gone. We're going to try this again, but not for another couple of weeks! Can be a bit annoying when it’s crowded with backpackers-but amazing when you get to the … Location: Main Features. We hiked about 25 miles in this area over the course of four days. Camping at Bear Lake, however, is limited to a single night. Since no hikers had been out and back, they had little information about […] To reach the trailhead, ... Station and turn left onto Crabtree Rd. From the south, the wilderness is accessible from Cherry Lake, along the border with Yosemite National Park. endstream endobj 182 0 obj <>/Metadata 9 0 R/PageLabels 178 0 R/Pages 179 0 R/StructTreeRoot 19 0 R/Type/Catalog>> endobj 183 0 obj <>/MediaBox[0 0 612 792]/Parent 179 0 R/Resources<>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI]/XObject<>>>/Rotate 0/StructParents 0/Tabs/S/Type/Page>> endobj 184 0 obj <>stream We went counter clockwise and there was no flowing water until we were about 6-7 miles out so definitely pack plenty of water. The hike itself was beautiful, and encountered nary a mosquito the entire first day until we hit Cherry Creek, where there was a respectable swarm around 5:30PM. 181 0 obj <> endobj I also planned to do some off-trail exploration in the high country. There are also ample opportunity to filter water, both from the lakes and steams. '2��53?���`�l�0��#G�4#w1�a��4g\7����� ��)� Arrived on a Thursday evening and the parking lot at the trailhead was almost full so it definitely gets crowded. 218 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<3127E1D01D54054B839FE2D1E0B5E284><4B8554C8B3378548A9B9794C1E399751>]/Index[181 83]/Info 180 0 R/Length 159/Prev 316732/Root 182 0 R/Size 264/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream Sure, it doesn't have the falls like Yosemite, but it's got the solitude. I've been here twice and have couldn't have been happier with my experiences. ,�9������� V�]�2��E.10�\c��r���>� ��n,[�/V�4{os]��-�|�7?C(�vE�R}�g� We had planned a 2-night backpack trip with both nights at Piute Lake and taking a day hike from there to Gem and Jewelry Lakes and beyond. Crabtree Trail- Emigrant Wilderness- Stanislaus National Forest- CA This hike is an outback or loop trail. Lots of the smaller creeks still had some water for our two dogs. Otherwise it was beautiful and the lakes were amazing to swim in! 2 miles. No arrangement required and there’s no quota. Great trail in good condition but Cherry Creek is flowing almost waist deep and from the creek on, the mosquitos are out in force! We stopped for lunch at Camp Lake. Otherwise the trip was great, with lovely views and a spectacular starry moonless sky from the tent. 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. Bear Lake sits just inside the Emigrant Wilderness nestled in a granite valley accompanied by a sea of conifers. Very crowded up to Camp Lake but pretty clear after that! Amazing hike!!! You could spend days exploring the area around Deer Lake and never grow weary of your exploits. I got destroyed despite wearing long sleeves and long pants. During two planned layover days, we will have the opportunity to explore more remote areas, swim, or just relax. Continue straight on road 4N26 for 4 miles. We (2 adults and 2 dogs) backpacked from Crabtree to Gem Lake on July 31, did a short day hike to Deer Lake and then broke camp and moved to Piute Lake on Aug. 1, and packed out on Aug. 2. Gem Lake via Crabtree Trailhead is a 28.5 kilometer moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Pinecrest, California that features a lake and is rated as difficult. Gianelli Cabin is a very popular summer time trailhead in the Emigrant Wilderness. Both Gem on Friday and Piute on Saturday were very busy--dozens of people camped at each place. Drove from Santa Rosa to Jennifer's home in Oakland, then drove to the Crabtree trailhead in Stanislaus National Forest and backpacked to Grouse Lake in the Emigrant Wilderness. Piute Creek is down to to pools of standing water that don't look great. 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. h�b```a``����� v�A���؀�?