Backpacking Jenkins Canyon along Highland Creek
A Hiking Route Option for long or short distance backpackers linking the Tahoe Yosemite and PCT Routes
Two 7.5 minute USGS Backpacking Topo Maps, Carson Iceberg Wilderness
| Tahoe to Yosemite Topo Maps | Guide | Big Picture | Tahoe to Whitney Indexes | More Miles and Elevations | Permits | Weather, Map Data | |||||||||||||||||
Topo Map Index; Tahoe to Yosemite Trail |
North TYT: Duck Lake to Spicer Reservoir |
South TYT: Jenkins Canyon to Sand Flat | PCT: Highland Creek to Wolf Creek Pass | Trail Guide: Rock Lake to Jenkins Canyon | Region Topo Map: Lake Alpine to Saint Marys Pass |
Miles and Elevations: Lake Alpine to Saint Marys Pass | All Miles: Tahoe to Whitney | Maps: Lake Tahoe to Highway 4 | All Maps: Tahoe to Whitney | Carson Gap to Lake Alpine | Kennedy Meadows to Tuolumne Meadows | Stanislaus National Forest | map info | ||||||||||
On this route you can hike up to the PCT via the Highland Creek Trail or continue South on the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail through Jenkins Canyon.
Click RED DOTS for more information
TYT TOPO MAP North: Duck Lake to Spicer Reservoir TYT TOPO MAP South: Jenkins Canyon to Sand Flat Up Highland Creek to the PCT: Highland Creek to Wolf Creek Pass
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TYT TOPO MAP North: Duck Lake to Spicer Reservoir TYT TOPO MAP South: Jenkins Canyon to Sand Flat Up Highland Creek to the PCT: Highland Creek to Wolf Creek Pass
The Current Status of Highland Creek The USGS Topo Maps above are inaccurate. Spicer Meadow Reservoir now extends Northeast, covering Gabbot Meadow and extending to the three trail junctions pictured on the far Left, or Eastern side of the map above. The trail South down to what is now the Northeast shore of Spicer on the map above has been moved higher up the side of the canyon as indicated on the map below... |
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Click the red dots on the maps above to see the trail configuration as of October 2011. The small topo map of the present configuration of Spicer Meadow Reservoir above is from the National Forest Service 1987 Carson-Iceberg Wilderness Map. |
Location: Highland Creek Trail to Highland Lakes, Carson-Iceberg Wilderness |
Main Features: The Jenkins Canyon trail junction is where we have the option to break off of the Tahoe to Yosemite route and continue up the Highland Creek Trail towards Highland Lakes and our trail junction with the Pacific Crest Trail, just to the East of Highland Lakes at Wolf Pass. I have only encountered people once between the East side of Spicer Meadow Reservoir and Highland Lakes during years of backpacking through this area. It was a CCC (California Criminal Corps) crew stationed at the cabin, pictured below, in Hiram Meadow. About half of this crew looked like they were living in hell. They were dirty, tired, dragging their feet, dull eyed, and not having a good time at all. The other half of the crew looked like they were in heaven. They were also dirty, but were light-footed, had sparkling eyes, and were looking like it was the first time their souls had been set free in nature. Such is the composition of the CCC. Half get set free, and the other half go running screaming out of nature. As of July of 2009 the cabin's shingle roof needs to be weather and fire treated. It was completely dried out and bleached.
I like to take this route option because heading South from Wolf Pass on the Pacific Crest Trail ultimately brings me through one of my favorite places, the East Fork of the Carson River. From Wolf Pass we head South on the Pacific Crest Trail, and will shortly begin tracking along the Western flank of the mountains bounding the Western shore of East Carson River: The Sierra Crest. And a fine section of the Crest it is. Instead of heading up through canyons towards the Sierra Crest on the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail we are looking down the heads of canyons from the Sierra Crest above the East Fork of the Carson River. I can't think of many places I would rather be. Except working my way up the E. Carson, from the Carson Falls to the junction of the E. Carson Trail with the Pacific Crest Trail. |
Mapping, Mileage, and National Forest Information |
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Miles and Elevations Lake Alpine to Saint Marys Pass
Back to Highway 4 to Highway 108 Trail Guide Index Back to Lake Alpine trail guide page
Backpacking permitting authorityNational Forest: Stanislaus National Forest
Stanislaus National Forest Wilderness Carson-Iceberg WildernessPhysical Location: Between Highway 4 and Highway 108
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Two Topo Maps compose the top USGS Map map one Right Map Name: Dardanelles Cone, Calif 1979, 7.5 minute USGS Topographic
Compass Offset: Magnetic North is 16 1/2 degrees East of True North scale: 1:24 000 Contours: 40 feet map two Left Map Name: Spicer Meadow Reservoir , Calif 1979, 7.5 minute USGS Topographic
Compass Offset: Magnetic North is 16 1/2 degrees East of True North scale: 1:24 000 Contours: 80 feet
The second map below the top map USDA Forest Service Carson-Iceberg Wilderness Map. Scale: 1:63360 Countors: 80 feet |
Topo Map South PCT: Highland Creek to Wolf Creek Pass Topo Map North TYT: Duck Lake to Spicer Reservoir TOPO MAP South TYT: Jenkins Canyon to Sand Flat
| Elevations | More Information | ||
Lake Alpine: 7330 feet Spicer Meadow Reservoir : 6560 feet Highland Lakes (towards PCT): 8613 feet High point between Jenkins and Woods (TYT): 8142 Feet |
Trail Guide, Section Index: Highway 4 to 108. Trail Guide, Segment: Rock Lake to Jenkins Canyon. Map Index: TYT Highway 4 to 108. |
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Map Credit |
U.S. Geological Survey, Department of the Interior: The USGS Move the Map to the Sierras. Select size of Maps you wish to locate. Click "Mark Point" on map to see the USGS map grid of the selected map scale. USGS Topographic Map Information |