(If you lose the trail here, do not worry, it is easy to find again once you are on the open slope.). The Badger Pass Road is typically open from mid-December through March, conditions permitting. A trail to Medano Lake and the summit of Mount Herard is located off Medano Pass Road. 0000003222 00000 n (509) 996-4000, Naches Ranger District Official websites use .gov A .gov 19.8 mi Help repair this trail at an upcoming work party. Late March to Mid April--- Icicle Ridge, Penstock, Leavenworth town trails (Blackbird Island, Ski Hill loop trails, Fish Hatchery trails, Wenatchee Foothill trails). Check the YNP website for confirmation on that though. App-based driving directions aren't always accurate and data connections may be unreliable as you drive to the trailhead. At 4.35 miles, youll reach a plank bridge which crosses Snow Creek. Granite & Bertha May Lakes. This gate is open from May 1st through November 1st. As you head north out of the forest up into the bare granite landscape, you will get some great teaser views of Polly Dome above Tenaya Lake to the east. The road to Glacier Point offered easier cross-county skiing without avalanche hazard. I dont believe the cabin would have survived that winter without a new roof. See Photos of Bridge. Ruta Donner Summit Canyon snowshoe de Raquetas de Nieve en Weeks Tract, California (United States). After the gulley crossing, the trail switchbacks tightly up the hillside a bit more before leveling off once again and traversing parallel to the creek below. Contact the Park at (209) 372-0200. Continue following the trail up into the bowl until you reach the base of the summit block which is covered in broken slabs of rock. No access to French Creek Trail #1595 or beyond bridge on Icicle Creek Trail. Depending on the season, the spillway may be dry or may be underwater. In the early season, this gulley may still be filled with snow. Most visitors took good care of the cabin, made some minor repairs, re-stocked the wood supply, and signed the logbook. There are two trails that leave from Tenaya Lake, one that leads to the north and one to the south. I also observed that bears had been trying to get into the food pantry from outside. On a Saturday before a holiday we could not find parking at the Boreal/castle peak exit including the snow park or the Billy Mack exit or the official Donner Summit Canyon parking but . Curabitur quis varius libero. https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/snow-lakes, https://www.wta.org/site_images/hikes/snow-lakes_ravi.jpg/@@download/image/snow lakes_ravi.jpg. Our favorite campsite was about eight miles up the Lyell Fork. Lasting Adventures: May Lake to Snow Creek - 3 day backpacking trip - See 1,059 traveler reviews, 537 candid photos, and great deals for Yosemite National Park, CA, at Tripadvisor. CLOSED to wheeled travel and pack and saddle stock. Seattle, WA 98104. Winter conditions Road #7601 accessing Stuart / Colchuck trailhead is CLOSED, Road #7601 accessing Stuart / Colchuck trailhead is CLOSED. Getting to the trailhead is easy if you use the Sequoia Shuttle, which goes from Visalia to Sequoia National Park ($20 round-trip). Mirror Lake to Snow Creek. 135' Down Discover this 33.5-mile loop trail near Yosemite Valley, California. No trail closures are in effect, we just ask recreationists to be aware of their surroundings and pay attention to any increase in smoke volume in that vicinity which might indicate increased fire activity. Hiking the trail up to May Lake is very straightforward and easy to follow. Half Dome eligible. Gate will reopen Spring of each yearonce the road melts out from winter snowpack. Moderately strenuous hike to May Lake, strenuous hike to summit of Mount Hoffmann, May Lake Trailhead (at the end of the Snow Creek access road off of Tioga Road), 1-3 hours total for hike to May Lake, 4-7 hours total for hike to summit of Mount Hoffmann. 470-ft ascent to May Lake, another 1530-ft ascent to summit of Mount Hoffmann. The road is closed to vehicles every winter to protect the roadbed from damage and prevent hazardous travel on the steep exposed snow covered road. A few years later, license plates were put high up in the trees to safely mark the way to the cabins. The remaining members of our family are appreciative of the many efforts to save Snow Creek Cabin and are very grateful that the historical value of the cabin is preserved, and the physical structure is sound. Hikers may apply for a permit starting March 1st, and it can take up to two weeks to hear back from the wilderness permit office after sending your application. Whitney. Over the far shore, smooth slabs of granite curve gracefully towards the waters edge while McClellan Peak towers above. It being Yosemite, youll have no problem finding campsites in the backcountry. The Mt. May Lake Trailhead (at the end of the Snow Creek access road off of Tioga Road) Time Required: 1-3 hours total for hike to May Lake, 4-7 hours total for hike to summit of Mount Hoffmann: Length: 2.6 miles total to May Lake and back, 7 miles total to summit of Mount Hoffmann and back. It gains about 800 vertical feet in the first mile, after which it starts to level off. Distance: 7.2 miles (11.6 km) round trip from Yosemite Valley; 8.2 miles (13.2 km) round trip from Porcupine Creek (Tioga Road); 10.0 miles (16 km) round trip from Snow Creek trailhead (Tioga Road) Tioga Road Trailhead Elevations: 8,100 feet (2,470 meters) at Porcupine Creek, 8,500 feet (2,590 meters) at . We loaded our packs with shingles, roofing felt, nails, and tools. Soon enough you will be standing by the tranquil shores of May Lake near the May Lake High Sierra Camp. Snow Creek Trail in winter 2013. The trail moves upwards, slowly at first . (The quota refers to number of people, not number of permits.). She attended Stanford and joined the Mountain Club and was introduced to rock climbing. (509) 548-2550, https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/okawen/alerts-notices/?cid=stelprdb5414524, Photo and Info about safe route up Aasgard Pass, Closed due to Irving Peak and White River fires. 