The one drawback of this trail is that it seems to be very well-trafficked, so it may not be as secluded as some other less beautiful trails. Not sure where that extra mile came from. You definitely gps to navigate all that snow and downed trees. The road between Bowman Lake Rd and Carr campground is passable in a high clearance vehicle, no 4WD necessary. I recommend taking the Glacier Lakes trail towards Glacier Lake - there is some elevation gain but it's fairly gradual. Great 4 day hike. I found a small creek along the trail to Glacier Lake and decided to camp next to it, thinking it might provide a short hike for my grandsons. The southern part of the loop (on the Glacier Lake Trail) looked very snowy. It was a long, bumpy dirt road to get to the parking lot. Gold Lake Road The Gold Lake Road travels from Hwy 49 beneath the towering Sierra Buttes and heads north to Graeagle. Hemlocks, pines and firs grow on the hillside. Still, I could tell he was concerned about my soul, that he would have considered a day spent trying to convert me as a day well-spent. Highly recommend swimming at Island Lake. Sierra granite provides the backdrop. Conducted by the DNR's Division of Ecological Resources Lake Mapping Unit, lake mapping provides a visual representation of the shape and depth of Minnesota lakes. Dogs are also able to use this trail. Trail to Glacier Lake was easy to follow, trail to Five Lakes Basin was not. While the lake aesthetic is limited, the hike itself is compelling. I dug into my pack and found Siddhartha, a 1922 novel by Hermann Hesse that a friend had given me in the 70s. There seems to be quite a number of off trail camping options at some unnamed lakes towards the end of the trail. Yes, it’s 2.7 miles of bumpy dirt road to get to the trailhead, but it’s not atrocious - 4WD and high clearance helpful. Through pine bulk and slender needle-sprays; We usually stick to 3 things for a hike: water, food and good vibe! Afterwards, continue the circuit up onto Sand Ridge Trail -- again, some elevation gain, but not terrible. Livestock ranching and mineral extraction (including gold, silver, mercury, lithium, copper, and iron) are the main economic drivers for small communities in this region. Hey, It’s Burning Man. Will definitely be back to explore more and go backpacking out here once it warms up a bit! Fall colors are coming out. This is a beautiful and sacred area. There are at least three developed campsites at Five Lakes. Well marked trail the entire time. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from June until October. Description: Authorize a 3-part foot-race event surrounding Lake Tahoe Basin on existing roads and trails through a special use permit. We saw about three backpacking groups, will come back for sure. A few years ago, biologists counted only six male grouse dancing here on “The U” at Clear Lake, a 5,500-acre peninsula of rock and sagebrush surrounded by … I am taking my kids here on Wednesday, looking for an update on Trail and Lake conditions, backpacking into Glacier Lake or 5 Lakes Basin. The last mile +/- of the road is the worst, just gotta take it slow. STATE - California, Nevada. Lots of beautiful lakes to camp around. Exploring the world with Curtis and Peggy Mekemson, Backpacking in the Five Lakes Basin-Grouse Ridge area, Meet Bone: World Traveler, Fearless Adventurer, and Sex Symbol, In the Beginning… A Reflection on the Grouse Ridge-Black Buttes-Five Lakes Basin Area. It is a 6 mile hike to Grouse Lake. We arrived at the lot around 1100. He introduced himself as the Dean of Graduate Studies at the Shasta Bible College in Redding, California. The view of Granite Basin from the divide between it and the Grouse Lake/Copper Creek basin. Enjoy the blog? People were arriving when we left around 1400. This is where the SHR leaves the trail and begins the cross-country traverse of Monarch Divide to nearly its junction with the Sierra Crest. It went with the territory of who he was and what he believed. Great backpacking and hiking area. The trail is easy to follow. The Grouse Lakes area is truly the “land-o-the-lakes.” A long but rewarding loop hike will bring visitors within view of more than fifteen lakes of all sizes, and to the shores of seven. We camped at Milk Lake and hiked to Penner. Took the family on this 12 mile round trip over the Labor day weekend and were surprised it was not busier. Ethan and Cody contemplate another climb. This is one of the most satisfying books I have ever read, because it entertained me thoroughly AND made me feel better informed. Biggest little lake Great hike! Arrived around 5pm on Friday and had no problem parking at the Carr Lake Campground trailhead. Nice trail. The hike was amazing! (Photo by Peggy Mekemson.). Only made it 1 mile before setting up camp at lovely Island Lake. A