Eldorado National Forest

Borders Carson-Iceberg Wilderness

Primary access:

• Silver Lake in Eldorado National Forest
• Tamarack Lake PCT

• https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/upload/trailheads.pdf
• https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/upload/wildernesstrailheads.pdf

Top Wilderness Trail Options:

1. Sunrise to Happy Isles via Cloud’s Rest and Half Dome (20.6 miles)
2. Cathedral Lakes at Tuolumne Meadows to Happy Isles through Yosemite Valley and Merced River (29.2 miles)
3. Cathedral Lakes at Tuolumne Meadows to Happy Isles via JMT (21.8 miles)
4. Glen Aulin Trailhead to White Wolf via Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne (29.2 miles)
5. Glen Aulin to May Lake (19.3 miles)
6. Lukens Lake Trailhead to Yosemite Valley via Yosemite Falls (10.1 miles)

Updated Top Wilderness Trail Options:

1. Rafferty Creek to Vogelsang
2. Sunrise to Happy Isles via Cloud’s Rest and Half Dome (20.6 miles)
3. Happy Isles
5. Tuolumne Meadows to Happy Isles through Yosemite Valley and Merced River (29.2 miles)
6. Tuolumne Meadows to Happy Isles via JMT (21.8 miles)
7. Glen Aulin Trailhead to White Wolf via Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne (29.2 miles)
8. Glen Aulin to May Lake (19.3 miles)
9. Lukens Lake Trailhead to Yosemite Valley via Yosemite Falls (10.1 miles)

Sunrise to Happy Isles (not JMT) Half Dome and Clouds Rest = 20.6 miles

Tuolumne Meadows to Happy Isles via Merced River (not JMT) = 29.2 miles

Tuolumne Meadows to Happy Isles via JMT = 21.8 miles

Glen Aulin to White Wolf via Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne = 29.2 miles

Glen Aulin to May Lake = 19.3 miles

Lukens Lake to Yosemite Valley = 10.1 miles

• https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5143453.pdf
• Yosemite National Park
  • Permit required year round for overnight stay in backcountry
  • https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/wildpermits.htm
  • Day hiking doesn’t require permit except Half Dome
  • https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/hdwildpermits.htm
  • First come first served permits for backcountry and Half Dome exist
  • https://yosemite.org/yosemite-wilderness-permit-request-form/
  • John Muir Trail has special backcountry permit system
• John Muir Trail
  • Permit required to start John Muir Trail in Yosemite National Park
  • Exit quota southbound at Donahue Pass
  • https://web.archive.org/web/20190611123959/https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/upload/wildernesstrailheads.pdf
  • First Come First Served permits exist from nearest priority permit issuing station, starting at 11am the day of the hike
  • Five permit trailhead entries for John Muir Trail
    1. Lyell Canyon
    2. Sunrise Lakes
    3. Happy Isles thru Little Yosemite Valley
    4. Happy Isles thru Merced Lake
    5. Glacier Point thru Little Yosemite Valley
• Inyo National Forest
  • Quotas
  • Backcountry permits required overnight, Permits online
  • https://www.recreation.gov/permits/233262
• Ansel Adam’s Wilderness
• John Muir Trail
• Sierra National Forest
  • No permit for day hiking
  • 40% of permits are first come first served
  • Paper Permit application for backcountry overnight trips
  • Apps accepted in January for May-Oct, no closer than 3 weeks ahead of trip
  • https://web.archive.org/web/20201105072751/https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fsbdev7_017679.pdf
  • https://web.archive.org/web/20200509005511/https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/sierra/passes-permits/?cid=fsbdev7_018115
• Golden Trout Wilderness
  • Paper Application for backcountry permit required
  • https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/sequoia/passes-permits/recreation/?cid=fsbdev3_059517
• Whitney Zone
• Sequoia National Forest
  • No permits except Golden Trout Wilderness
• Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
  • Only Hoover Wilderness requires backcountry permit
  • https://web.archive.org/web/20170710183528/https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5253870.pdf
  • https://web.archive.org/web/20190727115602/https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/htnf/passes-permits/recreation
• Stanislaus National Forest
  • No quotas
  • Permit required for overnight trips in Emigrant, Carson-Iceberg Wilderness and Mokelumne Wilderness from April 1- Nov 30
  • https://web.archive.org/web/20201016223922/https://www.fs.usda.gov/attmain/stanislaus/specialplaces
  • https://web.archive.org/web/20200818012214/https://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/stanislaus/passes-permits/recreation/?cid=stelprdb5361242&width=full#permits
• John Muir Trail
• Pacific Crest Trail
• High Sierra Trail
• Desolation Wilderness
  • https://www.recreation.gov/permits/233261