&�800� Gorgeous hike in with buddies, and camping at Piute. Long Way to Long Lake – Emigrant Wilderness: Stanislaus National Forest. Not as rugged as some Sierra landscapes, this one was still appealing. Take Crabtree Road exit to the left and proceed 7 miles to Aspen Meadow. “That’s a lot of cars,” we both exclaimed simultaneously as we arrived at the Crabtree Trailhead. Wilderness Permits are required and can be picked up at the Summit Ranger Station in Pinecrest, California. There were plenty of cars parked along the road in as well. We never got out the DEET. 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. I picked up my Emigrant Wilderness permit at the Summit Ranger Station right after it opened at 8:30 am. Went the weekend of July 18-19. We were driven back after one night by the mosquitoes, the worst I've seen in the Sierra. 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. Reprieve really only came after passing the unnamed lake ~1.5 miles east of Camp Lake. 12 reviews of Emigrant Wilderness "Emigrants Wilderness is a great place for backpacking and/or day hikes. The last 2 miles of the road was unpaved, but passable with a car. We camped on the bluffs just East of Gem Lake thinking it would be windy to help clear the bugs. 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 . https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/crabtree-trail h�bbd```b``.��} ��D�� ��@$�09LN �&�ُ���l�,�Ad�3�d� �}:@�{-H�� Wondering if a few weeks of warm weather has cleared them out some? The Hike: Piute Lake (Emigrant Wilderness in the Sierra Nevada mountains) Trailhead: Crabtree (In and out with lollipop loop) Duration: 3 days 2 nights Length: 16 miles (13 additional miles for the day hike) Elevation Gain: 1600 ft (1,100' additional gain for the day hike) The Pack: Osprey Exos 58 Sleep System: my favorite set up –… Lily and Cherry Creeks are both flowing but easy to walk across. Planning and Permits. The Gem Lake Loop is located in Emigrant Wilderness, which borders Stanislaus National Forest and Yosemite National Park, and offers incredible views, smaller crowds, and diverse terrain. Emigrant Wilderness Stanislaus National Forest Dates: May 26-29 Appx 30 Mile loop Tom Harrison Trail Map Temp: Night 28-35F Day 50-60F Crabtree trail head to Upper Buck loop Check in at ranger station around noon on Saturday as it started to drizzle. Mosquitos at Gem Lake were so bad we had to spend our evening in our tent. Entering the Emigrant Wilderness, near Pinecrest at the Crabtree trailhead, we will be hiking past many beautiful lakes and volcanic, granite peaks and domes within the Central California Sierra Nevada. Drive along this road for about 30 minutes, following signs that point towards Crabtree Trailhead (7,200 ft). On August 3, I started out at the Crabtree trailhead in the Stanislaus National Forest and hiked into the Emigrant Wilderness. This is a difficult out and back trail to Bear Lake in Emigrant Wilderness. Love this hike! The second half (valley hike) was beautiful and had a few nice streams to dip your feet in. ����_�$��ۮ&;��g)�f3�H�`�d�t%���A�?��- ��4X\���اL@?��D�2#������*@� �� And forget bathroom breaks, you would be swarmed immediately (even with bug spray). The trailhead at Crabtree Camp is … h��Y�o�6�W�K�-��ME ��h2 ɖ�>����#��5��wGI��X��hlh2������N�"0`RS;���N2{�L �fN� ����wLE� �. 0 This truly is literally amazing and ends of the awesome place I’ve ever seen. We went out early August and luckily there were barely any mosquitos. The water at Gem clogged our filter very quickly; Piute seemed better. 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. Deer Lake rests deep in the Emigrant Wilderness amidst dozens of other lakes, each one as scenic and inviting as the next. Arrived at the trailhead around 10:30AM and the lot was already full, and barely snagged the last open spot along the overflow parking road. The trail is primarily used for hiking, running, camping, and backpacking. 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. They weren't too bad during the day while we were moving, but by about 5 pm they started to swarm and we were finally driven back into the tent about 6:30 pm. ... 2.6 miles from Crabtree trailhead to Camp Lake. %%EOF Had so much fun on this trail! We will arrive in the afternoon to explore Pinecrest, pick up our permit and do a short warm-up hike. Emigrant Wilderness is a protected area in California. 