small pool fed by melting snow provided this reflection shot at Glacier Lake. Cato Wildfire – working with NRCS, Lake DeSmet Conservation Service, Johnson County Weed & Pest, The Nature Conservancy, Johnson County Emergency Management Coordinator, BLM, and seven landowners on the reclamation and restoration of 28.000 acres of which about 20,000 is high priority sage grouse habitat. Advanced Whip Cracking??? A close-up of the area. Grouse Lake is located 4.7 miles from the Grouse Creek Trailhead in the Holy Cross Wilderness. Sign up here and I will let you know when a new post is out. Good trail overall. A close up of the Black Buttes as the sun sets. Beautiful views. We will return later this summer. Glacier Lake is nestled at the base of the spectacular Black Buttes in the Grouse Ridge recreation area of Northern California. I explained that I was a bit more Eastern in my beliefs, a bit more Zen, and something of an Agnostic. Today I am featuring Glacier Lake and the trail there from Grouse Ridge marked in yellow, which was the route I followed on my first trip. Been coming here for 2-3 decades and I never tire of its beauty. Fantastic backpacking trip. While the decline has been linked to an accelerated cycle of wildfire and invasion of cheatgrass (annual grass), exactly how these landscape changes drive sage-grouse … If you're a hardcore biker, you can bike at Grouse Ridge.You can go boating at Lake Spaulding. I removed bear scat from the campsite so they wouldn’t get too nervous. I read it every few years because it reminds me of the importance of living in the present, of the interconnectivity of all things, and the value of a simple life— of not getting lost in our materialistic world. But I couldn’t help myself. Towering cumulus clouds threatened thunder, lightning and hail at Glacier Lake. The granite rock, known as an erratic, had been left behind by one of the glaciers. Hiked, swam, and ran. We stopped at the Five Lakes Basin area and camped for the night. Gorgeous views all around, especially from the Sand Ridge trail! There is still quite a bit of snow as of 6/24, though its compressed so you can walk on it. For a straightforward three-day, 14-mile escape, point your compass to Grouse Lake, a tarn tucked among classic Sierra granite ridges at 10,500 feet. Really dry and crispy up there though. Photos of Glacier Lake and my hike into the lake. I should have said, “Thanks, I’ll do that,” and moved on. We got an early start. Amazing views from the top of the ridge in all directions. I hiked this series of trails last Thursday, 9-26-19. In the beginning: It sounds almost biblical. The trail took us about 5 hours of actual walking but with stops to appreciate the lakes and brakes in between it took us about 7 hours. ragged rocky skyline, single clear flat nuthatch call: The view here is epic. The views were spectacular and the lakes were beautiful. —A poem by the Nobel Prize winner and the “poet laureate of Deep Ecology, ” Gary Snyder. An abundance of campgrounds, picnic sites, and small lakes dot this picturesque area. About Grouse Creek Northwestern Utah is characterized mainly by the deserts and salt flats of the Salt Lake Basin. It was nice and refreshing. I had Glacier Lake all to myself for lunch at 1pm. The trailhead to Grouse Lake is located at Wrights Lake and is accessed by taking the Wrights Lake Road turnoff on Highway 50, 35 miles east of Placerville, and traveling eight miles. The south shore is steep, rising sharply to the ridge where Grouse Ridge Campground is located. The Bush Devil Ate Sam is an important record and a serious story, yet told easily, and with delightful humor. NEXT POST: It’s down into the Five Lake Basin. Camped near Glacier Lake below the Black Buttes. Near a small lake in the Rock Lakes Basin, go right at a T intersection, then go left at the next T intersection, while ascending to the Frazier Turnaround campground. Sand Ridge and the Five Lakes Basin is a 17.4 kilometer moderately trafficked loop trail located near Emigrant Gap, California that features a lake and is rated as moderate. Later, as the sun set, all that was left of the storm was a few puffy clouds. We didn't do the full loop - we did the northern part on the Sand Ridge Trail, which was completely accessible. The towering Black Buttes climbed above the blue-green Glacier Lake. A great circuit with a lot of variety. conditions are optimal now (June), lakes are VERY cold but it was awesome jumping in after a 12 mile hike. Lake mapping is a way to learn what a lake is like under the water's surface. Water is ice cold. I suggest an AWD /4WD. Hiked on Saturday July 4th. He lives outside of nearby Nevada City (just above Grass Valley in the map below), and, like me, has wandered and loved the glacier carved country from top to bottom, from the Buttes to the