I also saw multiple groups of horses and pack animals. Unfortunately, it did not seem to have any fish. Mosaic of verdant grassland, oak woodland and coniferous Douglas fir and redwood forest #santacruzmountains #spring, Peaceful meadows #recreateresponsibly #leavenotrace #meadows #conifers #santacruzmountains, This fascinating complex of redwoods has quite a story to tell. On the north side we could see Relief Reservoir and each of the lakes below: Iceland, Ridge, Sardella, and Lewis. The route via Lower & Upper Lewis Lakes and the drainage begins in Kennedy Meadows off 108 near Sonora Pass. Eventually, the path brings you to a series of stunning lakes, which are perfect for a swim on a hot summer afternoon. *IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING THIS ROUTE please read below for a critical safety warning that I wish I had been given. first night near relief Reservoir after setting off at 8pm. Day 2 - 11 miles. The hiking route described here starts at the north end of Upper Lewis Lake (which happens to be a fantastic campsite). Granite Dome is an immense granite massif with numerous micro-basins occupied by a series of stunning alpine lakes set amid granite slabs and cliffs. The walk up to the top of the ridge is pretty easy, I walked around to Lewis Lakes and curved up through a permanent snow field to the top of the ridge, which is large and flat. We camped in a protected area on the northeast side of the lake and saw a few other campers up against the hill on the north side. This rock, once it cools, will become the type of granite that is exposed in Yosemite. This lake holds stunning views and sits just under the sheer walls of Granite Dome. Similar to my first visit in 2012, I ascended to the top of Granite Dome which has great views of the Emigrant Wilderness and Northern Yosemite. https://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/stanislaus/specialplaces/?cid=stelprdb5361242&width=full, https://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/eldorado/specialplaces/?cid=fsbdev7_019058&width=full. Granite Dome is most easily accessible from the Huckleberry Trail. It was very enjoyable even with the bushwacking. My last trip there was a blanket of snow over the mountains but in the time since almost all of it had melted, only remaining in shady or north facing slopes at high elevations. There are several routes up Granite Dome, all of which eventually lead offtrail and require minor wayfinding, as it's easy to reach a dead-end as Granite Dome is a massive conglomeration, a vmaze of rock, streams, and alpine lakes making it a playground for lovers of wild places. Backpacking to Upper Lewis Lake and Granite Dome in Emigrant Wilderness. We ascended beautiful granite slabs into the Lewis Creek Basin with clumps of pine trees and waterfall cascades. Ridge Lake is arguably the centerpiece nestled beneath the towering cliffs of Granite Dome with waterfalls splashing down into the lake from the upper reaches of the peak. Since trails are covered with snow, tried to find the trail. Luckily this was accomplished by noon, and I had brought my Eno hammock. (7), Additions & Corrections Keep this in mind and dont get discouraged. The landscape of Yosemite National Park is a product of its unique geology, resulting from glacial erosion of the underlying granite. Note that the saddle to the north of the peak looks very similar when you are standing at the bottom. You can pick up route maps there and read the climbing rules. From Ridge Lake we ascended the rise above Iceland Lake with a gorgeous panorama from yet another balcony. On the northern horizen, the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness Area is visible with Round Top and Mokelumne Peak. third day all the way back to Kennedy meadows. Keep below this. There are no shortage of pictures to be taken! Trip report for Iceland and Ridge Lakes. Theres been fantastic forest wildflowers under the canopy this year in the Santa Cruz Mountains #spottedatmidpen #santacruzmountains #recreateresponsibly #leavenotrace #westerntrillium #trilliumovatum #pacifictrillium, It appears winter is starting to loosen its grip on the Santa Cruz Mountains. The walk up is easy to navigate but its a straight walk up and the elevation gain was starting to take its toll on my energy level. Many national parks were founded for their geology, and Yosemite is known throughout the world for its exceptional high cliffs and rounded domes. third day all the way back . Even though Yosemite Valley has received considerable attention because of its geologic fame and dominant place in our cultural geography, the 3,000-foot-tall southeast face of El Capitan remained unmapped until recently. We got to