The highest peak is Leavitt Peak (3526 m). And man, it was worth the effort. Made it to Snow Lake! It is bordered by Yosemite National Park on the south, the Toiyabe National Forest and the Hoover Wilderness on the east, and State Route 108 over Sonora Pass on the north. “That’s a lot of cars,” we both exclaimed simultaneously as we arrived at the Crabtree Trailhead. This moderately trafficked backpacking trail is about 15.5 miles round trip. Sure, it doesn't have the falls like Yosemite, but it's got the solitude. Backpacking Emigrant Wilderness Loops. There is a wealth of lakes spread out among the 100,000 acre of this pristine wilderness. The actual trail enters the Emigrant Wilderness at the end of the meadow. Let's look at our hiking options on both the East and West sides of Kennedy Lake. The Emigrant Wilderness of Stanislaus National Forest is a wilderness area in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, USA. Highest Elevation: 9200 ft. ... Ridge Lake can be reached either by continuing west after the first saddle in the route to Lewis Lake. In the Emigrant Wilderness the use of bear resistant food storage containers is highly recommended. I also planned to do some off-trail exploration in the high country. Kennedy Lake lays between the Tahoe to Yosemite and Pacific Crest Trail in Emigrant Wilderness. destinationisolation / July 25, 2013. Those times I've went, I can count the number of people I've run into on two hands. Emigrant Lake - Key Facts. The lake is nearly 2 miles long with good camping on either end. After a few miles of hiking we reached the canyon that contains the West Fork of Cherry Creek. 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. ... Our desire was to explore the lakes in the heart of the Emigrant Wilderness area, catch a few fish and have a great experience. HIKING TO KENNEDY LAKE. 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. You'll need a permit for this loop so make sure to stop by the Summit District Ranger Station in … Not as rugged as some Sierra landscapes, this one was still appealing. Description: Strenuous 6-mile out and back via use trail to Blue Canyon Lake and cross-country to Deadman Lake with steep areas with some scrambling and loose scree to negotiate. (Elevation gain of 870 feet and loss of 2,150 feet.) Mileage: 9 miles. 12 reviews of Emigrant Wilderness "Emigrants Wilderness is a great place for backpacking and/or day hikes. Location: Emigrant Wilderness, Tuolumne County Trailhead: Kennedy Meadows, elevation 6,300 feet Highest point on the trail: Mosquito Pass, 9,360 feet Emigrant Lake elevation: 8,825 feet Elevation Gain: 3,060 feet Hiking Distance: 14 miles Best seasons: Mid-summer through fall Campsites: Pleasant sites at either end of the lake, a few along the north shore I love Emigrant wilderness and hope to visit next summer with my siblings :) We might shoot for Rosasco Lake, hopefully it will be as warm in June … ABOVE: Pink hour at Wood Lake in the heart of the Emigrant Wilderness high country. I've been here twice and have couldn't have been happier with my experiences. 5-star camping at Upper Buck Lake. We passed several groups of backpackers. Buck Lakes are tucked away deep in the Emigrant Wilderness, with 20 other lakes within a three mile radius. Though Kennedy Lake is a good stand-alone destination for Emigrant Wilderness backpackers, it is even better as a part of a longer backpacking loop around the Emigrant Wilderness. 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. Gluttons for punishment, we went back to the Emigrant Wilderness again, this time with Nikki, Steph's friend, in tow. I planned a 3-night trip to Emigrant Wilderness to fish Emigrant Lake and some smaller lakes. It involved some basic topo map navigation, a certain amount of real effort, and just enough bushwhacking to … Kennedy Lake - Key Facts. There’s nothing like a relaxing weekend in the Sierra backcountry. Moderate. If you should seek other waters, nearby Emigrant Lake should be just what you were seeking. Maps, miles, elevations of Mosquito Pass route off TYT to Emigrant, Bluebird, Maxwell Lakes. Emigrant Wilderness: Entering the Emigrant Wilderness (first view of Leavitt Peak in the back) Leavitt Peak: Eastern and western summits 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 Emigrant Wilderness of Stanislaus National Forest is a wilderness area in the Sierra Nevada.It is bordered by Yosemite National Park on the south, the Toiyabe National Forest and the Hoover Wilderness on the east, and State Route 108 over Sonora Pass on the north. The lake is considered a premier destination for the Emigrant Wilderness. ICELAND LAKE & EMIGRANT WILDERNESS. During your hike, you will have about a 1500 foot elevation gain. Can be a bit annoying when it’s crowded with backpackers-but amazing when you get to the lake … Love this hike! A wilderness permit for the Emigrant Wildnerness is required. It can be reached via the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) from Sonora Pass. CAMPFIRES. Leavitt Lake/High Emigrant Lake/Snow Lake Emigrant Wilderness Friday 09/13/2002 - Sunday 09/15/2002 Hike Data: Length: 30.5 miles Elevation Gain: 4,800 feet Elevation Loss: 4,800 feet Time: 