Backpacking: The Carson Gap to Woods Lake

EL Dorado National Forest

Trail Guide Carson Gap to Lake Alpine

Trail Guide North Carson Gap

Trail Guide South Round Top Lake

Topo Map Carson Pass Region

SOUTH Big Topo Map Carson Gap to Lake Alpine

SOUTH 30 Topo Map Summit City Creek to Bee Gulch

NORTH 7.5 Topo Map South Upper Truckee to Carson Pass

Carson Gap to Lake Alpine MILES AND ELEVATIONS

Map Index Carson Gap to Lake Alpine

Tahoe to Whitney on YouTube

South out of the Lake Tahoe Basin on the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail

This trail guide page reflects your choice to cut off of the Pacific Crest Trail on the South side of the Carson Gap to pursue the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail South to Lake Alpine on Highway 4, rather than continuing down the Pacific Crest Trail to Ebbetts Pass, also located on Highway 4. Good choice. I prefer this route South, despite the difficult section that lacks a maintained trail along Summit City Creek.

Approaching Wood Lake we find two possible routes up to Round Top Lake. Both are detailed below.

Refer to the Carson Pass region topo map for the mapped details of these routes, and the Carson Pass Management Area.

On this page

Starting at the top: Carson Gap

Video: Carson Gap to Auto Bridge

Crossing Highway 88

Dirt Road to paved road

Woods Lake

Free Car Camping

Up to Round Top Lake

Outside Resources

NWS Weather Forecast

Local Ground Stations

ALL Ground Stations

Route One: Footbridge route

Video: Woods to Round Top, Footbridge route through Spring Snow

Out of the Trees

Above Winnemucca Lake

Route Two: Lost Cabin Mine route

Campsite Options

> Forum <

Northern Tahoe to Yosemite Trail Junction at the Carson Gap

Tahoe to Yosemite cutoff on the South side of the Carson Gap

Pictured at left is the first Tahoe to Yosemite junction just South of the Carson Gap splitting off from the Pacific Crest Trail. Our goal is to cross over Round Top and The Sisters, the mountains in the background.

Woods Lake is wedged at the interface between rock and forest at the base of the Round Top massif on a line drawn down from the split dividing the peaks of The Sisters.

I point out all of these features 2 minutes and 12 seconds into the video below.

We pass around the Southwestern flank, the right shoulder of Round Top and The Sisters, to follow the TYT route down into the Summit City Creek drainage.

Summit City Creek bends Southwestward along the Western flank of the Sierras towards the North Fork of the Mokelumne River and ultimately to our resupply point at the Lake Alpine Lodge on Highway 4.

Elevations

Carson Gap: 8800 feet

Highway 88: 8400 feet

Round Top Lake Trail Junction: 9360 feet

Mileage from the Carson Gap to the Round Top Lake Trail Junction : 3.4 miles

above: 1st cutoff down to highway 88 towards Woods Lake on the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail. Woods Lake is nestled between the rock and forest at the base of Round Top and The Sisters, the mountains in the background.

Taking a right at the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail junction with the Pacific Crest Trail pictured above takes us down to Highway 88. But first the trail drops down the Southern flank below Carson Gap to cross the creek which then parallels our trail down to Highway 88.

Carson Pass Region Map

Woods Lake Forum

Comments? Questions? Pictures?

Video: Heading down the Tahoe to Yosemite Route from the Carson Gap towards Highway 88 in March snow

Duration: 7:13

top of page The Tahoe to Yosemite Trail crosses Highway 88 West of the Carson Pass.

