Emigrant Wilderness - Trek with Judy

Location: Stanislaus National Forest, CA
Duration: 2 days, 1 night
Dates Hiked: September 3-4, 2016
Mileage: 18 miles
Elevation: 2,600 ft elevation gain
Camp: Granite Lake
Permit: Yes
Trailhead: Start and end at the Crabtree Trailhead (loop)
Destinations: Camp Lake, Bear Lake, Granite Lake, Y Meadow Lake, Chewing Gum Lake

The Emigrant Wilderness is a vast and stunning wilderness area of Stanislaus National Forest located in the Sierra Nevada. A true California treasure, it features spectacular scenery that will eclipse any adventurer's wildest dreams.

For our first backpacking trip, we couldn't have asked for a better experience. 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. There are few crowds and tremendous beauty. Backpacking is the best way to explore and truly immerse yourself in this majestic setting.

Reko and I did an overnight trip covering the wilderness's notable lakes. Here's the route we took. Our trip took place over Labor Day Weekend 2016, so there were lots of folks on the trail, but I’d imagine it would be less busy on non-holidays.

A wilderness permit is required for overnight stays. You can pick up a FREE permit at any Stanislaus National Forest Ranger Station the day of your hike. No need for prior arrangements and there is no quota. We obtained our permit at the Summit Ranger Station in Pinecrest.

We parked at Crabtree Campsite and hit the trail. We encountered several hikers and horseback riders during the first leg of our hike. Green fauna lined the dirt trail, which was well maintained for the most part. We reached Camp Lake and we were mesmerized by the gorgeous views. After a short break, we journeyed deeper into the wilderness to Bear Lake. Bear Lake is surrounded by a thick forest. It's a popular destination so we saw plenty of campers. People normally hike in from the trailhead and spend the night here. We desired a more secluded location, so we opted to camp at Granite Lake.

Crabtree Trail ends at Bear Lake. The route from Bear Lake to Granite Lake is undeveloped and isolated. It’s legit backcountry hiking. We scrambled over slabs of granite, huge boulders, and dense forest. Reko had to use a compass to navigate through the terrain, and we checked the GPS on our phones to ensure we were heading in the right direction. We didn't run into a single soul during this stretch. When we finally made it out of the forest and arrived at Granite Lake, we were shocked to find scores of campers. I guess it was due to the holiday weekend.

Granite Lake is serene and glossy with a crystal clear reflection of the surrounding trees and blue skies. At night, we marveled at the glorious sky lit up by a sea of luminous stars.

The next morning we woke up around 6:30 to catch the sunrise. First light in the Sierras is insanely beautiful and humbling. Such a simple event, yet impossibly sublime.

After downing some oatmeal, we packed up and embarked on our journey back. We took a "secondary trail" (which means unmarked/not maintained) to Y Meadow Lake, meandered through sprawling meadows, clambered up and down switchbacks, enjoyed lunch at Chewing Gum Lake (sensational!), and eventually made it to our car.

Since we came during the late summer, mosquitoes weren't an issue. The temperature was optimal (warm days and cool nights). One of the advantages of backpacking in the Emigrant Wilderness is a reliable source of fresh water. We brought our pump water filter so we could cook and clean with the lake water. This is one less thing to carry (and it makes a profound difference when your load is 30 lbs).

Please practice Leave No Trace Principles. What you pack in, you pack out. All human waste needs to be deposited in cat-holes (6 to 8 inches deep) at least 200 ft from water, camp, and trails. And remember to cover the cat-hole when finished because no one wants to see or step in that stuff!

I can't say enough about the fantastic views and peaceful solitude the Emigrant Wilderness has to offer. Hiking here is breathtaking, highlighted by sparkling lakes and majestic forests. The sharp granite ridges of the Sierra Nevada form a dramatic backdrop. I loved being an emigrant here.