Left: South on the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail.                   Right: South to Elephant Rock.

Rock Lake to Jenkins Canyon Forum: Your comments-questions-experiences

Quick Facts: Rock Lake is

4.74 miles South of Silver Valley Trailhead at Lake Alpine on Highway 4.

6.64 miles North of Jenkins Canyon trail junction.

29.9 miles North of Saint Marys Pass.

in the Carson Iceberg Wilderness

in the Stanislaus National Forest

Backpacker's Index

MAP

Rock Lake to Jenkins Canyon

Note: The Rock Lake trail junction, as well as Upper section of Spicer Meadow Reservoir are omitted from the USGS 7.5 Spicer Meadow Reservoir map. The Rock Lake junction is incorrectly located on the National Forest Carson-Iceberg Wilderness Map. I have corrected these omissions on the USGS map, and added a section of the NF map below the USGS map that depicts the current extent of Spicer Meadow Reservoir.

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It Exists

Though the Rock Lake trail junction and its accompanying trail down to Elephant Rock are not depicted on the 1979 USGS Spicer Meadow Reservoir 7.5 minute topo map, they do exist, as you can see by the trail junction pictured above. I added this junction and the trail route down to Elephant Rock on the Topo Map below.

Right Turn: A Nice Local Loop

The Southbound backpacker turns Right, Southwest, to hike down to Elephant Rock and Elephant Rock Lake. Hiking North from Elephant Rock Lake will bring you back around to Silver Valley Trailhead through the wrecked cabin trail junction on the Southwest side of Duck Lake.

Hiking South from Elephant Rock brings you to the road access at Elephant Rock Lake.

Left Turn: South on the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail

Southbound backpackers veer Left at Rock Lake, to the Southeast, in the direction of the arrow pointing towards Highland Lakes to continue South on the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail.

These two trail junctions allow you to craft nice short and medium distance backpacking loops out of the Silver Valley Trailhead that have Duck Lake, Rock Lake, and Summit Lake along your route before you turn North at Elephant Rock Lake for your return on a beautiful trail section up to Silver Valley Trailhead.

Long distance backpackers remain on the main Tahoe to Yosemite Trail route.

The Topo Map above of the Rock Lake and Summit Lake trail junctions is from the Spicer Meadow Reservoir 7.5 Topo Map available free from the USGS Map Store. I added the Rock Lake trail junction and trail to Elephant Rock that the USGS map omits.

See the bigger Topo Hiking Map on this Trail Guide.

Arriving at the Rock Lake Trail Junction

Hiking 2.78 miles South of Duck Lake, a total of 4.74 miles South from the Silver Valley Trailhead on the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail we arrive at our next trail junction and the fine campsites located at Rock Lake. This junction also gives the short-distance hiker some nice short-loop options if you are not continuing South on the TYT.

The USGS 7.5 map does not depict the trail down to Elephant Lake from Rock Lake, but it is there. The National Forest map of the Carson Iceberg Wilderness does depict this trail junction, but incorrectly locates the junction and trail on the North side of Rock Lake, rather than their correct location on the South side of the lake. (Route inspected Oct 2011.)

South to Elephant Rock Lake

You can head Southwest, turning Right for the Southbound backpacker, off of the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail to hike to Elephant Rock and Elephant Rock Lake, then loop back North to the Silver Valley Trailhead via Duck Lake. Or you can get a ride out at the road to Elephant Rock Lake. You also have the option of continuing Southwest past Elephant Rock Lake down to the trail head and road at Union Reservoir.

Our TYT Goal: Jenkins Canyon Trail Junction

Our hike continues South on the Tahoe to Yosemite trail veering Left through the Rock Lake trail junction towards our next landmark, Spicer Meadow Reservoir. Spicer Meadow Reservoir fills a big part of the Highland Creek canyon. At the head of the reservoir Highland Creek tumbles out of upper reach of its canyon to feed Spicer Meadow Reservoir.

For 3 miles South of Rock Lake the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail crosses over a series of rising low ridges and then bends Southeast until the trail overlooks Spicer Meadow Reservoir. The trail is through sandy soil in granite terrain split between burned and whole forest, offering marginal cover during the heat of Summer.

From our overlook of Spicer Meadow Reservoir the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail turns East, paralleling the North shore of Spicer Meadow Reservoir as the trail drops down to water level at the reservoir's far Northeastern shore, where Highland Creek enters. Here we will find the Bull Run and Pacific Valley trails out to Pacific Grade Summit on Highway 4. These trails allow you to craft nice medium distance hikes between the Silver Valley Trailhead and the Pacific Valley Trailhead.

The Tahoe to Yosemite Trail turns Southeast around the top of Spicer Meadow Reservoir then immediately bends Northeast up Highland Creek's canyon. Here you will find the trail junction Southwest down to Sword and Lost Lakes on the South side of Spicer Meadow Reservoir. From Sword and Lost Lakes you can exit the wilderness on the Highway 108 side of the Carson Iceberg through trailhead access at County Line trailhead, accessable off of the Clarks Fork Road.