Views North, South, East, and West at Highway 88
At the base of the Carson Gap you encounter Highway 88 just West of Carson Pass as you head South.	Looking North at the trail up to the Carson Gap from Highway 88

above: Looking South across Highway 88. The shed was removed in late Summer of 2009. I was wrong: The shed is still there! Sorry! I don't know how I missed it when I snowshoed by in June of '09, but as of early Spring '10, the shed was there.	above: Looking North up the trail towards Carson Gap from Highway 88 at the informal trailhead/trail up to the Gap. The boulders in the picture to the left were put there to block off parking, and as you can see above, this is still an improved trailhead.
East and West on Highway 88

Highway 88 looking East towards Carson Pass. The Carson Pass is a short ways past the bend.	Highway 88 looking West. Caples Lake and the Kirkwood Ski Resort are a few miles to the West.
After crossing Highway 88 you are making your way towards Woods Lake, where you have two possible routes that can take you up to Round Top: The footbridge up via Winnemucca Lake or the Lost Cabin Mine trail. Be Careful crossing Highway 88, especially listening for Eastbound cars coming fast around the almost blind corner to your West.

Follow the Dirt and Paved Roads to Woods Lake

A dirt road on the South side of Highway 88 just a few feet West of the shed meets us after hiking down from the Carson Gap and crossing Highway 88. From the shed we can see the dirt road that parallels Highway 88 coming down from Carson Pass, which sits to our left, to our East. Follow this road to the right, and it immediatley bends to the South and then to the West after a couple of hundred yards to bring us down to where it connects with the paved road to Woods Lake. This whole route, the dirt road from Carson Pass and the paved road to Woods Lake, is Blue-Diamond marked for Winter Travelers heading to Woods Lake and Round Top Lake from Carson Pass. There are a series of unimproved free car campsites down the East side of this dirt road. About a half-mile past where we crossed Highway 88, we veer left where the dirt road meets the paved road to Woods Lake from Highway 88. Woods Lake is about 3/4 of a mile South down this paved road. Woods Lake is a fine place to have lunch or a snack with the retired folks and the family campers who inhabit this area during the Summer months. Carson Pass Region Map	Drying the gear along the dirt road between Highway 88 and Woods Lake

	I used the morning sun to dry my gear after camping in one of the informal (free!) National Forest car camping sites along the dirt road between Highway 88 and the paved road out to Woods Lake during a rainy Spring evening. Comments?
The Road to Woods Lake from Highway 88 is well marked for Summer and Winter Snow Travel

The dirt road from Highway 88 to Woods Lake is well marked by blue diamonds for all season travel	The arrow is pointing to Woods Lake from where the paved and dirt roads intersect
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National Forest Free Car Camping Notes

Car Camping Forum

(Auto Access to this Location: Dirt road on South side of Highway 88 one mile to the West of Carson Pass)

We are now crossing to the South side of Highway 88, to the dirt road that sits 1 mile West of the Carson Pass.

From here we note that the dirt road off of Highway 88 immediately intersects with a dirt road running down from Carson Pass. We turn Right here to follow along the dirt road down to where it intersects with the paved road to Woods Lake. You will notice that there are multiple free National Forest car camping sites along the span of the dirt road.

The road map on the Carson Pass trail guide page marks the position of this road and the campsites along it. The arrows under the notation "dirt road" on the Carson Pass Region Map point exactly at where a line of free car camping spots are situated.

Take an immediate right where the dirt road Tees with the dirt road coming down from Carson Pass. As the road bends South you will note a series of improved car campsites along the left side of the dirt road. There's a nice little creek behind them that supplies water. Luxury! This road continues for less than a mile, to where it links with the paved road to Woods Lake.

Car camping sites run the whole length of this road, and they are much further apart than an official National Forest car campground!

These Campsites along the dirt road between Highway 88 and Woods Lake sit on National Forest Lands. National Forests allow free car camping virtually anywhere where you can drive your car on one of their roads. You are not allowed to damage the terrain, have unpermitted fires, and must comply with all of that National Forest's use rules, but you can camp about anywhere one of the National Forest dirt roads penetrate.

There are fine free National Forest car campsites near the Sierra Crest on Highways 88, 4, and 108. Most of these sites have been used by smart car campers, hunters, day hikers, and as backpacker's staging points for decades.

When you hike through here in Summer, you will see many car campers taking advantage of this free camping. I've talked to a few of them over the years, and it seems that families have been coming up to camp here for years. Though you don't need a permit to camp, you do need a permit for fires and to even use stoves.