the ridge past the boulder field and enjoyed a nice lunch with views. The Summit Trail and elevated areas of the park may close during wet or inclement weather. We instead worked our way above the west side of the lake and followed a lovely line up and over the eastern flank of Granite Dome. Climb the ancient dome for amazing Hill Country views. Hard 4.5 (110) Yosemite National Park. We camped on the north end of the lake. Weather was perfect end of June. Day 1 - Tracked 9 miles our first day and stayed at Sheep Camp; note that starting at the free parking lot and not the Kennedy Meadows lodge adds about a mile. Featured Amenities. - third day ~10 mi, back to the free parking lot. We found a similar route back down to our campsite just as a small rain storm hit. The campground provides bathrooms and potable water. The Tuolumne Intrusive Suite is the youngest and most extensive, occupying about 1/3 of the parks area. Aptly named Granite Dome is an immense granite massif with numerous micro-basins occupied by a series of stunning alpine lakes. Turn left onto 468th Ave SE and follow it 0.6 miles to the junction with SE Middle Fork Road. Regardless of destination, this section of trail involves detailed route finding based on topography. Thank you to my 3 friends who got me through the first day. . They can be reached at (209) 965-3434. Scrambling the west side of the lake was a last resort and our best option and let me tell you, it was sketchy at best. We went during Memorial Day weekend expecting the trail to be mostly clear of snow, however there were parts where the trail disappeared under snow for miles. Daily, Child 12 Years and Under: The following guides lead rock climbing tours at Enchanted Rock: Enjoy a star party or a nature hike led by a park ranger, or contact the park for special tours for your group. It was unbelievably beautiful, had tons of trout for fishing, and was a prime starting point to summit Granite Dome. Overnight the wind died down and by morning the air was completely still. None of the crossings felt unsafe. it's absolutely gorgeous, but you have to camp at either end of the lake. The map was made using a combination of techniques including remote sensing, climbing, and geochemistry. We ducked back into our tents just in time! It felt so good to be back on a trail again. Admire the scene of the shimmering lake bounded by granite bluffs, and the small snowmelt cascades that feed the lake. Granite Dome Lakes. This property was built in 2016. The overall mileage was quite a bit further than notes on the review, but the elevation is on par. I had the entire set of lakes all to myself. It also didnt help that I had turned my ankle on trail run in and was relegated to walking (carefully) the rest of the outing. 2006-2021 SummitPost.org. For some great fishing plan on stopping around Buck Lake. (LogOut/ Want to report conditions for this trail? View Granite Dome Image Gallery - 14 Images. In fact, it has been speculated that this voluminous volcanism may have contributed to the mass extinction during the middle of the Cretaceous period during which most large marine dinosaurs (such as ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs) perished. There are roughly 35 individually defined plutons in the Yosemite area. This is just over seven miles from Kennedy Meadows at an elevation of about 7300 feet. In addition, Iceland Lake was only partially melted out with icebergs and an array of ice colors from green to blue. MLS# IV15166455. The bedrock geology of Yosemite National Park consists almost entirely of granitic rocks. All Rights Reserved. Nestled in the folded granite on the north side of Granite Dome theres a number of pristine mountain lakes and views down to the valleys below. (14), Climber's Log Entries Explore this 11.7-mile loop trail near Mi Wuk Village, California. BIG BALD ROCK TRAIL CLOSED, 2020-2023. GPS route here. we didn't go to the top of granite dome. Aconcagua mountain page is a child of the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits.' Aptly named Granite Dome is an immense granite massif with numerous micro-basins occupied by a series of stunning alpine lakes. Generally considered a challenging route. If you are comfortable with a little off trail hiking I highly recommend this one. President Lyndon B. Johnson was born near Johnson City. I made breakfast and a cup of coffee at the trailhead, and set out. Amazingly beautiful. As shown on the topographic map, there is a more gradual section if you aim straight up the middle of the saddle. - First day ~17mi, camp at deer lake. ft. house located at 22800 Granite Dome, Canyon Lake, CA 92587 sold for $550,000 on Sep 26, 2016. It gets better the deeper you go. The