You can find the County Line trailhead as a red dot located on this topo map just South of the upper reaches of Spicer Meadow Reservoir. Zoom in on the map and you can see the route of the dirt road up from the Clarks Fork Road off of Highway 108.

A mile and a quarter South of Spicer Meadow Reservoir up Highland Canyon past the Sword and Lost Lakes trail junction we encounter the Jenkins Canyon trail junction.

Jenkins Canyon Trail Junction Options

Here we will either turn Southeast, Right, out of Highland Canyon to hike up Jenkins Canyon to continue Southbound on the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail, or we will continue up Highland Canyon to access the PCT, or to end our trip at the road access from Highway 4 at the PG & E campgrounds at Highland Lakes.

Rather than ending our trip at Highland Lakes, we can easily hike over to the Pacific Crest Trail at Wolf Creek Pass through the beauties of Gardner Meadow. From Wolf Creek Pass we can head North to Ebbetts Pass, or my plan is to continue our long Southbound hike between Tahoe and Whitney along the Pacific Crest Trail South through the East Carson River Headwaters over to Highway 108 at Sonora Pass.

If you are hiking the long trails South from Lake Tahoe to Mount Whitney there is no reason to limit yourself to a single particular route. You can weave together sections of the Pacific Crest Trail with sections of the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail to suite your tastes.

Carson Iceberg Wilderness Trail Junctions: You have interesting options...

As you can see, Jenkins Canyon is an important junction from my perspective. Here my preferences drive me off of the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail to follow Highland Creek through the remote desolation of Highland Canyon. At the head of Highland Canyon we encounter the PG & E campgrounds along the back to back Highland Lakes. Just Northeast of Upper Highland Lake we will hike across Gardner Meadow to join the Pacific Crest Trail at Wolf Creek Pass.

Heading over to the Clarks Fork along the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail brings us into a large community of Summertime Car-Campers at the BIG car camps along Clarks Fork Road. Although we also encounter road access at Highland Lakes, the tiny car campground at Highland Lakes is much quieter than the mini-cities along Clarks Fork Road.

This connector trail up Highland Creek to the Pacific Crest Trail at Wolf Creek Pass via Gardner Meadow is also your Northern access point to the Northern ends of the trails coming up Arnot and Disaster Creeks from their Tahoe to Yosemite Trailheads along the Clarks Fork Road. (Arnot and Disaster Creek Trailheads)

The Southern ends of these trails are both accessible through trailheads off of Highway 108 by following the old Clarks Ford road along the Clarks Fork of the Stanislaus River. This ring of trailheads invites you to hike many rewarding loops through here, as well as providing interesting through-hiking options.

This Trail Guide Covers Both Options

Thus the trail guide splits here at Jenkins Canyon, with one branch following Highland Creek up to the Pacific Crest Trail, and the other following the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail up Jenkins Canyon over to the Southern side of Arnot Creek and out of the Arnot Creek Trailhead down to road access at the paved Clarks Fork Road along the Clarks Fork of the Stanislaus River.

The Tahoe to Yosemite Trail route continues South up the paved road bringing us past the Southern Trailhead of Disaster Creek, which is situated almost at the end of this old paved pioneer wagon road along the Clarks Fork of the Stanislaus River.

Just a bit South of the Disaster Creek Trailhead we finally exit the road through the Clarks Fork Trailhead and we will shortly find the Boulder Creek and Lake trail up to the Pacific Crest Trail. The Boulder Creek trail up to the PCT is the Southernmost of the four trails linking the TYT and PCT routes across the Carson Iceberg Wilderness between Lake Alpine and Saint Marys Pass. It is also the shortest.

The trails connecting the TYT and the PCT through the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness are the Highland, Arnot, Disaster, and Boulder Creek Trails, from North to South.

Why?

I prefer crafting my own unique long distance hiking routes through any particular area after exploring the basic PCT and TYT long distance routes, if possible. After hiking both the Tahoe to Yosemite and Pacific Crest Trails from Highway 4 to Highway 108 many times I decided to explore my other route options across the length of the Carson Iceberg Wilderness.

One year I headed up Highland Creek to join the PCT route. Another year I headed up to the PCT through Bear Creek. After doing both the conventional PCT and TYT routes through the Carson Iceberg, I found that my favorite route through the Carson Iceberg Wilderness incorporates sections of both the TYT and PCT.

My favorite route is hiking South on the TYT out of Lake Alpine, then crossing over to the Pacific Crest Trail through Highland Canyon or Bear Creek to exit the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness through Sonora Pass.

Why South from Lake Alpine?

Because I almost always hike South into Lake Alpine along the TYT.

I am generally hiking South into Lake Alpine on the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail when I hike South out of the Lake Tahoe Basin. This is because I far prefer hiking the TYT route South from Carson Pass on Highway 88 to Lake Alpine on Highway 4 rather than hiking the PCT route from Carson Pass to Ebbetts Pass.

TYT South into Lake Alpine

This is mainly because I prefer the isolated rough beauty of the unmaintained section along the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail through Summit City's great granite vault of a canyon, along with the sheer granite formations standing in splendid isolation a bit South of Summit City Creek's junction with the North Fork of the Mokelumne River.