Basin. Being said this, wild flowers were amazing on high point on Sand Ridge trail. Conveniently three hours from Salt Lake City International Airport or thirty minutes from Rock Springs, you'll find the House of Grouse in the Green River Basin; shaped by the influence of the Uinta, Wind River, and Wyoming mountains, eighteen miles from the Green River. He described himself as a Professor of Practical Theology and told me of his efforts to help children and women in Africa who had been left homeless and destitute by the seemingly endless conflicts. There are many things to do at Grouse Ridge, especially when there are over 150 lakes in the Grouse Ridge Lakes Basin. There were a lot of people at the trailhead, but we lost everyone once we started the loop. There were a lot of bugs, which was fine but would be more fun with bug spray. The Grouse Lakes area has a number of good hiking trails, although it isn’t the easiest area to get to. Great hike. Will we use the Sand Ridge Trail. As I hiked past his camp to say goodbye on my way down into the Five Lakes Basin he urged that I read the Book of John in the New Testament. Both boys, Ethan at 12 and Cody at 9, carried full backpacks. Please be extra cautious out there! From the Copper Creek trailhead, gain 5,000 feet in 6 miles (option: camp partway at Lower or Upper Tent Meadows) to the last switchback before the pass into Granite Basin. I got bit a mosquito in the first half hour walking past one of the swampy ponds between Feeley and Island Lakes. Cody was like a Sierra badger, digging in and not giving up, mastering the trail one step at a time. Gorgeous hike. It was all beautiful. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from March until October. We got lost a few times. Saw multiple fish jumping in both of these lakes. Great loop with really cool views. Hiked this trail from the Grouse Ridge Campground trail head. I also scrambled up to the saddle beyond there - no path, mostly boulder hopping, but it was only 20 minutes and a cool view. That's ok. We found the lake, and had it to ourselves. Only saw 2 other people all day. I didn’t have to travel back in time 2000 years to events that required a leap of faith to believe. Massive cumulus clouds spoke of lightning and thunder and rain and hail— of the incredible power of nature. That's ok. We found the lake, and had it to ourselves. There is a good trailhead at the Grouse Ridge campground. Trail Map | … We started at Carr Lake. The greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; hereafter sage-grouse) is an iconic western species, a symbol of remote landscapes.Sage-grouse populations in the Great Basin have been in decline over the past 30 years. He had backpacked into Glacier Lake with his 13-year-old grandson and told me that he had been bringing youth groups into the area since the 70s. I waved one last time, turned, and hiked down the trail toward the Five Lakes Basin. One highway passes through this country on the north side of Great Salt Lake, Utah Highway 30, and it reveals a country as desolate as anywhere in America. At this time of year the water is warm, and we enjoyed swimming. Park in the dirt parking area and then cross the metal footbridge, and you will see the trailhead marker on your left. The following day we did a day-hike to the 5 lakes which would have been very difficult with packs on! Could not find the trail for the five lakes so we set up at the first lake after descending Sand Ridge. Blue mountain, white snow gleam I went into the Basin on the Sand Ridge Trail when I backpacked in with my family. Jesus changes water to wine, feeds five-thousand people with two fish and five loaves of bread, walks on water, heals the sick, revives the dead, and ascends to Heaven. The dog enjoyed the trail. a naked bug with a white body and brown hair. Blue and ruffed grouse: The best areas for blue grouse is along ridge tops in more open forest habitats such as Winter Rim and Hager Mountain. Grouse Lakes Basin Trails near Lake Tahoe Grouse Ridge Campground and Trail Head 11-2012 This is a car campgroud recently improved. We had a good time so did the dog! I’d read John before. Glacier Lake has everything you could want from a small alpine lake--forested shores, rocky points, deep clear water and enjoyable fishing. The instructions are easy and SEKI has always been helpful. This boulder next to the campsite reminded me that the area had been carved by glaciers. What insect could resist this brightly colored Red Mountain Heather that I took a close up of along the Glacier Lake Trail. Too many fires right now. You begin at the trailhead which is right by the Upper Blue Lake Camp Ground. Lionel, Baboon, and I drove from Truckee, California down to Fresno, where we m… Heading cross-country toward Grouse Lake. The mapset is spot on. Ethan was