These car campsites fill up for most of the high Summer vacation season. The strategy most of these car camping families employ is to send up a few people early, during the week, to pick a good site and occupy it, while the main group arrives the next weekend to begin their vacation. This is especially important during holiday weekends, when these sites will be full well before the holiday weekend begins.

My backpacking permit acts as a fire permit too, but if you are driving through and want to camp here and make a fire, you can get a fire permit at the Carson Pass Cabin.

If you are starting any trip from the Carson Pass area, these sites are a nice place to spend your first night acclimating, especially if it was a long distance drive up from your home to the Carson Pass, or if you arrived too late in the afternoon to begin your backpacking trip.

Check out the Google Road Map of the Carson Pass Area which marks the dirt road to the car camping sites mentioned above.

These campsites are exceptional for cross country travelers, wandering tourists, and families from the valley and foothill communities. Check out an interesting take on roadtrips on the RoadBandit website.

I spent a rainy spring afternoon and overnight in one of these sites in 2009 after hiking out of the Tahoe Basin from the South Upper Truckee Trailhead. There were no car campers anywhere to be seen. The next morning the sun broke out nicely, so I was able to dry my gear before packing it up, rather than having to pack damp gear. In the latter case, if my gear is wet I hike until the sun comes out, then pull the damp gear out and dry it as I enjoy a sunny break.

Car Camping Forum

North: Carson Gap top of page South: Round Top Lake

Hiking up to Round Top Lake

Once we reach the paved road it's good to begin thinking about which of the two possible routes that can take us up to Round Top Lake from Woods Lake. The footbridge route up via Winnemucca Lake or the Lost Cabin Mine trail route.

The First route option to Round Top Lake

Taking the Footbridge Route on your left up to Round Top Lake via Winnemucca Lake

Also see the third way to Round Top Lake via Winnemucca Lake, via the PCT South of Carson Pass

The Auto Bridge over Woods Creek

Right: A quarter of a mile past the junction between the dirt and paved road to Woods Lake, you will come to a Forest Service pit toilet and parking lot on your right side, the bridge over Woods Creek to Round Top ahead of you, and your first option to hike up to Round Top Lake to your Left, to the East, via Winnemucca Lake.

If you turn left here in Winter, look for the blue diamonds that follow the Eastern shore of Woods Creek up to the footbridge, and past it, up to the trail junction at Winnemucca Lake. During Summer there is a followable trail bed.

Woods Creek Bridge Covered with snow

Above: Woods Creek auto bridge, early Spring...

Below: Looking at the footbridge over Woods Creek South of the auto bridge.

Footbridge up to Round Top Lake via Winnamucca Lake

Left: A short ways down the road past the Woods Creek auto bridge towards Wood Lake there is a footbridge over Woods Creek that leads up to Round Top Lake via Winnemucca Lake.

If we followed the blue diamond route along the East side of Woods Creek from the auto bridge, you will approach this foot bridge from the Left, or East side of Woods Creek as you hike towards Winnemucca Lake. Hikers who continued straight across the auto bridge towards Woods Lake on the paved road will approach this footbridge from the Right, or West side of the Creek.

We can cross the footbridge here to follow a well marked trail up to Winnemucca Lake, where we will turn West at the Winnemucca Lake trail junction to complete our ascent to Round Top Lake.

The Footbridge over Woods Creek

Footbridge over Woods Creek with remnants of Spring Snow, June. Less snow is more work!

Woods Creek footbridge covered with snow in March, 2010

The Woods Creek Footbridge in March, 2010. More snow, and colder snow, is less work.

Video: Woods Lake to Round Top Lake through Spring Snow

I often take the route from Woods Lake past Winnemucca Lake to Round Top Lake in the Winter and Spring. This video shows this route during Spring snow conditions.

Past the Footbridge we can hike to Woods Lake for a break before hiking either route up to Round Top Lake

Woods Lake

Hiking to Woods Lake

As we hike South on the paved road towards Woods Lake we will reach Woods Lake shortly past the Winnemucca Lake and Lost Cabin Mine trails up to Round Top.