Many backpackers are detered by the unmaintained trail and rough terrain, making this a quiet section of trail. I've only encountered a handful of hikers on this section of trail during the past decades.

My preference for hiking this section means that I'm hitting Highway 4 at Lake Alpine, and will likely continue South along the TYT out of Lake Alpine, unless I make the unlikely decision to hitch-hike 15 miles East up to Ebbetts Pass to continue South on the Pacific Crest Trail.

PCT South into Ebbetts Pass

The Pacific Crest Trail route between Carson Pass and Ebbetts Pass crosses into and out of numerous National Forest sections and their roads cut deep into the convoluted "boundary" of the Mokelumne Wilderness through the Eastern Section of the Mokelumne Wilderness on this section of the trail. The Wilderness is formed like Swiss Cheese between Carson and Ebbetts Pass. I counted eight times passing into and out of the Mokelumne Wilderness hiking through this 28 mile section of trail.

Hey, I like four-wheelers, and I generally don't mind running into their roads, or the four-wheeler drivers themselves when they happen to cross my trail. But if you are looking for more isolation and less road access, the TYT route between Carson Pass and Lake Alpine is far preferable to the heavily-roaded PCT between Carson and Ebbetts Passes.

And the Winner is...

You decide. Hike both routes then pick your favorite.

The TYT route South from Carson Pass to Lake Alpine is a really splendid section of the long trails through the North Sierra, though it is much more difficult than the Pacific Crest Trail route between Carson Pass and Ebbetts Pass. Following the TYT South from Carson Pass also walks you into Lake Alpine, where you can pick up your Free resupply bucket, rather than hitting Highway 4 at Ebbetts Pass, where the PCT's location crossing Highway 4 requires you hitch-hike fifteen miles West if you plan on picking up a resupply bucket at Lake Alpine.

Crossing Over

The reason I cross over to the Pacific Crest Trail South of Lake Alpine from the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail is that many of my favorite places in the Carson Iceberg Wilderness are located within the 10 mile section of the Pacific Crest Trail along the East Fork of the Carson River between Murray Canyon and Sonora Pass.

Though the Pacific Crest Trail brings a lot of hikers through this upper section of the East Carson River early every Summer, this area also has a lot to offer short and medium distance backpackers too, through local trailheads, such as the remote Corral Valley Trailhead off of Highway 395, the Sonora Pass Trailhead at the top of Highway 108, and the Arnot and Disaster Creek Trailheads on the old road along the Clarks Fork of the Stanislaus.

In Conclusion

Short

You have many short and medium distance backpacking trips you can explore hiking South out of the Silver Valley Trailhead along the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail. Hiking loops South around Duck Lake, Rock Lake, Summit Lake, and Elephant Rock Lake are all good options for short backpacking loops out of the Silver Valley Trailhead.

Medium

Medium distance loops and point to point hiking trips can be constructed by hiking Northwest up over Bull Run Peak from Spicer Meadow Reservoir to Highway 4 at the Pacific Grade Summit, following Highland Creek North up to road access at Highland Lakes, or hiking out to Highway 108 through County Line Trailhead via Lost and Sword Lakes.

Long

Extending the length of your Tahoe to Yosemite Trail hike across the length of the Carson Iceberg Wilderness can be achieved by starting South out of Silver Valley on the TYT and joining up with the PCT at Wolf Creek Pass via Highland Creek and Lakes. From Wolf Creek Pass you can continue your Southbound hike on the PCT down to Sonora Pass via the East Carson River.

Arriving at Sonora Pass along the Pacific Crest Trail you have the same options you would have had hiking South into Saint Marys Pass: hitch-hiking down to Kennedy Meadows to resupply and continue South to Yosemite along the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail or cross the road and continue South on the Pacific Crest Trail.

Big Loops

The longest hikes in the Carson Iceberg involve hiking one route South through the Carson Iceberg, then switching over to the other route for your return journey. For example, hike South down to Saint Marys Pass from Lake Alpine on the TYT, then hike the mile East up to the Northbound PCT trailhead at Sonora Pass. From Sonora Pass hike North back to Lake Alpine along the PCT route. You will have to use one of our four connector trails to cross over to the TYT as you head North to return to Lake Alpine. This trip runs a tad under 80 miles.

Whichever route you decide on for your through-hike South to Highway 108 from Highway 4, either to the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail's Saint Marys Pass Trailhead on Highway 108, or to the Sonora Pass trailhead of the Pacific Crest Trail, you can easily switch over to the other trail route to turn North or continue your long hike South from Highway 108.

The trailhead to continue South along the Tahoe to Yosemite sits 9 miles West from Saint Marys Pass, down Highway 108 at Kennedy Meadows, while the PCT route South is across Highway 108...

The question for me is not "Am I going to hike the PCT or the TYT from Lake Tahoe to Yosemite?", but "Which sections of the PCT and TYT am I going to hike on my way down to Yosemite?"