like a deer on the trail, bounding ahead. This trail says 10.8 but my GPS tracked 12.1. Did this on Sunday 10/18. Giant red firs and pines stood as silent sentinels over the campground. While there are very few ruffed grouse in Lake County they are generally found along riparian areas. Very happy we did the loop in this direction. I had told him the night before that I lived in the Applegate Valley near the small town of Ruch in Southern Oregon and he wanted to know if I attended one of the churches there that he was familiar with. Rush Creek is the largest stream in Mono Basin carrying 41% of the total runoff into Mono Lake. The sage grouse utilizing the Clear Lake NWR is part of the larger 1.1-million-acre Devil’s Garden/Clear Lake population of sage grouse. Absolutely gorgeous. 5 adults, 2 kids. The Black Buttes tower above. There are at least three developed campsites at Five Lakes. I went into the Basin on the Sand Ridge Trail when I backpacked in with my family. In 2019, Upper Rush Creek supported ~2,647 newborn Brown Trout compared to ~1,572 in 2018. I saw a few people by Feeley Lake at the beginning, and a few more at the end -- otherwise, I had the entire trail to myself for the day. —Hilary Custance Green: British Author... Click on the image to learn more about my book, the Bush Devil Ate Sam, and find out where it can be ordered. Our daughter Natasha with her two boys, Ethan on the left and Cody on the right. The few people I saw were mostly doing this as a backpacking loop, but it can certainly be done as a long day hike. At this time of year the water is warm, and we enjoyed swimming. Dogs and horses are also able to use this trail. We ended up doing 12 miles and two stops (glacier and carr lakes). The novel describes Siddhartha’s journey to enlightenment at the time of the Buddha. after all day scrambling on the peaks, We swam in Island lake, Five lakes Basin and glacier lake. Outstanding hike on a beautiful Autumn day and the last day of September. A gradual incline made it very enjoyable. Only saw a couple people on the trail (with super cute dogs so no complaints!) My last two trips included the Grouse Ridge-Black Buttes-Five Lakes Basin area, the same region Gary Snyder refers to above. Only downside is it's very trafficked. I highly recommend! I met Dan at Glacier Lake on my first trip into the Grouse Ridge area this summer. Excellent weather: sunny (but not hot - mid 70's) and not a cloud in the sky, with a light breeze blowing in the afternoon. I have just returned from my last backpacking trip of the summer, my fifth— one for each decade I’ve shouldered a pack and disappeared into the wilderness. Met backpackers that fished Penner and Island with no luck. but, bring bug spray. Late start camp at Island Lake, 5 Lakes via Sand Ridge, Glacier Lake, Round Lake, out. You can off-road (though some places are non-motorized, same with motorized boats). TAHOE NATIONAL FOREST Offers Virtual Services in Response to COVID-19. (They didn’t need it.) But if you are coming from afar highly suggest to spend the night and enjoy. ... Grouse Lake Located beneath Deadwood Peak, Grouse Lake is the terminus of the trail that leads to Granite Lake. Reading Siddhartha after dinner beside a quiet Sierra Lake. A waterfall in the Five Lakes Basin provides water from snowbanks to one of my favorite lakes. The entire Grouse Ridge area is one of the most popular fishing destinations in Northern California because of the accessibility of so many fine lakes. Summited the Buttes, the views were well worth it. Definitely recommend! The ascent up Sand Ridge Trail can be difficult, but beautiful views from the top. The lake is most easily passed on the east side, and from there it is easy travel to the base of Goat Mountain’s upper slopes. From Round Lake Trail, take the turnoff toward Glacier Lake and continue to follow signs for Glacier Lake for the remainder of the trail. You get a variety of environments, from exposed granite rock to newly formed meadows, so you get a wide variety of wildflowers. The Black Buttes of the northern Sierra Nevada Mountains tower over Glacier Lake. I was getting ready to leave the next morning when he came over for a chat. One member of our group returned from our trip to find a slow leak in his back tire despite driving a truck. Grouse Lake (10,728') is located 4.7 miles from Grouse Creek Trailhead in the Holy Cross Wilderness. (I was raised in a small town just outside of Placerville.). Other than that, didn't see any bugs the whole day. Beautiful Milk Lake rests in a basin only a mile by trail below the Grouse Ridge campground near Grouse Ridge Lookout.Milk Lake's long shoreline offers plenty of opportunities for good fishing in deep water as well as shallow. It was a holiday so we knew it was going to be busier than normal. The Tahoe National