Backpacking The Lake Tahoe to Yosemite Trail; July 2009

The Lake Tahoe to Yosemite Trail

The Meeks Bay trail head is the start point for the classic 181 mile Lake Tahoe to Yosemite backpacking trail route described in Thomas Winnett's 1970 book, The Tahoe-Yosemite Trail. Tuolumne Meadows is the end point.

This web site will update backpackers on the recent status of the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail, and provide a complete trail guide for this route. Though describing a great route through the Sierras, the real gift of this book is that it continues to stimulate backpackers to explore the many alternative routes to the main Pacific Crest Trail route that bisects the Sierras.

The Lake Tahoe to Yosemite Trail may be more challenging today than when it was written in 1970. The reason is that the Tahoe-Yosemite trail looks like it has not been maintained between its junction with Summit City Creek to Camp Irene on the Mokleumne River since 1970. Though some backpackers may find this troubling, others find these obstacles challenging, and find the isolation of unmaintained trail sections most rewarding.

This trail guide will cover the complete Tahoe to Yosemite Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail between Lake Tahoe and Mount Whitney, and the John Muir Trail and its variations.

On this date, Feb 13, 2010, this Tahoe to Whitney trail guide is complete from Lake Tahoe to Lake Alpine, covering both the Tahoe to Yosemite and Pacific Crest Trail routes.

Tahoe to Yosemite Trail

Status Report

July 2009

As of my passage through the Tahoe to Yosemite trail section between Round Top Lake and Lake Alpine in July of 2009, there is only one section of the Lake Tahoe to Yosemite that is problamatic.

This section begins when you drop down from 4th of July Lake into the great granite valley that bounds Summit City Creek. When you reach the bottom of the valley below 4th of July Lake you encounter  a trail junction and turn right. From this point to Camp Irene the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail is not maintained.

Important Note: Although much of the old trail bed is discernable, or findable for experienced backpackers of intermediate to expert skill levels between 4th of July Lake and Lake Alpine, the section following the 2nd ford of Summit City Creek has a section that is very difficult in terms of both navigation and physical obstacles.

Have you recent info on The Tahoe Yosemite Trail? Have you ever backpacked this route? Post your experiences on TahoetoWhitney.Org, the Backpacker's Forum.

Summit City Creek to Camp Irene

The Tahoe to Yosemite trail section from the Summit City Creek trail junction (below 4th of July Lake) to Telephone Gultch was unmaintained, with fallen trees and moderate obstacles, but the remnants of the trail bed can be discerned.

From Telephone Gulch down to where the open rock section begins the trail bed gets much fainter, and was lost at least three times in dense forests of ferns, big sections of downed trees, and washouts that completely obscured the trail bed and block your route. Very difficult.

From the open rock section to the upper ford of Summit City Creek the rock section is well ducked. Beauitiful.

From the upper ford there was weak ducking up to the top of the rising bluffs, which I fixed.

These ducks may or may not survive the snows each Winter. Ducks get knocked down by heavy Winter snow. The route down to the lower ford tracks through a maze of manzanita. Moderate to difficult. Don't freak out, just follow the best animal/human paths through the manzanita. They all roughly follow the edge of the gorge down to the second ford. Don't follow the animal tracks too far to your left.

Past the second, lower ford of Summit City Creek a well ducked trail section brings you up and through a rocky section to a forest entry, just past a black pond, where the trail dissappears for about the next 3 miles of difficult navigation.

Very difficult. Know how to navigate within a deep forest surrounded by rock bowls without trails, ducks, or blazes. A map and a compass are very helpful.

I passed through this section last year without a map, but I'm an idiot sometimes. But I've crossed this terrain at least ten times.

The trail into this section disappears at a black pond. The route takes you to your left, where you drop down through a strange dark quiet forest past large rock outcroppings on your left, until you reach a small drainage that leads you into a forest filled rock bowl along the North Fork of the Molkelumne River. This is a remote location. Along the river there are fine white sand beaches that see few visitors.

Passing through this forest filled bowl to the Soutwest forces you to locate the well-ducked low point in the rock wall that hems in this forested bowl. The route exits this bowl at its Southwest corner where a small creek cuts through on its way to feed the N. Mokelumne River.

Once you find your way to this channel into the rock on the other side of this dense unblazed forest bowl, you will find and follow a fairly well ducked section of The Tahoe to Yosemite trail to Serene Camp Irene (yep, that was me who fixed the ducks, 2009) on the Mokelumne River.