Honestly, the answer to that question depends on how I feel, and how many bucks I have in my pocket, and at this point of building the trail guide, which parts of the trails I'm lacking video of.

MAP

Mileage

The Jenkins Canyon trail junction is 6.64 miles South of Rock Lake.

The Jenkins Canyon trail junction is 5.83 miles North of the Arnot Creek Trailhead.

The Jenkins Canyon trail junction is 23.26 miles North of Saint Marys Pass.

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Rock Lake Campsites

Rock Lake Junction

The Rock Lake campsites are located atop the low knoll that rises on the South side of the lake. You can access them by hiking Left a hundred feet past the junction, then cutting right. Or you can hike Right through the junction to turn Left a hundred feet down the trail to hike up the knoll.

Along the flat top of the knoll are a series of fine campsites set among low granite boulders within thin forest. On the high central point of the knoll a large campsite with a huge fire ring is suitable for large hiking parties, Boy Scouts, or horse packers. Smaller sites are scattered up and down along the top of the knoll.

Mileage

4.74 miles South to the Rock Lake junction from Silver Valley Trailhead.

5.5 miles South from the Rock Lake junction to the Northeast end of Spicer Meadow Reservoir, where there are nice spots to take a break, water-up, or camp.

Duration: 3:08.

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These deep red clouds on the Eastern Horizon were a product of two big fires burning in the Sierra during July of 2009. The nearest fire was just West down the mountain around Arnold, the ARNOLD FIRE, and the second fire, the WILDCAT FIRE was burning fiercely a hundred miles to our South in the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne.

Signs notifying hikers of trail closures around the WILDCAT fire zone were posted at major trail junctions further South, as I entered Yosemite.

The effects of these fires were more than stunning sunsets. Hazy daytime skies affected photography, and the smell of fire filled the air, provoking thoughts of excape routes. The Arnold Fire kept me observing the Western flank of the Sierra for signs the fire was racing up mountain on the wind.

Your nose and eyes will inform you of fire long before your fellow man.

This campsite is at the top center position of the knoll South of Rock Lake.

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Rock Lake

Rock Lake is a diminishing lake set within a mostly unburned section of forest and meadow. I say a diminishing lake because lodgepole pines have already penetrated the meadows surrounding Rock Lake while a process of sedimentation simultaneously works to fill the lake.

As the lake fills with sediments the lodgepoles will continue their advance, turning meadow into forest floor, and lake into muck then meadow. Fir trees follow the lodgepoles, displacing them as the lodgepoles displaced the meadow.

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Though fire swept through Rock Lake, more of the forest survived than burned.

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South from Rock Lake on the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail

Southbound Left through Rock Lake Junction

MAP

The Tahoe to Yosemite Trail South climbs gently but steadily over a series of low granite ridges descending from Bull Run Peak to our Northeast. 1.19 miles South of Rock Lake we come to the Summit Lake trail junction.

Staying on the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail our route begins bending Southeast from the Summit Lake trail junction for another gently but steadily rising 1.96 miles until we come to the top of the overlook above the Northern side of the narrow granite river valley that once held stunning sections of Highland Creek, but now contains Spicer Meadow Reservoir.

From this high overlook of the Spicer Meadow Reservoir the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail parallels, and gradually drops down another 2.2 miles to the shoreline on the far Eastern end of the North shore of the reservoir.

The section of the trail between Rock Lake and the Northeast end, the top of Spicer Meadow Reservoir, is 5.35 miles.

Mileage

4.74 miles South to the Rock Lake junction from Silver Valley Trailhead.

1.19 miles South from Rock Lake to the Summit Lake trail junction.

5.5 miles South from the Rock Lake junction to the Northeast end of Spicer Meadow Reservoir.

10.24 miles South from Silver Valley Trailhead to the Northeast end of Spicer Meadow Reservoir.

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Sections of sandy terrain are generally hard walking, but when this image was taken in late October of 2011 there had been insufficient hiker traffic to break the sandy soil down. The surface was still hard from the previous thaw. Late Spring snow storms and a heavy Winter snow season worked together to significantly shorten the Summer 2011 hiking season.

The result is that the light backpacker traffic of 2011 has allowed the trail to "grow in" and heal up.

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Summit Lake Trail Junction

1.19 miles South of Rock Lake we encounter the Summit Lake Trail Junction branching off to the Southwest.

The Summit Trail heads Southwest towards Summit Lake, but first you will run into the same road connecting to Elephant Rock Lake that's also accessible from our last trail junction at Rock Lake.

detail topo map

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Forum: Waxy Checkerbloom?

The above links to the flowers forum of the living things forum.

Note the difference in color from the fungus encountered up in the Mokelumne Wilderness. I'm thinking that downed trees provide different nutrients to the fungi than burned trees, resulting in different colored fungi.

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The burned sections impart a unique feeling of desolation and isolation.

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Note the stability of the main rocks even though the fill rocks have been slowly swept away by runoff over the years.

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The first view you get down into the valley at the reservoir's waters is still a bit North of the second time you can see the water, which is where you are actually overlooking the reservoir and at the point where you begin the long traverse Northeast along the reservoir's North shore down to lake level.