• 

Northwest

• Folsom Lake – 2 hours, Verizon
• Lake Oroville – 2.5 hours, Verizon
• Rollins Reservoir – 2.5 hours, Verizon
• Union Valley Reservoir – 3 hours, Verizon
• Ice House Reservoir – 3 hours, Verizon

Central West

• Yosemite Valley – 3.5 hours, Verizon
• Camanche Reservoir – 2 hours, Verizon
• New Hogan Lake – 2 hours, Verizon
• Salt Spring Valley Reservoir – 2 hours, Verizon
• New Melones Lake – 2.5 hours, Verizon
• Tulloch Reservoir – 2.5 hours, Verizon
• Pinecrest Lake – 3 hours, Verizon
• Beardsley Lake – 3.5 hours, No Verizon
• Don Pedro Reservoir – 2.5 hours, Spotty Verizon
• Lake McClure – 2.5 hours, Very Spotty Verizon
• Bass Lake – 3.5 hours, Verizon
• Mammoth Pool – 5 hours, No Verizon
• Mono Hot Springs 5 hours, No Verizon
• Vermillion Valley/Lake Thomas Edison – 6 hours, No Verizon

Southwest

• Pine Flat Reservoir – 3.5 hours, Very Spotty Verizon
• Grant Grove Village – 4 hours, Verizon
• Lake Kaweah – 4 hours, Verizon
• Millerton Lake – 3 hours, Verizon
• Shaver Lake – 4 hours, Verizon
• Huntington Lake – 4.5 hours, Verizon
• Courtright Reservoir – 5 hours, No Verizon
• Wishon Reservoir – 4.5 hours, Very Spotty Verizon
• Florence Lake – 6 hours, No Verizon
• Lake Success – 4.5 hours, Spotty Verizon
• California Hot Springs – 5 hours, No Verizon
• Isabella Lake – 5.5 hours, Verizon
• Bakersfield – 4.5 hours, Verizon

Northeast

• Bridgeport Reservoir – 4.5 hours, Verizon
• Mono Village/Twin Lakes – 5 hours, No Verizon
• Topaz Lake – 4 hours, Verizon
• Grover Hot Springs – 4 hours, No Verizon
• Lake Tahoe – 3.5 hours, Verizon

Central East

• Mono Lake – 5.5 hours
• Silver Lake – 6 hours
• June Lake – 6 hours
• Mammoth Lakes – 6 hours
• Convict Lake – 6 hours
• Devils Postpile – 6 hours, Very Spotty or No Verizon
• Lake Crowley – 6.5 hours, Verizon
• Bishop – 6.5 hours, Verizon
• Big Pine – 7 hours, Verizon

Southeast

• Tinemaha Reservoir – 7 hours, Verizon
• Independence – 7.5 hours, Verizon
• Owens Lake – 7.5 hours, Verizon
• Ridgecrest – 6.5 hours, Verizon
• Mojave -6 hours, Verizon

Stanislaus National Forest

Primary access:

• Lake Alpine – Stanislaus National Forest
• Spicer Meadow Reservoir – Stanislaus National Forest
• Highland Lakes – Stanislaus National Forest
• Sand Flat – Stanislaus National Forest
• Lower Blue Lake

Within Sierra National Forest

Borders John Muir Wilderness in Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest (southeast), Inyo National Forest (north), and Yosemite Wilderness (northwest).

Main access from Reds Meadows (east), Mammoth Lakes (east), June Lake (northeast), Tuolumne Meadows (northwest), and Lake Thomas Edison (southeast).

Permits become available at 7am PST six months before the date of the permit.

Permits on Recreation.gov: https://www.recreation.gov/permits/233262

Devil’s Postpile Area Trails: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5337628.pdf

Agnew Meadows Area Trails: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5337626.pdf

Entrances:

• Southern Entrances:
  • Lake Thomas Edison
  • Mono Hot Springs
• Western Entrances:
  • Clover Meadow
  • Yosemite Wilderness
• Northern Entrances:
  • Tuolumne Meadows
• Eastern Entrances:
  • Silver Lake
  • Agnew Meadows
  • Mammoth Lakes
  • Reds Meadows

Highlights:

• California Hiking and riding trail
• Pacific crest trail
• Thousand Island Lake

Planned Adventure Loops:

Start at a trailhead near Agnew Meadows

1. High Trail (AA09)
2. River Trail (AA08)
3. John Muir Trail North (AA10)
4. Shadow Creek (AA07)
5. Minaret Lake (AA11)
6. Beck Lake (AA12)
7. Fern Lake (AA13)
8. Fish Creek (AA14)
9. Rush Creek (AA05)

Rush Creek Option

• Agnew Lake = 2.2 miles
• Agnew Pass via Spooky Meadows Trail = 4 miles
• Agnew Pass via Gem Lake = 7 miles
• Gem Lake = 4.6 miles (this option adds 3 miles to the trip, but may be an easier way to reach Agnew Pass)