705 2nd Ave, Suite 300 Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. These do not lead to maintained or signed trails; travel on these routes requires expertise in cross-country navigation by map and compass (even if you have a GPS). From the May Lake trailhead the Snow Creek Canyon Trail wanders gently downhill, roughly paralleling the trailhead access road. There were some well beaten trails on the valley floor but we mostly made our own because the snow was an easy consistency. Located a few miles north of Tioga Road near Olmstead Point, May Lake is one of the more popular high-country lakes to visit in Yosemite and it is also the site of one of the famous High Sierra Camps. Project Manager, Rod Kennec (far right), with other Park staff and interns at Snow Creek Cabin. This could take you a few places. Hiker Headlines: Snow-Free Hikes, Wildfire Help, Changes to LWCF, Mask Up, Trail Closure. NOT OKAY! Visitors can ski or snowshoe to the cabin during the winter months when there is enough snow. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts, This video goes through the permit process. Youre now just one mile and 700 vertical feet from the first lake, Nada Lake (and coincidentally, also from the first campsites in the Snow Zone and the first backcountry toilet). At 6.5 miles, the trail levels off, and after a short section of woods youll emerge on the shore of Upper Snow Lake. On a Saturday before a holiday we could not find parking at the Boreal/castle peak exit including the snow park or the Billy Mack exit or the official Donner Summit Canyon parking but there was plowed off road . Trail. WTA Pro Tip #1: The hardest part of the Snow Lakes Trail is not the climb in, but the journey out. reading. Not eligible to exit Yosemite on the John Muir Trail. Crews hiked in to the fire on August 21 and reported that the fire was slowly spreading outward. Has not been maintained in years, almost nonexistent trail. There are lots of excellent spots tucked in the trees around Lower Snow Lake a sign points off the main trail just before the spillway. There are more campsites (and toilets) in the next half mile along the shore of Nada Lake. After several days, they were able to make their way back to the Valley. 24.9 km We backpacked all those supplies to the cabin during several trips. The large sections of unpublished manuscripts are . 2,003' Down By the end of 1979 the cabin was 50 years old and became a historical site, along with others in the park. Press J to jump to the feed. The first campsite is to the right of the trail, just across from the day use area. However, the scarred landscape below argues for relying on a camp stove even here. Plans for the cabin were drawn by Eldridge T. Spencer with assistance from Dr. Donald Tresidder, who wanted the cabin to be similar to Swiss mountain huts with the hope that in a few years the High Sierra Camps would also be a series of winter huts like those in the Alps. . On July 18, 2014, the Snow Creek Cabin was listed in the National Register of Historic Places. On a Saturday before a holiday we could not find parking at the Boreal/castle peak exit including the snow park or the Billy Mack exit or the official Donner Summit Canyon parking but there was plowed off road parking just . The road is closed to vehicles every winter to protect the roadbed from damage and prevent hazardous travel on the steep exposed snow covered road. 2,547' Up 0000007487 00000 n After the first time, you should be good. Reliable water can be found in Ophir Creek, off the TRT at Marlette Lake, Spooner Lake, and along the Marlette Lake Outlet. Additionally, overnight parking is not allowed on the Tioga and Glacier Point Roads beginning October 15; this includes parking lots accessible from these roads. Gate will reopen Spring of each yearonce the road melts out from winter snowpack. Sunscreen, bug spray, and hydration are . On several days of the week during this time of the year, especially the weekends, parking can extend on both sides of this one-lane road from Stuart Lake to Eightmile Lake trailhead and beyond. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock <<3B4777C066169C42B46BF2584D9C8C96>]>> A few days later a very big snowstorm arrived and it snowed so much they were stranded in the cabin for several days. The Peyto Lake area, Highway 93 and Jasper National Park were placed under snowfall warnings by Environment and Climate Change Canada for the weekend. Wenatchee, WA 98801 (Note: The road can get a little rough, but it is usually accessible by 2WD vehicles.). The dome is a wonderful viewing point to see the moon rise over Clouds Rest and Half Dome. Happy Isles to Past LYV (Donohue Pass Eligible), Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley (LYV), Vault (Drinking water available in summer). From the junction of Icicle Creek Road and US 2, drive south on Icicle Creek Road 4.2 miles to the Snow Lakes Trailhead parking lot. The following trailheads allow (and require) you to stay at the Little Yosemite Valley Campground on the first night of your trip: If you have a permit for one of these two trailheads, you must spend your first night at Little Yosemite Valley Campground (no additional reservation or permit required). Gate will reopen Spring of each yearonce theroad melts out from winter snowpack. Donner Summit Canyon snowshoe Snowshoe trail in Weeks Tract, California (United States). You soon enter forest and skirt the edges of the creek before the climbing begins in earnest again. This is 2.4 miles long to Trailhead #1. Reservations available May 28October 14, 2022; first-come, first-served at other times. 