From this first viewpoint you still have a short hike to actually overlook the reservoir and begin the long traverse Northeast down to lake level. At the end of the traverse you arrive at lake level at the far Northeastern end of the reservoir where the trail junction up to Pacific Valley and nice campsites are located.

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Images Below: Looking Northeast at the top of Spicer Meadow Reservoir and Highland Canyon. Highland Creek flows into the reservoir to the right of the barren ridge (peak 7635) located just behind the reservoir.

MAP

The Southbound Tahoe to Yosemite Trail bends around the Northeast end, the top end of Spicer Meadow Reservoir seen in the images below, between the water and the barren ridge. On the Right side of the reservior the TYT turns East to pass by the Right side of the barren ridge to enter Highland Creek's canyon.

Tahoe to Yosemite Trail hikers enter the Highland Creek canyon for a short distance before encountering Jenkins Canyon trail junction and turning Right.

Jenkins Canyon is the first canyon visible beyond and to the Right of the lower Right end of the barren ridge.

From this location we can see that the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail makes a rough "S" turn through the terrain around the head of Spicer Meadow Reservoir.

The bottom part of the "S" passes between Peak 7635 and the reservior, the middle part of the "S" bends up Highland Creek, then the top of the "S" turns out through Jenkins Canyon.

On the compass the TYT first runs South passing by the top of the Reservoir, then turns East around the Right side of the barren ridge up Highland Creek, and then shorty turns Right, or South up Jenkins Canyon.

That's a big "S," or more precisely, a backwards "Z" shaped route.

Jenkins Canyon

Jenkins Canyon can be located in the first image below on the Right side of the image by using the "V" created by the two trees on the upper Right side of the image as a gunsight.

The "V" created by these two trees lines up exactly with Jenkins Canyon.

Additionally, the pointy mountain peak on the right side of the Sierra Crestline, which is visible in the far distance, is Stanislaus Peak.

We can't see it from here, but the Pacific Crest Trail route runs North and South on the other side, the East side of the crestline holding Stanislaus Peak. We are looking at, and gradually approaching the West Flank of the Sierra Crestline in the far distance.

We now begin a long traverse down to water level by paralleling the shoreline of the reservoir to the left. We will finally drop down to lake level on the far Northeast side of the reservoir.

Then we will bend our "S" around the top of the Reservior.

The position above and below is from a vantage point where we can make out the upcoming route.

Blue waters of upper Spicer Meadow Reservoir. Note the almost exact same spot images taken two years apart...

The bottom of the "gunsight V" of the trees in this image is pointing a bit low, at the canyon preceeding Jenkins Canyon. You can differeniate these canyons by their differing shades of green in the image above.

You should have no trouble navigating this section. All trail junctions and the trail are well marked and clear.

Downs go Up and Ups go Down

You think you are going "down-mountain?" Ha! Nothing is what it seems.

As you head down towards Lake level you will have to follow the trail as it climbs up and around steep and impassable areas along the shoreline below.

Nice Campsites along North side of Reservoir

As the trail brings you down approaching water level towards the head of the reservoir, but before the trail turns Southwest around the head of the reservoir, you will notice fine flats off to your Right under rich forest cover in near proximity to the reservoir while you are still hiking along the North Shore.

As the trail is still situated high up above the reservoir up on the side of the canyon even as you approach the top end of the reservoir, these flats are a couple of hundred yards to the Right of the Southbound backpacker, South below the trail.

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Duration: 11:26.

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Approaching the far Northeast end of Spicer Meadow Reservoir we pass a series of Spring Thaw feeder creeks draining into Spicer.

Most of these creeks dry out quickly after the thaw, but two of them maintain their flows deep into Summer, and the second one appears to flow year-round.

I would not depend on finding water while hiking along the North side of Spicer during late Fall, yet this should not be a problem.

The campsites on the far Northeast side of Spicer offer access to the reservoir to water-up, though I prefer to water-up from Highland Creek.

Great water in Highland Creek, and it sounds as good as it tastes.

Gentle Summer flow.

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A trail route modification was also executed along the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail route between the location of the old Bull Run trail junction (above) and the new Pacific Valley trail junction (below).

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The Old Trail Junction Configuration

Location: Southbound Tahoe to Yosemite Trail approaching and around the Northeast shore of Spicer Meadow Reservoir

Previous experience and the USGS and Forest Service topo maps both depict two trails accessing the far Northeast shore of Spicer Meadow Reservoir near the location where our Southbound traverse down to the water level reaches its closest point to the reservoir. I have seen these two trail junctions on many trips and photographed them on a couple of occasions.

(Note that the USGS maps do not depict the upper section of Spicer Meadow Reservoir itself. I have added the segment of the Forest Service map of the Carson Iceberg Wilderness that does depict Spicer below the first map linked to above. Scroll down below the top USGS map to see the Forest Service topo map depicting Spicer Meadow Reservoir.