15 hours Difficulty: 3.5/5 Rating: 3.5/5 Other Information: There is no fee. We'll leave High Emigrant Lake, travel about 8 miles as we go past Emigrant Meadow Lake, over Brown Bear Pass, and through Lunch Meadow. Long Way to Long Lake – Emigrant Wilderness: Stanislaus National Forest. Fee: None. The hike begins just past the parking lot and the general store. It is 25 miles long and 15 miles in width. The weather looked to be clear all day and freezing overnight. We managed to squeeze in one final Sierra trip to Emigrant Wilderness before winter slammed the door. Enjoy a layover day to relax or explore the expansive panoramas and pristine lakes (including a rare Sierra lake with a wide sandy beach), each with its own unique beauty. Emigrant Wilderness - granite dome lakes << Hiking In Emigrant Summary Granite Dome Hike >> Stats to Reach Lakes. Emigrant Wilderness Lake Tour 9/29 to 10/2. We spent Labor Day weekend hiking cross-country to Hyatt Lake in the Emigrant Wilderness--an adventure were glad we did, but not one that we would recommend without reservation. I’ve noticed this phenomenon up here a few times now. Only 25 people may obtain a Wilderness Permit to Kibbie Ridge/Lake, but due to damage from the RIM fire only 10 people may obtain a permit to Lake Eleanor per day in these areas per National Park quotes. I think it has to do with all the exposed granite that defines this landscape. Trail head: Hwy 108, the narrow pull-out just before the 9000 ft elevation sign. Campfires are prohibited above 9000 feet, and no campfires are allowed within ½ mile of Emigrant Lake. It is an elongated area that extends northeast about 25 miles (40 km) in length and up to 15 miles (24 km) in width. Buck Lakes are tucked away deep in the Emigrant Wilderness, with 20 other lakes within a three mile radius. For more info on how to protect your food (and Sierra Bears) check out the bear section. Emigrant Wilderness-Huckleberry Lake W ords, and even pictures, cannot capture the beauty of the Emigrant Wilderness, we visited recently. Take the PCT going south. They all spent one night on the trail prior to reaching Emigrant Lake. I sit alone (no offense Monster) in a High Sierra paradise! These free permits are required year-round. Great pictures! The final installment of my recent trip from Cherry Lake to Leavitt Lake through the Emigrant Wilderness Day 3: Huckleberry Lake to Snow Lake Summit Meadow. Day 9: On the final day of our trip, we'll exit the Emigrant Wilderness, going by … It was also hunting season -- Emigrant is a Wilderness Area and plays by different rules than a National Park. Contains rainbows and brookies, some in trophy size. After the sun dips below the horizon, its rays refract through the atmosphere, which filters out all but the pink/magenta light. If you are coming from the Bay Area, it’s about 140 miles and from Lake Tahoe it’s about 50. It's just as far as Yosemite minus the ridiculous crowds. This popular trail to Emigrant Lake is heavily utilized by horses & mules - so there's lot of manure and dust. Cherry Lake Dam gate to Cherry Lake, Kibbie Ridge, and Lake Eleanor opens from April 1-December 15. We will arrive in the afternoon to explore Pinecrest, pick up … Yes, it took a 21 mile horse pack trip to find it. She's one of those athletic types, so we let her carry the stove and water filter to slow her down. I haven’t adventured much off of Sonora Pass, so I immediately said yes! 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. Planning and Permits. Emigrant Lake: 140 acres at 8827' elevation, about 15 miles from the trailhead. Kennedy Lake itself sits East of the midpoint between the TYT and the PCT. Location: Emigrant Wilderness, Tuolumne County Trailhead: Kennedy Meadows, elevation 6,300 feet Kennedy Lake elevation: 7,800 feet Elevation Gain: 1,500 feet Hiking Distance: 7.7 miles Best seasons: Late spring through mid-fall Campsites: Along Kennedy Creek Popular activities: Hiking, fishing, horseback riding, hunting, photography, wildflower viewing, peak climbing :-) This trip, we decided to go in to Granite Lake, which … Emigrant Wilderness is a wilderness area located within the Stanislaus National Park which is located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Return to TYT via Horse Meadow or Bigelow and Black Bear Lake to Snow Lake. Land Status: Emigrant Wilderness. Elevation: +3000ft. Middle Emigrant Lake: 23 acres at Emigrant Wilderness… Leavitt Peak is situated 3200 feet southeast of Deadman Lake… I picked up my Emigrant Wilderness permit at the Summit Ranger Station right after it opened at 8:30 am. The Department of Fish and Game estimates that 42 lakes in this basin have rainbows, 28 have brookies, 6 have goldens, 2 have rainbows and brookies and 1 has rainbows and brown trout. 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. Emigrant Wilderness is a protected area in California. Leavitt Peak is located in the Emigrant Wilderness near Sonora Pass in the eastern Sierra Nevada range of California. I got up this morning around […] Wilderness Permits are required and can be picked up at the Summit Ranger Station in Pinecrest, California. October 4 - 6, 2019. 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