• Quickest Loop: Rush Creek Trailhead to Thousand Island Lake, Garnet Lake and back through Agnew Pass = 17.4 miles
• Rush Creek to Agnew Meadows via Thousand Island and Garnet Lakes = 17.6 miles
• Rush Creek Trailhead to Thousand Island Lake, Garnet Lake and back through Agnew Pass = 24 miles

Eastern Sierra Transit

• Red’s Meadow Shuttle starts 6/17: https://www.estransit.com/routes-schedule/seasonal/reds-meadow-shuttle/
• Red’s Meadow Shuttle: https://www.estransit.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/2022RedsShuttle-Map-2.pdf
• Shuttle within Red’s Meadow Valley is free
• The shuttle runs daily, on the following frequencies:
• 7:30 am – 9:00 am – every 45 minutes
• 9:00 am – 10:00 am – every 30 minutes
• 10:00 am – 4:00 pm – every 20 minutes
• 4:45 pm – 6:15 pm – every 45 minutes
• The last bus into the Valley departs Mammoth Adventure Center at 6:15 pm.
• The last bus out of the Valley departs Reds Meadow Resort at 7:00 pm.
• The last day for the 2022 Shuttle Season is expected to be September 5, 2022
• 2022RedsShuttle Map

Other Shuttles

Trailhead Shuttle

https://climber.org/data/shuttles.html

YARTS – Yosemite Area Rapid Transit

Rush Creek Trailhead requires a reservation with YARTS for pickup, none required for Drop-off just notify the Driver.

Need to call, the online reservation doesn’t seem to work

YARTS & EST meet at Mammoth Mountain Inn

https://yarts.com/

Click to access Mammoth-Hwy-120-395-Signs-Summ-17.pdf

Click to access FINAL-Website-HWY-395-Summer-2022.pdf

Mammoth Lakes HWY 120E/395

Stanislaus National Forest

Primary access is from Pinecrest Lake

Borders Hoover Wilderness in Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest (East), and Yosemite Wilderness (south)

Pacific Crest Trail skirts along the eastern edge of Emigrant Wilderness = ? Miles ? To Sonora Pass

• Western Entrances
  • Pinecrest Lake
• Northern Entrances
  • Eagle Meadow
  • Kennedy Meadows
• Southern Entrances
  • Cherry Lake – Shingle Springs Trailhead
• Eastern Entrances
  • PCT in Hoover Wilderness
  • PCT in Yosemite Wilderness
• Highlights:
  • Emigrant Lake
• Basecamp Lakes:
  • Pinecrest Lake – Stanislaus National Forest
  • Cherry Lake – Stanislaus National Forest
  • Lake Eleanor – Yosemite Wilderness
  • Hetch Hetchy – Yosemite Wilderness
  • Leavitt Lake – Bridgeport Winter Recreation Area

Wilderness Areas:

• Driving from San Francisco
• Northern Sierra Nevada:
  • Granite Chief = 3.5 hours
  • Desolation = 3.5 hours
  • Mokelumne = 4 hours
  • Carson-Iceberg = 3.5 hours
  • Emigrant = 3.5 hours
  • Hoover = 5 hours
  • Yosemite = 4 hours
  • Ansel Adams
• Central Sierra Nevada:
  • Kaiser = 5 hours
  • Dinkey Lakes = 5 hours
  • John Muir Wilderness = 6.5 hours
  • Sequoia Kings Canyon = 4.5 hours
  • Monarch = 5 hours
  • Jennie Lakes = 5.5 hours
• Southern Sierra Nevada:
  • Golden Trout
  • South Sierra
  • Sacatar Trail – BLM, High desert
  • Domeland – BLM, High desert
  • Chimney Peak – BLM, High desert
  • Owens Peak – BLM, High desert
  • Kiavah = 6.5 hours to PCT south of Walker Pass – BLM, High desert
  • Bright Star – BLM, High desert

ca_wilderness5.jpg (554×883) (intooutside.org)

• Sacramento (SMF)
  • $160 RT @1 hr from SFO
  • United (SFO)
  • Sacramento Intl Airport
  • Driving = 2.5 hours each way from SF
• Fresno (FAT)
  • $150 RT @1 hr from SFO
  • United (SFO), American
  • Fresno Yosemite Intl Airport
  • Driving = 3 hours each way from SF
• Bakersfield (BFL)
  • $150 RT @1.25 hrs from SFO
  • United (SFO), American
  • Meadows Field Airport
  • Driving = 4 hours each way from SF
• Reno (RNO)
  • $100 RT @1 hr 10 min from SFO
  • United (SFO), American, Southwest (OAK)
  • Reno-Tahoe Intl Airport
  • Driving = 4 hours each way from SF
• Redding (RDD)
  • $300 RT @
• No flights
  • Stockton (SCK)
  • Mammoth Lakes (MMH)