Thus I always expect to pass by two trail junctions before reaching the far end of Spicer Meadow Reservoir. Not anymore. Now there is one trail junction at the far end of Spicer, the Pacific Valley trail junction.

The first trail junction was traditionally encountered while hiking Southbound along the North shore of Spicer Meadow Reservoir on the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail as the trail traverses down close towards water level. This was the junction marked Bull Run Creek. This trail ran North up Bull Run Creek for a short distance to turn out of the creek to meet the trail coming up from our second trail junction, the upcoming Pacific Valley Trail trail junction, below the Southwest side of Bull Run Peak.

There was no trace remaining of the first trail junction, the Bull Run Creek junction along the TYT (pictured below as it was on July 23rd of 2009), at its former location as marked on all the maps when I hiked through on October 23rd of 2011.

I was perplexed when I did not encounter the junction where I expected it to be, and even more so when I reached the Northeast end of Spicer Meadow Reservoir without passing the second of the trail junctions, the Pacific Valley Trail junction, as I was accustomed.

Above: The missing Bull Run Creek trail junction.

Our Second trail junction, the Pacific Valley Trail junction was located just a short distance South of the Bull Creek junction along the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail.

Though both trails end up at the same place, Pacific Valley Road off of Highway 4, the second trail junction, the Pacific Valley Trail took an easier, but longer way up the Southeast flank of Bull Run Peak to meet with the first trail, the Bull Run Creek Trail, just under the Southwest side of Bull Run Peak's summit.

Passing Northwest through the gap between Bull Run and Henry Peaks shortly brings you down to the Pacific Valley Creek and Road to Highway 4.

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Trail Note: Bull Run Peak

Bull Run Peak has been the dominant feature of our hike South from Rock Lake to the Northeast end of Spicer Meadow Reservoir. Since hiking South from Rock Lake our route has been designed to define the easiest and most stable path over and around the ridge-arms and rock formations descending from Bull Run Peak's 9594 foot summit on our hike to Spicer Meadow Reservoir, which drains the South and Southeast sides of Bull Run Peak.

You will find Bull Run Peak located at the far Northeast corner of our Spicer Meadow Reservoir USGS Topo Hiking Map. Note how the Southeastern arc of the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail bends its route to find the easiest way through and around the ridges running down from Bull Run Peak.

The North End of the Bull Run Creek & Pacific Valley Trails: Highway 4

From the point just under the Southeast side of Bull Run Peak where the Northbound Bull Run Creek and Pacific Valley trail routes intersect coming up from the TYT their now unified route continues Northwest through the high gap between Bull Run and Henry Peaks, dropping down into the headwaters bowl of Pacific Valley Creek at the head of Pacific Valley on the North side of the gap.

From this gap between mountain peaks the trail descends in a Northwest direction following Pacific Valley Creek to Pacific Valley Road. Pacific Valley Road is situated just a bit East of Pacific Grade Summit on Highway 4. Pacific Grade Summit is a few miles West of Ebbetts Pass on Highway 4.

Check the location of the Bull Run Peak/Pacific Valley trailhead on Pacific Valley Road as well as the other Northern access points off of Highway 4 to the Tahoe to Yosemite and Pacific Crest Trails, and the many other Carson Iceberg Wilderness trailheads accessible from Highway 4 on my Highway 4 Roadmap.

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The New Trail Junction Configuration

During my last trip South past Spicer Meadow Reservoir on the Tahoe to Yosemite route in late October of 2011 this old two-trail junction configuration with the Bull Creek and the Pacific Valley trails was significantly changed.

The Bull Run Creek Trail junction has been removed. The second junction, the Pacific Valley Trail junction has be slightly relocated.

My observations indicate that these two trail junctions along the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail were consolidated into one trail junction, and this one junction was moved a few hundred yards South down the trail from the previous location of the Pacific Valley Trail junction to a more stable location at the very top of Spicer Meadow Reservoir, not far at all from where Highland Creek feeds the lake.

Both of the previous trail junctions with the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail came down the steep slope rising to the North of the trail along the North shore of Spicer Meadow Reservoir.

Rather than maintaining these two parallel routes up this unstable slope I suspect that the Stanislaus Trail Crew consolidated these two trail junctions and their previous two trail routes up-mountain into one route, then created a new trail junction up the mountain where the Pacific Valley and Bull Run Creek routes now diverge.

In addition, it appears that the last bit of the Tahoe to Yosemite route on the North side of the new Pacific Valley trail junction location has also been rerouted.

Below: The new Pacific Valley Trail junction on the far Northeast side of Spicer Meadow Reservoir. If I am correct about this route and junction redesign, you will encounter a new Bull Creek Trail junction a short ways North up the mountain from this new Pacific Valley trail junction.

Above: The lone remaining trail junction the the head of Spicer Meadow Reservoir.

If my observation and analysis of the Bull Run Creek trail junction and route consolidation are correct, this means that though these two trails now share one junction with the TYT, these trails now diverge from each other further up the mountain.

I figure that they now share one lower trail section up the mountain from Spicer, meaning that their different routes up the mountain must now diverge at a new trail junction that logic dictates was created and must be located less than a mile up the mountain from where the two old trail junctions intersected with the TYT along the North side of the reservoir.