night 2: layover at summit creek (did a day trip up to ridge lake) There you will find the start of the trail.This is a challenging hike without much of an actual trail to follow for the majority of it. We had Ridge Lake all to ourselves as we set up base camp. The trail up to Granite Dome area from the main trail is unmarked so youll have to figure out your route via topo. Kennedy Meadows and Relief Reservoir trailhead to Granite Dome Lakes. Caution is needed towards the southeast side of Ridge Lake due to frequent rock falls.The domed summit offers spectacular views in all directions. Granite Dome is the signature peak in the Emigrant Wilderness, with fantastic views north to the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness, east to the Hoover Wilderness (Sawtooth Ridge), and south to Yosemite including, on a clear day, Cathedral Peak and the Cathedral Range. Take the Huckleberry Trail towards Relief Resevoir, watching out for packs of horses and mules carrying gear for "Glampers" heading to Kennedy Lake. If you get your line right, you will only have a short boulder scramble but be very careful in this section because its slippery and dangerous. Lower Relief Valley is a large meadow, encircled by granite. At the 8.8mi mark, you will see that there is a boulder field above the trail. The geology of the Highland Lakes is approximately 1.4 billion years old. All of the lakes are located on the northern side of a broad, massive ridge called Granite Dome. The named lakes of the region include theLewis Lakes (lower, middle, upper), Sardella Lake, Ridge Lake and Iceland Lake with a numerous other smaller tarns. Bring plenty of Deet! The following links provide additional information on local conditions. On 7/2 it was possible to get through by walking on stones, I took off shoes once, but water was only ankles deep. Map routes are a combination of GPS data and manually created waypoints and should be used for reference only. Many years later the re-sprouted limbs at the top have fully restored the canopy and the basal sprouts are now mature redwoods resulting in the extraordinary, hulking complex of redwood seen today. Main hint I wish somebody had written: The trailhead is a bit confusing - as you drive in towards Kennedy Meadow there is a trail head and parking lot on the left - but the trail then leaves the lot to drop back down to the road that you walk next to until you come to the Kennedy Meadow "Resort" - the trail leaves from the end of the resort and starts off as a dirt road which is used to transport horse trailers to the actual trail-head which is about a mile from Kennedy Meadows. The initial hike out of Kennedy Meadows is notoriously hot, dusty, and covered in horse poo. But theres more at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area than just the dome. Be sure to bring your camera. Did an overnight June 5th/6th. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. A wonderfully clear and calm post-storm evening #spottedatmidpen #stanford #eveninglight #recreateresponsibly #leavenotrace, 2014 Adventure Recap | Leor Pantilat's Adventures, Granite Dome & Lakes 2017 | Leor Pantilat's Adventures. In fact, on separate holiday weekend trips we had Iceland and Lewis Lakes all to ourselves. For the most part the granite is huge, smooth, and gently sloping, with a few boulder fields near to the cliffs below the ridge. In 1966, the residents voted to incorporate into the City of Granite Shoals. It would also be amazing to see in the early season with frozen lakes. The direct route from Middle to Upper Lewis Lake contains some steep granite slabs that may prove too steep for many without rock gear or snow/ice gear in early season. 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To Upper Lewis lakes and the 'Seven Summits. luckily this was accomplished by,! This rock, once it cools, will become the type of granite is... Based on granite dome lakes with a gorgeous panorama from yet another balcony stopping around Buck.. Pick up route maps there and read the climbing rules we found similar! We set up base camp the saddle it 's absolutely gorgeous, but you have to figure your. Reservoir and each of the Highland lakes is approximately 1.4 billion years old in all.. Was made using a combination of techniques including remote sensing, climbing, and covered in horse poo frequent... Yosemite National Park is a more gradual section if you are CONSIDERING this route please read for... Voted to incorporate into the City of granite Shoals created waypoints and should be used for reference.... With snow, tried to find the trail up to granite Dome Lyndon B. Johnson was born near Johnson.... 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