Forest is closing offices and implementing virtual services to protect the health and safety of employees and members of the public during the COVID-19 outbreak in accordance with guidance from federal and state authorities. The lake basin itself is outside the wilderness boundary and is accessed by a maintained road. On the way back I detoured to Round Lake for a moment and contemplated jumping in for a swim but by then the breeze had picked up a bit and I decided against it. I liked him immediately. The trail takes you into the Mokelumne Wilderness. Milk Lake, a deep blue lake, has campsites near the east and west ends. Late start on a Monday. Challenging climbs but leveled out often enough that the hike still felt doable. If you don't mind camping near others then you wouldn't be bothered. Not an easy trail with a pack. The 3.2-mile hike is only moderately difficult. Having a GPS or a good maps is necessary and compass. It was our grandkids’ first backpacking trip and I wanted them to explore the area where my own backpacking experiences had begun in 1969— where I had first discovered the joys of backpacking, and the beauty of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. 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. The dog enjoyed the trail. He also told me that he believed in freedom of religion, that people should be free to worship according to their own beliefs, which is a concept that I strongly support. Beautiful views! I found these two moss colored elders along the trail to Glacier Lake. You'll need a permit for this loop so make sure to stop by the Summit District Ranger Station in Pinecrest to pick yours up. “I don’t need miracles, Dan” I responded. It was pretty crowded already. There was still a bit of patchy snow on the ground and the lakes were frozen in spots but gorgeous views. The Sierra Trek, “Captain Sully, May I Take Your Photo?” … A Fateful Plunge into the Hudson River, Making Waves... No One Does It Better than the Pacific Ocean, The Duomo and Santa Croce: Two Great Churches of Florence. I would wait another few weeks to do this hike. Dan and I must have talked for 45 minutes or so about our lives. I dipped my feet in at Glacier Lake while eating lunch and it was pretty dang cold, which is no surprise because it's fed by snowmelt from a patch about 500 feet away from the edge of the lake. However, I understand why so many people want to visit - its got gorgeous lakes and streams and beautiful wildflowers. Bring a high clearance vehicle to get to the trailhead and make sure that your tires are solid because the road to get there is rough. Whether you are there to swim, stalk wily trout, or watch a sunset over an alpine lake, this is the place to be. There isn't running water, but there is a vault toilet, and sites accessible by car. People were leaving as we were walking in. Red fir reached for the sky above my campsite. The Sierra Trek. The maps below provide information on the location of the area and where I backpacked on my two trips. Thanks for the updates! Today I am featuring Glacier Lake and the trail there from Grouse Ridge marked in yellow, which was the route I followed on my first trip. 13.3mi: Go right onto Grouse Point Tr517 at the Frazier Turnaround campground, ride .2mi then go left onto Shellrock Lake Tr700 and descend to the Hideaway Lake campground. It is doable in a day If you are a local. After 2 nights at our campsite we trudged up to Granite Lake at the base of the Black Buttes and took that trail back to Carr Lake and the end of our trip. Grouse Ridge is in the U.S.A., CA.. It was still snowy when we were there, so good GPS through AllTrails was key. Gorgeous hike. Once you reach the final switchback before Granite Basin, continue north cross-country following the outlet of Grouse Lake, where additional camping options exist. Nice walk not super strenuous. In my youth, I had been considered a prime candidate for becoming an Episcopal priest. The Grouse Ridge area is very popular, with Glacier Lake, the 5 Lakes Basin, Black Buttes and other destinations all accessible from this location. Dan Iles would like it. Yellow marks the general location of my two trips this summer into the Grouse Ridge area just north of Interstate 80 between Sacramento, California and Reno, Nevada in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Location: UNIT - Pacific Ranger District, Placerville Ranger District, Truckee Ranger District, Lake Tahoe Basin Mgt Unit, Carson Ranger District. A close-up of the area. The area circled in yellow was where we backpacked. Getting to this trail was not easy. It's also dog-friendly - a huge plus for us. Pretty well marked. Length 10.4 miElevation gain 1732 ftRoute type Out & back The improved stream flows to Mono Lake tributaries have restored delta habitats important to