I figure that the Trail Workers joined these two trails together at the point where their old routes ran close to each other, paralleling each other down to their respective junctions with the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail.

I "dotted" in the logical location for this new trail junction on the USGS Topo Map.

The only other option is that the Bull Run Creek Trail was abandoned to unmaintained status. If so, it means even more fun. But I doubt it.

Long Distance Backpackers

The upshot of all this for Southbound backpackers on the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail is that you will not encounter two trail junctions when or where you expect and as defined by the current USGS and the Forest Service topo maps. As you drop down to the water level along the far Northeastern end of Spicer Meadow Reservoir you will bend around the head of the lake before you encounter the new Pacific Valley trail junction.

As you can see by my video of hiking into this new junction configuration, I was a bit perplexed. And, when I hiked up to the new sign, it informed me that I did not walk in on the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail South from Lake Alpine, but that I had walked in on the trail from Pacific Valley. Hummm. I am sure I started South out of Lake Alpine, NOT Pacific Valley...

That's how I figured out that the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail route just North of the new Pacific Valley Junction had been modified: I had apparently stayed on the old TYT route, which walked me into the top of Spicer along a short bit of the new Pacific Valley route...

And I figured it out...

The last time I hiked through here (Oct 23, 2011) I was perplexed. No Bull Creek Trail junction, then no second trail junction, then a lone new trail junction at the top of Spicer Meadow Reservoir.

Before I knew it I was walking into the new trail junction at the top of Spicer Meadow Reservoir. And to top it all off, I walked into this new junction along a section of old TYT trail route that is no longer used. When I walked up to the sign post it pointed the way back to Lake Alpine on a different route than I had walked in from Lake Alpine. Not possible.

Apparently trail crew did not only consolidate the two Bull Run/Pacific Valley trail junctions into one trail junction here at the top of Spicer Meadow Reservoir, but they also rerouted a small section of the Southbound Tahoe to Yosemite Trail route just North of this new Pacific Valley trail junction.

Walking up to the new trail junction I noted the directions on the post, and that the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail heading North, back towards Lake Alpine along the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail was not the way I had hiked in. Meaning that I had stayed on the old route, and plain missed the small bit of new trail that has been laid in at the head of Spicer Meadow Reservoir. Whoops.

This should not present you with any route finding problems as long as you don't start hiking up the mountain towards Bull Run Peak... just keep heading towards the top of the reservoir and you will arrive at the new Pacific Valley trail junction and the campsites at the top of the reservoir.

In Conclusion-&-More Information Coming

I will call the Trails people at the Stanislaus National Forest and see if I can get the official word on these changes.

The new Pacific Valley trail junction is plainly marked with a new trail post and will present no problems to finding your desired route from the top of Spicer Meadow Reservoir to Highway 4 at Pacific Grade Summit or continuing South on the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail.

The only problem I had with this new configuration was it was not what I had expected to encounter based on my previous experiences hiking through here, nor do the USGS or National Forest Service maps reflect this new configuration. Nor will they, for quite some time, if the past is any indication of the future.

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Campsites on the Northeast End of Spicer Meadow Reservoir

The Northeast end of Spicer Meadow Reservoir and South up Highland Creek

The far Northeast end of Spicer Meadow Reservoir has lots of fine campsites on a big flat between the TYT and the reservoir. When you arrive at the new Pacific Valley trail junction, look towards Spicer Meadow Reservoir.

You will see many faint trails made by generations of backpackers heading towards their well established campsites along the reservoir. You also have a couple of sites a few steps to your East near Highland Creek. Highland Creek runs into the reservoir here.

You will likely hear Highland Creek before you see it. There are also some awesome campsites just a short way up Highland Canyon South of the Reservoir along the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail.

These Highland Creek campsites are excellent because they are situated within and along the supreme sculptural beauty that Highland Creek has carved into the granite it flows through.

The real tragedy of filling up the granite canyon of Highland Creek with Spicer Meadow Reservoir is the loss of such pristine granite terrain in the shadow of the volcanic monolith of The Dardanelles.

Such dramatic contrasts compose exceptional locations.

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A short ways South of the Pacific Valley Trail junction above we encounter a trail sign post without a trail junction. This sign post is situated just before our entry into Highland Canyon, and is located here mostly to inform Northbound backpackers coming out of Highland Canyon.

This post holds two signs, one pointing the way North towards the location of Spicer Meadow Reservoir itself, and around the North side of the reservoir North to Lake Alpine. The sign pointing South (second picture below) directs us South towards Highland Lakes via Highland Canyon past the Sword and Lost Lakes junction located just a bit further South on the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail up Highland Creek. Heading South up Highland Canyon offers us interesting hiking options.

Below: Northbound hikers reach Spicer Meadow and look North to Lake Alpine.