After fording the Mokelumne River at Camp Irene you will find a confusing section. Scout about to your right, downriver, and you will find the trail along the side of the river. The trail roughly parallels the river for about a quarter of a mile before it takes a twisting path up mountain to begin our long set of climbs and traverses working our way over to the top of Mount Reba.

Once you re-find the Southbound trail out of Camp Irene, there is readable trail to the top of Mount Reba, though the manzinita is very dense in sections. Moderate difficulty, though the 5.24 mile climb up Reba is moderate/+ in difficulty.

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The sections preceeding and folloing this difficult unmaintained section between Summit City Creek and Camp Irene on the Molkelumne River are all reasonably maintained trails in good shape for a well maintained backpacker in good shape. I have focused on the hardest part of the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail here, so you know what you are getting into on this section of the trail. I am covering the rest of the TYT through the trail guide.

I have been linking this page up to the maps, milesges, and Guide pages of the section between Summit City Creek and Camp Irene as I get them finished.

For more information on the Tahoe to Yosemite Route see the Maps, Mileages, and Trail Guide indexes on the Tahoe to Whitney Trail Guide.

END OF STATUS REPORT

I'm planning a mid-Summer of 2012 Tahoe to Whitney backpacking trip which will pass through this part of the TYT. Stay Tuned!

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The Tahoe to Yosemite Trail

Some basic facts

This "interesting" unmaintained section of The Tahoe to Yosemite trail should not disqualify Meeks Bay as the start point for your backpacking trip to Mount Whitney, independent of if you swing through the unmaintained section of the Tahoe-Yosemite Trail between Round Top and Lake Alpine, or go around it via the Pacific Crest Trail for the section between Highway 88 and Highway 4.

The point is to craft your own unique route across the Northern Sierras to Yosemite that suits you, your fitness, your gear, and your experience. Read on, then drop me an email, and I'll consult.

Feel free to drop me an email on me, or address any issues that concern you on TahoetoWhitney.Org, the backpacker's forum. The guide and forum are both here to share information, experience, the pleasure of hiking the High Sierrs by providing a place to share information and experience about this route, as well as the trails between Tahoe and Whitney.

Meeks Bay

There are two distinct advantages to starting your backpacking trip at Meeks Bay that are striking. First, it offers a gently rising entry into High Sierra backpacking through a short, gentle rise in elevation to the first set of lakes, and the subsequent passes are a moderate introduction and transition to the continuous difficult high altitude backpacking you will be experiencing on your way South to Yosemite.

This gentle entry reduces the shock put on your body from a heavy backpack, from unaccoustomed altitude, and from hiking uphill for the first few days of your trip. Plus, you have been jogging and working out to get ready for this trip.

The Second Advantage to Meeks Bay is that it starts your trip in the Desolation Wilderness, a most beauitiful place, as you will see on the next few pages, despite its heavy over use.

The Different Characters of the Tahoe to Yosemite and Pacific Crest Trails

When the TYT and PCT exit the Tahoe Basin together, about 44 miles South of Meeks Bay, they only then reveal their differing characters. The PCT swings onto the Eastern Flank of the Sierra and follows the Eastern flank of the Sierra along the Sierra crestline all the way down to Yosemite.

The TYT, on the other hand, swings West after exiting the Tahoe Basin and stays rather low on the Western Flank of the Sierra pretty much all the way down to Yosemite. The TYT actually reaches the Sierra Crest at Saint Marys Pass and in the High Emigrant Basin after passing South of the Carson Gap.

The Rough Section

I far prefer the rough section of trail along the TYT route from Carson Pass to Lake Alpine than the PCT route between Carson Pass to Ebbetts Pass. South of Lake Alpine I like to hike an alternative route off of the TYT to the PCT down to Sonora Pass.

From Sonora Pass on Highway 108 to Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite both routes are exceptional and roughly equal in beauty. Across the Emigrant Wilderness between Highway 108 and the Yosemite National Park boundary we have potential alternative routes that draw on both trails across the Emigrant Wilderness.

The Real Deal

Both the Tahoe to Yosemite and the Pacific Crest Trail routes between Lake Tahoe to Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite are each worth hiking on its own merits.

Ok, let's get started...

Guide: Meeks Bay Trail Head

Map: Meeks to Genevieve                Map: Genevieve to Susie Lake

Miles and Elevations

more on Meeks Bay

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