Entiat, WA 98822 If you are a lowlander (like me), give yourself plenty of time to do this hike and allow yourself breaks so you can catch your breath. LockA locked padlock You may hike along the trail and camp at another destination beyond. Your FREE account works with all Adventure Projects sites. https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/upload/wildernesstrailheads.pdf, It shows the different trailheads, which helps you make sure you got the correct permit for the hike you're doing (VERY important. 209S map, You can improve or add to this guidebook entry, Washington Trails Association Camping at Snow Lakes or nearby Nada Lake used to be the strategy of backpackers who missed out on the Enchantment Lakes lottery but still wanted to get within easy day-hiking range of the permit zone. Maroon Creek Trail. 19.8 mi Carefully cross the log bridge before turning left to follow the stream uphill. Trail Conditions. They have rangers in the backcountry and theyll ask to check your permit if they see you, its happened to me a few times, especially at popular trailheads. The Snow Lakes trail is known mostly as the long, gradual way into the Enchantments; but it is a worthwhile - if deceptively grueling - destination in its own right. The most important things are, make sure youre using the entry TH youve stated, have your bear can with you, and make sure your group size matches. Photo: Eeekster, CC BY 3.0.Eeekster, On your right (across the valley) is the Snow Creek Wall, a popular rock climbing destination. As you head north out of the forest up into the bare granite landscape, you will get some great teaser views of Polly Dome above Tenaya Lake to the east. Curabitur quis varius libero. Ask Jennifer C about Lasting Adventures. NW Forest Pass required. Cradled within a series of deep cirques along the serrated and impressive Sawtooth Ridge are four lakes. Plans for the cabin were drawn by Eldridge T. Spencer with assistance from Dr. Donald Tresidder, who wanted the cabin to be similar to Swiss mountain huts with the hope that in a few years the High Sierra Camps would also be a series of winter huts like those in the Alps. The snow surveyors measured depth and water content at Gin Flat, Snow Flat, Tenaya Lake, Tuolumne Meadows, and Dana Meadows. More campsites and another toilet are available just ahead, beyond the stream that flows into Lake Viviane from Leprechaun Lake. View Snow Creek Trail in a larger map. Skiers at Snow Creek Cabin, 1932. Winter conditions. At 8.0 miles, youll reach a log bridge crossing Snow Creek, just above where it feeds into Snow Lake. WTA Pro Tip #1: The hardest part of the Snow Lakes Trail is not the climb in, but the journey out. Travel steadies through an expanding alpine landscape where the trail may be faint, washed-out or snow-covered in places. The John Muir Trail (exiting Yosemite over Donohue Pass and continuing toward Mount Whitney) can only be directly accessed via these trailheads: Camping is not allowed on the Panorama Trail or near Illilouette Fall. Descarga el track GPS y sigue el recorrido del itinerario del sendero desde un mapa. The proposed ski area would be on the south facing slopes of Mount Hoffmann. During the fall of 1976, I was still working in the snow survey program. They are intended for use with skis or snowshoes. WTA Pro Tip #3: In late summer, pack insect repellant. This hike can be done in the reverse direction, but is notorious for its steep switchbacks! As in the core Enchantment Zone, overnight stays within this area are allowed by special-issue permit only from May 15th - October 31st. Continue reading, 424 After Pennys untimely passing, Gary told me that the cabin needed some repairs. 0000002846 00000 n Ok so heres what Id probably do with a May Lake > Snow Creek permit. The five members of the Carr family (Yan, Miriam, and three children) have visited Yosemite hundreds of times. Gate will reopen Spring of each yearonce the road melts out from winter snowpack. Road #7601 CLOSED for season. . Rough treacherous hiker trail. There are campsites on both sides of the dam, and a backcountry toilet after it. 0000003222 00000 n They also dont particularly care about the exit TH or date, at least based on what rangers have told me in the past when I needed to make an adjustment. Depending on the season, the spillway may be dry or may be underwater. This family-friendly Yosemite backpacking adventure includes some of the most iconic Yosemite vistas, coupled with fun and relatively mellow hiking. Close. Additionally, overnight parking is not allowed on the Tioga and Glacier Point Roads beginning October 15; this includes parking lots accessible from these roads. Being a jerk / offensive? White Wolf to Smith Meadow The hike to May Lake offers expansive views over granite peaks, a sparkling blue lake set below 10,000' Mount Hoffmann, and a subalpine forest. Expect snow. The Badger Pass Road is typically open from mid-December through March, conditions permitting. An Adventure Projects staff member will review this and take an appropriate action, but we generally don't reply. Headquarters Getting There. May Lake Trailhead (at the end of the Snow Creek access road off of Tioga Road) Time Required: 1-3 hours total for hike to May Lake, 4-7 hours total for hike to summit of Mount Hoffmann: Length: 2.6 miles total to May Lake and back, 7 miles total to summit of Mount Hoffmann and back. Checkavalanch risk in the area before going out. (509) 996-4000, Naches Ranger District They also found a logbook, and they inscribed their adventures in cleaning up the cabin. The road accesses Eightmile and Colchuck/Stuart trailheads. Also a ford below the bridge when water levels go down. A few years later, license plates were put high up in the trees to safely mark the way to the cabins. * Enjoy a kitchen, private deck w/ stunning valley view and hot tub, jacuzzi bathtub, and wifi. Check with the park on what to bring with you, as requirements may change. 