Camping at Sword and Lost Lakes

The bottom sign on this post (below the map below) is pointing the way South down the Tahoe to Yosemite trail towards the upcoming Sword and Lost Lakes trail junction. The Sword and Lost Lakes trail runs Southwest off of our Tahoe to Yosemite Trail route to roughly parallel the South shore of Spicer Meadow Reservoir to Sword and Lost Lakes.

Turning Right at the Sword and Lost Lakes junction would circle us around to the South side of the Reservoir, where we can continue South past this pair of lakes to the rather remote road access up to the County Line Trailhead, coming up from Highway 108.

The Quickest Way In to Sword and Lost Lakes: From the South

Take the Clarks Fork Road off of Highway 108 to quickly turn Left towards the French Creek Campground, but continue past the campground along Road 6N06 to the parking and trailhead at County Line Trailhead.

A 2.27 mile trail around the Western edge of the great Dardanelles volcanic formation links the trailhead at County Line with Sword and Lost Lakes. From Sword and Lost Lakes you can easily hike Northwest up to the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail at the top of Spicer Meadow Reservoir.

Above: Heading North up to Sword and Lost Lakes from trailhead off of Highway 108. Full Credit to The USGS for their fine Topo Maps, in this case the Spicer Meadow Reservoir map. See the Carson Iceberg Wilderness Topo Map to put this map section into context, and the google road map on the Kennedy Meadows Pack Station page will show you how to find Forest Road 6N06 from Highway 108. Scroll the map a bit West to find the Clarks Fork Road.

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Continuing South on the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail past the Sword and Lost Lakes trail junction

We will continue our long hike South up Highland Creek past the Sword and Lost Lakes junction to the Jenkins Canyon trail junction where the TYT turns South out of Highland Creek.

At Jenkins Canyon we also have the option of continuing up Highland Creek to Highland Lakes and road access there, as well as continuing past Highland Lakes to meet up with the Pacific Crest Trail at Wolf Creek Pass.

Approaching the South Side of the Carson Iceberg Wilderness on the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail: Highway 108

Note that the Sword and Lost Lakes trail down the South shore of Spicer Meadow Reservoir continues South past the Sword and Lost Lakes and on to trailhead and road access from Highway 108.

Our hike South along the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail route has now brought us closer to road access through trailheads off of Highway 108, the Sonora Pass Road, than through trailheads off of Highway 4 to our North.

Crossing over Jenkins Canyon into Woods Gulch will quickly bring us down to Arnot Creek and through its trailhead onto the old paved Clarks Fork Road off of Highway 108. From the Arnot Trailhead we will now walk up the old paved Clarks Fork Road past the Disaster Creek Trailhead to reenter trail through the Clarks Fork Trailhead at the end of the paved road.

The Clarks Fork Paved Road and its campgrounds are very busy during Summertime. This means that you should be able to get a ride out of here if you have to bail out... and the Clarks Fork Road connects with Highway 108 just a few miles West of Kennedy Meadows Pack Station.

Our Southbound direction along the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail requires we follow the top sign on the trail sign above, and continue South, ignoring the Sword and Lost Lake trail junction to continue up Highland Creek to the Jenkins Canyon trail junction.

At the Jenkins Canyon junction we have a choice. We will either follow the Highland Creek Trail up to Highland Lakes or follow the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail through Jenkins Canyon.

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Sword and Lost Lakes Trail Junction

Following the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail a short ways South up Highland Creek past the signpost (above) at Spicer Meadow Reservoir quickly brings you to the actual Sword and Lost Lakes trail junction, pictured below.

The top sign on this post is facing South, directing Northbound backpackers on their way to Sword and Lost Lakes to hike to their Left, to the Southwest. The top sign also points the way North towards Spicer Meadow Reservoir and on to Lake Alpine.

Northbound Loops

Note the possibilities for Northbound loops out of the Arnot Creek Trailhead from Clarks Fork Road to Spicer Meadow Reservoir via Jenkins Canyon. From Spicer you can head South to visit Sword and Lost Lakes on you way to end you "almost" loop route at County Line Trailhead, also off of the Clarks Ford Road...

The lower sign on this post faces North, directing Southbound backpackers to continue our Southbound hike up Highland Canyon towards the Jenkins Canyon trail junction where the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail turns South up Jenkins Canyon.

The Highland Creek Trail continues Northeast past the Jenkins Canyon trail junction up to Highland Lakes.

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To the Left of our Southbound Tahoe to Yosemite Trail route is this exposed peak, to our Right is Highland Creek.

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Duration: 3:39.

MAP

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The granite terrain along Highland Creek is super-relaxing. I've seen parties of Kids camping here who were really enjoying it as a swimming hole, though the water is frkn cold!

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This old blaze echoes the feeling of impending isolation-deepening isolation- that I experience each time I enter Highland Creek.

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This section of Highland Creek has special beauty.

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Southbound hikers on the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail make a Right here, to depart Highland Canyon up Jenkins Canyon.

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Backpacking Trail Guide

North TYT

Lake Alpine to Rock Lake

North to the PCT

Jenkins Canyon to Highland Lakes and/or the Pacific Crest Trail

Backpacking Trail Guide

South TYT

Jenkins Canyon to Boulder Creek