If we pass by the trail that heads up the East side of Woods Creek at the auto bridge, pass by the footbridge over Woods Creek just short of the car campground at Woods Lake, and then continue past the car campground itself, we finally come to Woods Lake.

Woods Lake has fresh water taps, bathrooms, garbage cans, and picnic tables overlooking the lake when the car campground is in operation.

Woods Lake is not a part of the Carson Pass Management Zone. It is a fee-based day use area with picnic tables and little paved paths around the North side of the lake. A nice Federal Car Campground sits just North of Woods Lake, the Woods Lake Campground. The campground is full, and Woods Lake is busy during the whole Summer high season.

Dianne taking a break from fishing and hiking around Woods Lake

I've eaten lunch at Woods Lake a number of times as I pass through on my way over Round Top. I've met really nice car campers, day hikers, fishermen, and a number of retired people from Nevada out for day trips.

This is Dianne, from Garnerville Nevada. She and her son came up to Woods Lake for an afternoon of fishing, hiking, and kicking it in a beautifully relaxing place. And for good reason. Woods Lake's South side is nestled into and surrounded by Round Top's Northern ridges and flanks. The rest of Woods Lake's shore is set in deep forest punctuated by beautiful granite formations.

It's a really relaxing place to kick it for a while.

Woods Lake Forum

Here's a PDF from the El Dorado National Forest about Woods Lake Campground.

Woods Lake with receding ice in May.

As I was tired and the lateness of the day would have brought me up to Round Top at or just past Sunset, I decided to camp at Woods Lake.

I camp here when snow has closed the road access. Otherwise it's illegal.

	The North Side of Woods Lake has picnic tables for day campers, which make a good place for hikers on the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail to take a food and water break.				Tent before Woods Lake. Walrus Micro Swift. A bit over 2 lbs, excellent protection, but like a frkn coffin. But I love it. I just cross my arms, and sleep like the Dead.

	During Snow travel I may spend a night here if I arrive late in the afternoon. Like my sock dryers?				The weather was looking rough, so I lashed the tent securely.

If we turned up the footbridge route prior to reaching Woods Lake we hike a rising trail up through deep forest up to an open meadow that flattens out a bit North of Winnemucca Lake.

The trail through along the edge of this forest-meadow interface takes us up to Winnemucca Lake where we turn Right, West, for the last stiff climb up to Round Top Lake.

Past the Foodbridge over Woods Creek up to Round Top Lake via Winnemucca Lake

Trail past footbridge to Winnemucca Lake flowing as a little creek

The trail past the footbridge heading up to Winnemucca Lake is flowing as a little creek in early June. Note the shaded areas of the trail that are decorated with snow tunnels protecting the little creeklet flowing down the trail.

Looking North and South from just above the Treeline past the Footbridge

(Both of the pictures below are taken from the same position.)

Looking North from Southbound route up to Round Top Lake via Winnemuca Lake

Coming out of the trees past the footbridge, we see the rock ridge face between Winnemuca Lake and Round Top

North towards Carson Pass

Looking North towards Carson Pass from the same position as the picture at right, while heading Southbound up to Round Top Lake via Winnemucca Lake. Freel Peak in far background with Red Lake Peak in near background.

Ridge line extending leftward (West) off of the near side of Red Lake Peak (the low peak dappled in shadow) leads West down to the Carson Gap. The Carson Pass is directly North of, and below Red Lake Peak. Carson Pass is maybe two miles NE along our line of sight from this position.

South towards Round Top

Looking South while hiking South out of the trees past the footbridge. Directly ahead we see the sheer face of the hard rock ridge behind Winnemucca Lake. This ridge links up with Round Top, which is the mountain ascending to the right.

Winnemucca Lake is sitting behind the ridge arm descending from the Left in the foreground. To get to Round Top Lake we continue through the treeless area directly ahead to the low point on the descending ridge in the foreground, then cut to the right, to the West, under the North side of Round Top up to Round Top Lake.

Looking East after making the Right Turn, Westward, at Winnemucca Lake toward Round Top Lake


Summer and Spring versions of the view looking Eastward from between Winnemucca Lake and Round Top Lake. The Spring skies are putting on a good show.