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. This backpack trip will travel through Emigrant Wilderness and … endstream endobj startxref We started at Crabtree Trailhead and hiked 9.8 miles to Rosasco Lake. Wilderness Permits A Wilderness Permit is required for overnight visits to the Emigrant, Carson-Iceberg, and Mokelumne Wildernesses from April 1 through November 30. From Mi-Wok Ranger District (Mi Wuk Village) take Hwy 108 east 11 miles, turning right on Crabtree Road on proceeding 7 miles to Aspen Meadow. We will camp near pristine alpine lakes. 5-star camping at Upper Buck Lake. Turn right on Crabtree Camp road and proceed 1 mile to the trailhead. destinationisolation / July 25, 2013. From there, I had another 15 minutes to the Crabtree Trailhead. 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. Although the trip is rated moderate, we will 263 0 obj <>stream There are two trail routes defined on the maps between the trail junction in Grizzly Meadow and Bond Pass. So much fun swimming in the lakes and lots of water to fill up! 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. Dude. The next morning at first light there were hundreds of the little bloodsuckers perched on the tent waiting to pounce on the first mammal to exit. We chose this area based on the reported quality of fishing along the hike. [click on pictures to enlarge] The Crabtree area is on the left side of the map at the start of the track. Here, Emily and I pose along the trail in an amazing timer shot. %PDF-1.5 %���� This peaceful, alpine lake makes for a perfect one day getaway during the summer months and to escape the heat of the foothills. Emigrant Wilderness Backpacking Features On This Page Trails and Lakes opened up backpacking South over Mosquito Pass Those times I've went, I can count the number of people I've run into on two hands. If backpacking along this trail and camping overnight, make sure to stop at the Summit Ranger Station to obtain permits for the Emigrant Wilderness overnight, then continue on forest roads to the Crabtree trailhead. Beautiful views but be warned as you hike in the bugs get worse and worse! Naming High Emigrant Basin. Plenty of creeks to resupply water too. Bear Lake rests on Lily Creek just inside the Emigrant Wilderness. Emigrant Wilderness We had a wonderful weekend backpacking with friends in the Emigrant Wilderness. where we camped for the night. Nope! Crabtree Camp Trailhead to Deer Lake Date: August 29 to September 2, 2008 Forest: Stanislaus National Forest / Region: Emigrant Wilderness Total mileage: 22.6 miles / Elevation gain: 1240 ft. Trailhead: Crabtree … Only thing we weren’t prepared for was how dry the creeks were! A beautiful trail that crosses Piute Lake, Piute Meadow, Lily Lake, and Camp Lake along rolling terrain with a nice final section into the Crabtree Trailhead on the western edge of Emigrant Wilderness. Made camp at Gem Lake with few mosquitoes to be seen...but starting around 8PM was when they came out with a vengeance. Emigrant Wilderness, 1.5 miles southeast of Gianelli Trailhead, and 2 miles east of Crabtree Trailhead: Incident Commander: Stanislaus National Forest IMT (Type 4) Incident Description: The Fire Was Determined To Be Out On 11/18/20 Following The Arrival Of More Precipitation. This challenging hike has alpine lakes, awesome views, lush forests, easy off trail scrambling, good water sources, an excellent option if you are in search to connect with nature, not far from San Francisco! Has anyone been up here since mid - June and can speak to how the mosquito issues are? Pick up a free permit at any Stanislaus National Forest Ranger Station. 1 mile from Camp Lake to Bear Lake. Located only a few miles East of Dodge Ridge ski area and Lake Pinecrest it is a popular place for both dayhikes and overnights of all lengths. Thank the late snow melt lol. If backpacking along this trail and camping overnight, make sure to stop at the Summit Ranger Station to obtain permits for the Emigrant Wilderness overnight, then continue on forest roads to the Crabtree trailhead. Have fun! It's just as far as Yosemite minus the ridiculous crowds. Piute Creek was rock-hoppable and Lily Creek looked like it might be but we opted to remove our boots and wade. 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