Redding: Emerald Lake | Hiking in California

Redding: Emerald Lake

Wander through a remote paradise of high-alpine lakes in the lightly visited Trinity Alps on this 33.2-mile, long-weekend trip in Klamath National Forest.

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Author:	Backpacker Magazine
Date:	16 May 2010 11:51:48 AM
Activity:	Hiking ActivitySearchHiking
State:	California (CA)
Distance:	16.64 mi (Change units)
Survey Elevation:	Total Gain: 9668 ft Total Loss: 5774 ft Net Change: 3894 ft
Difficulty:	8 / 10
Tags:	Hiking, California, Redding, Trinity Alps, Lewiston, Trinity Center
Rating:	1 rating(s) Rate it

TO TRAILHEAD: CA 299 W to Weaverville (get permit @ Weaverville Ranger Sta.); turn N onto CA 3. Cross 1st bridge over Trinity Lake; turn L. Go 4.1 mi. on paved road to Stuart Fork trailhead @ Bridge Camp.

Position Format:	Datum:

Tracks

EML01

Distance: 16.64 mi	Points: 5855	Calories: none
Total Time: none	Speed: 0.0 mph	Pace: 0:00 / mi
Active Time: none	Speed: 0.0 mph	Pace: 0:00 / mi

Stuart Fork Trailhead to Emerald Lake

Points of Interest

A Good Night's Rest

Location: 41.004856, -122.995041
Bed down next to the cascading lullabies tumbling from Emerald Lake. ©Leon Nelson

Diving Into Sapphire Lake

Location: 40.997856, -123.009460
©Leon Nelson

Emerald Lake

Location: 41.004948, -122.996880
©Leon Nelson

Emerald Lake Mining Equipment

Location: 41.002819, -123.001663
©Leon Nelson

Fishing In the Golden Reflection of the Sawtooths

Location: 41.002998, -122.996880
©Leon Nelson

Gems of the Trinity

Location: 41.001579, -123.018318
©Leon Nelson

Killer Descent

Location: 40.996639, -123.030075
Don't miss this exhilarating glissade down the permanent snowfield above Mirror Lake. ©Leon Nelson

Ledge Campsite

Location: 40.998631, -123.006744
Find an ideal perch next to Sapphire to crash for the night. ©Leon Nelson

Morris Meadow

Location: 40.969250, -122.953957
Pause in crag-framed Morris Meadow, one of the grandest in the Trinity Alps. ©Leon Nelson

Sapphire Lake

Location: 40.997505, -123.009102
©Leon Nelson

Sapphire Lake Reflection

Location: 40.999378, -123.008240
The crystal blues of Sapphire Lake mirror the jagged Sawtooth Ridge. ©Leon Nelson

EML001

Location: 40.876438, -122.920731
Go N on Stuart Fork Trail in gorge with labyrinth of side canyons

EML002

Location: 40.912102, -122.949814
Cross Deep Creek footbridge and continue gentle ascent

EML003

Location: 40.933479, -122.958672
R @ Y on path shaded by fir, incense cedar, and sugar pines

EML004

Location: 40.951698, -122.945320
Cross Deer Creek on metal Forest Service footbridge

EML005

Location: 40.965591, -122.950119
L @ Y, continuing N on Stuart Fork Trail

EML006

Location: 40.972622, -122.954559
Pause at crag-framed Morris Meadow, where late-summer yarrow and Indian paintbrush color the valley, surely one of the grandest in the Trinity Alps

EML007

Location: 40.983269, -122.959221
Camp 1: Overnight @ Stuart Fork Creek in tree-shaded campsites (permit required)

EML008

Location: 41.003094, -122.975121
L @ Y after Portuguese Camp; Caesar Cap Peak graces the W horizon

EML009

Location: 41.007427, -122.996063
Camp 2: Emerald Lake (5,512 ft.); best campsite is on Stuart Fork outlet stream @ E end of lake, 150 ft. below massive rock dam

EML010

Location: 41.000511, -123.005936
Dayhike: Skirt N shore, passing rusty gold-mine relics to Sapphire Lake. At lake, trace S shore to a 100-ft. cascade plunging from Mirror Lake. Climb snowfield to SW

EML011

Location: 40.995445, -123.026405
Mirror Lake (6,600 ft.): An alpine jewel within a deep cirque, perfect for swimming and snapshots of the Sawtooth Ridge. More adventurous types can glissade down the snowfield on return