Winnemucca Lake, Spring Conditions

Winnemucca Lake before mountains on Southern side of Forestdale Creek

Winnemucca Lake in the foreground, mountains beyond compose the Southern side of the valley Forestdale Creek runs out of. This picture was taken from below and to the East of Round Top Lake.

Looking North at the Southern Extent of the Lake Tahoe Basin

View North of our Southbound exit point from the Tahoe Basin on the PCT and TYT, the Carson Gap.

At the top we get great views North, here looking back at the Carson Gap where we exited the Lake Tahoe Basin.

The footbridge trail via Winnemucca Lake up to Round Top Lake is quite well marked in both Summer and Winter.

Besides being a well maintained and heavily used Summer Trail, this trail also sports blue diamond snow markers from the footbridge to the end of the treeline just North of Winnemucca Lake.

The end of the treeline marks the end of the blue diamond marked trail route up to Round Top Lake. But you Winter Travelers need not worry too much.

It is very easy to figure out your way up to Round Top Lake from the end of the Blue Diamonds in Winter or Summer. Especially if you have the proper maps, have properly studied them, and pay attention.

During Summertime you follow a heavily used trail from the footbridge to Winnemucca Lake trail junction, where you turn West for Round Top Lake.

From the position pictured above, Round Top Lake is less than a mile further West up the mountain.

Round Top Lake

Next Page: Round Top Lake Trail Guide Page

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Our second route option: Round Top Lake via Lost Cabin Mine Route, on our right

When we see the foodbridge route branching Left from the paved road to Woods Lake, we have to decide between two potential routes up to Round Top and the Sisters.

We can either follow the trail to our Left, East across the footbridge up to Round Top via Winnemucca Lake, as described above. Or we can take the shortcut route, the Lost Cabin Mine Trail, which sits to our right a short distance further down the paved road towards Woods Lake past the footbridge.

We continue South past the footbridge seeking the Lost Cabin Mine Trail up to Round Top. Shortly past the footbridge we will encounter the Woods Lake campground on our right.

Enter the campground through the main entrance, and at the top of the campground loop road we find the short trail cutting between the top two campsites up to the old jeep road leading left, South, to the Lost Cabin Mine and Round Top Lake.

This PDF has a map of the car campground and notes the trail to the Lost Cabin Mine trail: Woods Lake Campground

Turn Left, South, up the mountain to Round Top Lake at the jeep road.

The trail passes above this still active mine. This route is the quickest, but steepest, route up to Round Top Lake.

The Woods Lake campground has a host during Summer, so you can ask the host for directions if you feel lost. But that's not a good sign for your navigation skills when the Tahoe to Yosemite Trailbed disappears for 8.5 miles between Summit City Creek and Camp Irene.

Lost Cabin Mine Trail sign above Lost Cabin Mine Car Campground. Notice that Fourth of July Lake is listed as 3.5 miles distant? That makes it 1.5 miles past Round Top Lake. I have the distance from Round Top Lake to Fourth of July Lake at 2.3 miles, and I stand behind that distance.

Ironically, I have the distance from just below this trailhead to Round Top Lake at 1.61 miles, rather than the two miles posted on the sign above.

So overall, I have the distance to Fourth of July Lake at 3.91 rather than the sign's posted 3.5.

Carson Pass Region Map

Flowers on the way up Lost Cabin Mine trail

Spring decorates the Lost Cabin Mine trail with a colorful array of flower bouquets.

High Sierra Wildflowers on the Lost Cabin Mine trail

Fresh Lone Mule Ear flowering along the Lost Cabin Mine trail.

Flower along Lost Cabin Mine trail, Penstemon (bridges?)

Woods Lake from Lost Cabin Mine Trail


Looking East at Woods Lake from the Lost Cabin Mine trail	The Lost Cabin Mine

Looking North at the Carson Gap

Looking back to where the Pacific Crest and Tahoe to Yosemite Trails come through the Carson Gap, from the Lost Cabin Trail. The Carson Gap is the low point in the mountains where both trails exited the Lake Tahoe Basin, and where we split off for Round Top Lake on the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail. The little stand of tress marks where the trail passes through The Gap. Meiss Meadow sits at the base of the North side of the Carson Gap.