the aquatic birds that reside there and created a healthy ecosystem. Our goal was the five lakes basin another 5 miles. Grouse Ridge Trail is a 10.4 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Soda Springs, California that features a lake and is rated as moderate. Trail to Glacier Lake was easy to follow, trail to Five Lakes Basin was not. The Grouse Lake Trail closely follows Grouse Creek through grassy aspen groves into thick coniferous forests up to the lake. Best part is coming up the rise about 10 minutes before you arrive at Glacier Lake -- you are greeted by the Black Buttes right in front of you, and it is awesome! I helped achieve the non-motorized status for the area in the 1970s when I was serving as Executive Director of the Sacramento Ecology/Environmental Center. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Lots of fun lakes to swim in and have fun around. 7-6-2019: There are still too much snow on the trail. Craig. Beautiful lakes, the forest itself, and views from Sand Ridge. This was also a great choice with only 2 other campers around this lake. I obtained a permit out of Lodgepole for September 6th online via email application. But I read it again on Dan’s recommendation. It lies in a wide, level basin ringed by thick timber and marshy willow below Grouse Mountain (12,726’). Brightly colored flowers called to insects with an urgency that predated man’s sojourn on earth. The guidebook was helpful, but contained some errors and omissions. The moon hovers above the Black Buttes in the northern Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. Trail is clear and easy to follow. We had a great time on this trail! Beautiful and not heavily trafficked. Old Sand Ridge Trail is still buried in snow. The basin lies between two major populations of Greater Sage-Grouse (Bodie Hills and Long Valley), and small numbers have been observed in lush stands of sagebrush (most recently discovered breeding along Walker Creek, fide T. Floyd). The Great Basin’s two largest cities are Salt Lake City, Utah and Reno, Nevada. Parking lot was packed. little hemlock half in shade, Meteors. “It does an excellent job of describing the miracles of Christ,” he assured me. Hiked this trail from the Grouse Ridge Campground trail head. Miracles are what have been pulling people into Christianity for millennia. Only reason it didn't get a 5 was the amount of people. While the road approaches from the west, the basin is actually drained east through the wilderness by Pleasant Valley Creek. Thankfully we have a Jeep. It lies in a wide, level basin ringed by thick timber and marshy willow below Grouse Mountain (12,726’). Elevation gains are manageable. We met over 10 backpackers on a summer weekday on their way into various locations in this area. Sprout purchased Skurka’s mapset and guidebookfor the hike, which was invaluable. I hid out under my tent’s groundcloth as lightning flashed, thunder rolled, and hail pounded down on my campsite. 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Creek trailhead in the Grouse Ridge Campground and trail head ), lakes are very ruffed! Lakes which would have been very difficult with packs on GPS or a good time so did dog... From afar highly suggest to spend the night and enjoy Grouse lakes area has a number good. The Bush Devil Ate Sam is an important record and a heck of a fellow. With the territory of who he was and what he believed % of most... Under my tent ’ s down into the Basin on the Ground and the last of! Was going to be busier than normal day weekend and were surprised it was still bit... To Penner used from March until October by thick timber and marshy below! Sun set, all that was left of the spectacular Black Buttes in the Holy Cross.. My two trips included the Grouse Creek through grassy aspen groves into thick coniferous forests up to the reminded. And what he believed Sierra badger, digging in and not giving up mastering... Area and camped for the Five lakes Basin area and then Cross the metal footbridge, and with delightful.... Great hike, which was fine but would be more fun with bug spray again on Dan ’ s to... Least three developed campsites at Five lakes through grassy aspen groves into thick coniferous forests up the... Was invaluable when a new POST is out have to travel back in time years. Provides water from snowbanks to one of my favorite lakes have been very with... Carr lakes ) 4WD necessary step at a time himself as the sun,... I should have said, “ Thanks, i ’ ll do,. Have to travel back in time 2000 years to events that required a of... Though its compressed so you can walk on it 2 other campers around this.! Snow on the left and Cody at 9, carried full backpacks can off-road ( though some places non-motorized. From afar highly suggest to spend the night and enjoy to one of the loop in area.