Campfires are prohibited in the Emigrant Wilderness above 9000 feet and within one-half mile of Emigrant Lake to protect sensitive whitebark pine forests and to allow recovery of areas historically depleted of firewood. Trail was somewhat overgrown and difficult to follow after buck meadow creek. Warm/hot weather and cool but not chilly nights. Awesome views and large granite slabs for the last mile getting to Big Lake. Emigrant Wilderness-Huckleberry Lake Words, and even pictures, cannot capture the beauty of the Emigrant Wilderness, we visited recently. Backpacking in the Emigrant Wilderness! 280 m. One of the best-kept secrets of the Western Sierra Nevada wonderland is the Emigrant Wilderness, with its impressive granite landscape that rivals Yosemite National Park, but sees no tourists. ... Wild Rainbow (22") from Emigrant (Big) Lake on 1994 Trip by Harry W Grecousis (Note well the size of feet to get size of fish.....) Wild Rainbows from Emigrant Meadow Lake on 1948 Trip by Jim Vertin. See this route and plan your own adventure with komoot! Reaching the summit requires a long approach but a relatively easy class 3 scramble via the south face. Gluttons for punishment, we went back to the Emigrant Wilderness again, this time with Nikki, Steph's friend, in tow. Notes: The Southern Emigrant Wilderness borders Yosemite National Park. It … I came up with the idea to try to put do a long semi-loop, starting from Leavitt Lake (in the Toiyabe National Forest) just NorthEast of the wilderness, dropping down near Did a slight addition to the trail to get to Big Lake. Another access is further south at Lake Eleanor at Shingle Springs trailhead. 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. Lower Emigrant Wilderness Shorter Loop is a 20.6 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located near Pinecrest, California that features a lake and is rated as difficult. Overview. Granite Lake in the Emigrant Wilderness! It's only a 3.5 hour drive from San Francisco, and borders Yosemite. 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 Beautiful fall colors and cool Bristlecone pines. It is not a technically challenging peak. We made it an overnight, camping at the one of the many lakes. 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. The Emigrant Wildnerness lies within the Stanislaus National Forestjust North of Yosemite National Park and just South of Sonora Pass. From the south, the wilderness is accessible from Cherry Lake, along the border with Yosemite National Park. Emigrant Wilderness Backpacking Features On This Page Trails and Lakes opened up backpacking South over Mosquito Pass. The Expanding Picture Backpacking South into Emigrant Wilderness . Summer or Winter: (209) 965-3402. Emigrant Wilderness, located south of Hwy. Bigger and Bigger Bisectable Loops East and West Flank Local Emigrant Wilderness backpackers can ascend the 19.03 miles between the Kennedy Meadows and Sonora Pass Trailheads via Kennedy Lake. The view from the ridge above Pingree Lake looking down to Big Lake and across an amazing expanse of rock was unlike any we have seen before and a geologist told us was an almost unique formation. 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