Mine Equipment new and old above the Lost Cabin Mine

Old Truck used as power source for mine work

Old Truck once used as power source for mine work. Note the pulley mounted on the rear hub.

Sediment trap to collect gold dust? The trap is installed on the creek draining from Round Top Lake. It is modern, and in use today, as is the Lost Cabin Mine. The mine is well protected by no trespassing signs.

Old Stone Cabin past Lost Cabin Mine

The old stone cabin past the trap and old truck

Remains of the old stone cabin just past the dead truck and sediment trap.

Red Mountain Heather

Massive Red Mountain Heather mat blooming during Spring along the Lost Cabin Mine Trail.

Snow fed wet meadows draining this rocky mass


July snow Berm holding onto shadow above the huge mat of Red Mountain Heather.	Build up trail work crossing wet meadow.
Though the Round Top Massif is predominantly rock, it is drained by many fragile, though rocky, meadows and grass-lined streams. Snow berms hidden in Northeast shadows keep these meadows wet and streams gurgling late into the Summer.

Entering the Mokelumne Wilderness above Lost Cabin Mine

Entering the Mokelumne Wilderness above, but closer to the Lost Cabin Mine, than to Round Top Lake.

The last steps to Round Top Lake. Round Top and the Eastern Sister in background

The last steps to Round Top Lake on the Lost Cabin Mine Trail. Round Top and the Eastern Sister in background.

North: Carson Gap South: Round Top Lake

Southbound: Carson Gap to Woods Lake

Your trail options to Round Top Lake

This page was successful if you understand your three Southbound Options to hook up with the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail between the Carson Gap and Round Top Lake.

Heck, if you read the trail guide page to the North, you should also have some understanding of the differences between the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail between Highway 88 and Highway 4.

From Round Top Lake South there are no logical alternative trail options to the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail to Lake Alpine. Hell, it seems like there is no trail across miles of our route South to Lake Alpine. True, but there is a route.

Have a nice restful night at Round Top Lake's high elevation, as a large part of tomorrow's hike through Summit City Creek is going to require that every step you take is the product of your observations and decisions. Your brain is going to need as much oxygen as it can get!

Read a discussion on difficulties of the Summit City Creek segment of the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail, and continue South on this trail guide for a description and pictures of this fun but difficult segment of the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail.

Camping Options

North of the Carson Gap

Carson Gap Pond: exposed position, pond water, but will do in a pinch.

Meiss Meadow: (map) Nice sites about a 1/4 mile South of Meiss Cabin along creek.

Meiss Lake: Just NW of Meiss Cabin

Showers Lake: 3 miles North of Meiss Cabin. Fine sites, fine lake, and a fine view of South Lake Tahoe and its surrounding mountains. I think Round Top Lake and Showers Lake are the two finest places to camp between Highway 4 and Echo Summit on Highway 50.

South of the Carson Gap

Highway 88 and Round Top Lake Area

Car Camping

Between Highway 88 to the paved road to Woods Lake there are free car camping spots along the dirt road that are quite sutiable for backpackers. For free car camping heaven check out the roads to Blue Lakes and the dirt road out to Tamarack Lake...

Check out the Car Camping Forum, and there is more information about local car camping on the Carson Pass Trail Guide Page.

Favorite Spots to camp in the Carson Pass Management Area

Round Top Lake

4th of July Lake

Summit City Creek, below the Southwest flank of Round Top

"Boy Scout Camp," Summit City Creek

7.5 Hiking Topo Hiking Map: Carson Pass Region backpacking map

30 min Topo Hiking Topo Map: Carson Gap to Lake Alpine

Woods Lake Forum

Comments- Questions?

Miles and Elevations

Next page South: Round Top Lake

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Carson Gap

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Round Top Lake

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Contact Alex Wierbinski