428 W. Woodin Avenue To visit the cabin you will need a wilderness permit from the Valley Visitor Center, Privacy Policy & State Nonprofit Disclosures. This gate is open from May 1st through November 1st. If you want to camp somewhere with a view, the Snow Creek overlook area (near the top of the Snow Creek trail from the valley) is amazing, but it has been closed to camping in years past due to bear activity - not sure if thats still the case. (CLOSED due to construction) She attended Stanford and joined the Mountain Club and was introduced to rock climbing. 10. After further investigation the proposed Mount Hoffmann Ski area turned out not to be feasible, and the development plans were abandoned. It is not known when bridge will be replaced. An ascent of Mount Hoffman is an option for those looking . I have heard that Snow Creek is a great campsite so would also love other suggestions. Distance: 7.2 miles (11.6 km) round trip from Yosemite Valley; 8.2 miles (13.2 km) round trip from Porcupine Creek (Tioga Road); 10.0 miles (16 km) round trip from Snow Creek trailhead (Tioga Road) Tioga Road Trailhead Elevations: 8,100 feet (2,470 meters) at Porcupine Creek, 8,500 feet (2,590 meters) at . Hiking the JMT, 2018. From the May Lake trailhead the Snow Creek Canyon Trail wanders gently downhill, roughly paralleling the trailhead access road. The trail (from Crescent Meadow to Whitney Portal) is 72 miles long and takes about a week to complete. We repaired loose windows, shored up the outside of the food pantry, and built two new log ladders. 215 Melody Lane Remember that camping is by permit only at all of these sites from May 15th-October 31st. An unexpected fall through the snow onto the uneven rock below can result in serious injury. 5 in Hiking [+] No description for May Lake to Snow Creek trail has been added yet! a challenging hike and a great, stress-free organized trip. The trail winds up the Tenaya switchbacks (108), along the Snow Creek Trail, and turns toward Mount Watkins. Happy Isles to Past LYV (Donohue Pass Eligible), Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley (LYV), Vault (Drinking water available in summer). The tips of the colored arrows show you where that point is on the trail. interested in hiking trails with fewer people, the Snow Creek and Pohono Trails are fine choices with stunning views. Approximately 50% of the parking spaces are allocated for Overnight Permit holders only. Near the cabin there is a large granite outcropping (dome) with a huge ponderosa pine. WTA Pro Tip: Save a copy of our directions before you leave! searching. 2,547' Up We backpacked all those supplies to the cabin during several trips. Beyond the dam the trail skirts the shore of Snow Lake, passing a number of other campsites and toilets. Chelan, WA 98816 If you still haven't found your trailhead name, the following information should help you. When the water is ankle high, hikers often remove their boots and socks and walk across barefoot to a small peninsula that juts out into the water, providing views up and down the lake. 2108 Entiat Way Limited public transportation is available to some trailheads, especially during summer. The road is closed to vehicles every winter to protect the roadbed from damage and prevent hazardous travel on the steep exposed snow covered road. To camp in Pate Valley or in the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne: White Wolf to Pate Valley. We stayed at the backpackers camp on Night 1 then drove out to the Tioga Road trailhead to start our descent to the Valley Floor via the Snow Creek Trail. Before Tioga Road from Lee Vining to Yosemite Valley was upgraded, it took more than eight hours to drive on the old one-lane road, honking your horn around the curves to alert other vehicles. No trail closures are in effect, we just ask recreationists to be aware of their surroundings and pay attention to any increase in smoke volume in that vicinity which might indicate increased fire activity. *Billed annually at $39.99/year. The trail swigs back around to the east and soon interests with the, This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, Create Recommended Route or . Soon enough you will be standing by the tranquil shores of May Lake near the May Lake High Sierra Camp. It will switchback soon; be careful not to loose the trail in the boulders. There are two trails that leave from Tenaya Lake, one that leads to the north and one to the south. Comments sorted by Best Top New Controversial . A bit of Class 2 scrambling up the large slabs will get you to the very top where great views can be seen in all directions! At 4.35 miles, youll reach a plank bridge which crosses Snow Creek. Unauthorized public or commercial use of any of the images or text on this website without explicit permission is strictly forbidden. Head west, ignoring the Lords Lake Loop sign at 3.1 miles and stay on the well maintained FR 3529. In the 1950s you could see hundreds of deer grazing in Tuolumne Meadows. This is a very worthwhile hike to see two of Yosemite's famous landmarks in the high country, but note the high elevation of this hike--the trailhead is higher than the summit of Half Dome! You may hike along the trail and camp at another destination beyond. 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