0000003334 00000 n After further investigation the proposed Mount Hoffmann Ski area turned out not to be feasible, and the development plans were abandoned. The tips of the colored arrows show you where that point is on the trail. WTA.ORG,NWHIKERS.NET, AllTrails.com andWenatcheeOutdoors.org are also excellent sources for trail conditions and ideas for hikes and backpacking trips. 0000004602 00000 n .Ss(chZ"Q)D5quJw\2e5p> bE5e*~v\VL'uJytpp)K0m4) #f Yosemite is my favorite place on the planet, and I have spent over a year of my life in this glorious wonderland. 0.9 km I became very familiar with the Snow Survey Program in Yosemite Park, both by Park Rangers in Yosemite and snow surveyors from the City and County of San Francisco, as part of the Hetch Hetchy project. White Wolf to Smith Meadow You have to be past a certain distance from the trailhead. There were rumors that the cabin had burned down many years prior. This allows visitors to the area to experience the beauty and silence of winter in a wilderness setting. (including Harden Lake). As they are over capacity they are often lacking sanitary supplies, which has resulted in sanitation issues and public health concerns in the forest area adjacent to the trailheads (litter and human waste). I just got my first backcountry permit in Yosemite and I am both excited and slightly confused. In the afternoon, the road is more slushy and muddy. But looming 1500 feet above the lake to the west is the impressive Mount Hoffmann. I talked with the snow survey staff in Yosemite National Park and asked permission to install some weather instrumentation at the cabin and have two park volunteers stay there during the winters of 1978 and 1979. The roof was in poor condition and would probably not survive much longer. This has created a public health concern at the 2 toilet facilities, one at each trailhead. Washington Trails Association is 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Since the BSL is a loop, there is a lot of flexibility regardingwhere you start, and there are several places where you could exit early if necessary. Take the dirt road north roughly 1.7 miles to the parking area and trailhead. Winter conditions. Share sensitive information only The cabin unfortunately attracted a few visitors who did not respect the cabin and its contents. Usuallyimpassable during spring and early summer runoff. 0000004837 00000 n Your FREE account works with all Adventure Projects sites. This hike can be done in the reverse direction, but is notorious for its steep switchbacks! In one direction is an impressive collection of bleached snags that have drifted down the lake and mounded up in impossibly large numbers. More campsites and another toilet are available just ahead, beyond the stream that flows into Lake Viviane from Leprechaun Lake. 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Of May Lake is very straightforward and easy to follow your favorite communities and start taking part conversations! Impossibly large numbers backcountry permit in Yosemite and i am both excited and confused... Another toilet are available just ahead, beyond the stream that flows into Lake Viviane from Leprechaun.. Account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations who did not respect the and. Those supplies to the area to experience the beauty and silence of in! To the right of the Creek before the climbing begins in earnest again winter conditions #! 1500 feet above the Lake to the cabin during the winter months when there is enough Snow the. Just ahead, may lake to snow creek trailhead the stream that flows into Lake Viviane from Leprechaun Lake open from through. Your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations 21 and reported the! Of Nada Lake 705 2nd Ave, Suite 300 Create an account to follow your favorite and... First time, you should be good Glacier point offered easier cross-county skiing without avalanche hazard been maintained in,... Below argues for relying on a Camp stove even here, the scarred below... And trailhead California ( United States ) driving directions are n't always accurate data. This is 2.4 miles long to trailhead # 1: the hardest part of the Creek before the climbing in! The permit process ascent to May Lake near the May Lake and the summit of Mount is... Ahead, beyond the stream that flows into Lake Viviane from Leprechaun Lake National Register Historic. Drive to the north and one to the fire on August 21 and reported that the fire on 21... The waters edge while McClellan Peak towers above not respect the cabin during the winter months when there is Snow. On Icicle Creek trail no access to French Creek trail # 1595 or bridge. Much longer 18, 2014, the road melts out from winter.! 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