Blue and ruffed grouse: The best areas for blue grouse is along ridge tops in more open forest habitats such as Winter Rim and Hager Mountain. Hiked on Saturday July 4th. Getting to this trail was not easy. People were leaving as we were walking in. This is a beautiful and sacred area. Met backpackers that fished Penner and Island with no luck. I would wait another few weeks to do this hike. Very happy we did the loop in this direction. The novel describes Siddhartha’s journey to enlightenment at the time of the Buddha. Our goal was the five lakes basin another 5 miles. The 3.2-mile hike is only moderately difficult. Advanced Whip Cracking??? —Hilary Custance Green: British Author... Click on the image to learn more about my book, the Bush Devil Ate Sam, and find out where it can be ordered. (I was raised in a small town just outside of Placerville.). I hiked this series of trails last Thursday, 9-26-19. At this time of year the water is warm, and we enjoyed swimming. There were a lot of people at the trailhead, but we lost everyone once we started the loop. Meteors. Ethan was like a deer on the trail, bounding ahead. In 2019, Upper Rush Creek supported ~2,647 newborn Brown Trout compared to ~1,572 in 2018. “I’ve got this.” And I raised my hands to take in the surrounding countryside. Beautiful lakes, the forest itself, and views from Sand Ridge. 13.3mi: Go right onto Grouse Point Tr517 at the Frazier Turnaround campground, ride .2mi then go left onto Shellrock Lake Tr700 and descend to the Hideaway Lake campground. The lake is most easily passed on the east side, and from there it is easy travel to the base of Goat Mountain’s upper slopes. Today I am featuring Glacier Lake and the trail there from Grouse Ridge marked in yellow, which was the route I followed on my first trip. Glacier Lake has everything you could want from a small alpine lake--forested shores, rocky points, deep clear water and enjoyable fishing. The Sierra Trek. Yes, it’s 2.7 miles of bumpy dirt road to get to the trailhead, but it’s not atrocious - 4WD and high clearance helpful. The instructions are easy and SEKI has always been helpful. Will we use the Sand Ridge Trail. Grouse Lake (10,728') is located 4.7 miles from Grouse Creek Trailhead in the Holy Cross Wilderness. I saw a few people by Feeley Lake at the beginning, and a few more at the end -- otherwise, I had the entire trail to myself for the day. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from March until October. Glacier Lake is nestled at the base of the spectacular Black Buttes in the Grouse Ridge recreation area of Northern California. The Black Buttes of the northern Sierra Nevada Mountains tower over Glacier Lake. Grouse Lake is located 4.7 miles from the Grouse Creek Trailhead in the Holy Cross Wilderness. Water is ice cold. We had a great time on this trail! a naked bug with a white body and brown hair. I-80 can be seen at the bottom of the photo. But I couldn’t help myself. but, bring bug spray. Red fir reached for the sky above my campsite. I found a small creek along the trail to Glacier Lake and decided to camp next to it, thinking it might provide a short hike for my grandsons. Brightly colored flowers called to insects with an urgency that predated man’s sojourn on earth. A few years ago, biologists counted only six male grouse dancing here on “The U” at Clear Lake, a 5,500-acre peninsula of rock and sagebrush surrounded by … You definitely gps to navigate all that snow and downed trees. Grouse Ridge Trail is a 10.4 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Soda Springs, California that features a lake and is rated as moderate. Great backpacking and hiking area. Hiked this trail from the Grouse Ridge Campground trail head. However, I understand why so many people want to visit - its got gorgeous lakes and streams and beautiful wildflowers. The Gem Lake Loop is located in Emigrant Wilderness, which borders Stanislaus National Forest and Yosemite National Park, and offers incredible views, smaller crowds, and diverse terrain. The basin lies between two major populations of Greater Sage-Grouse (Bodie Hills and Long Valley), and small numbers have been observed in lush stands of sagebrush (most recently discovered breeding along Walker Creek, fide T. Floyd). The granite rock, known as an erratic, had been left behind by one of the glaciers. The Black Buttes tower above. I read it every few years because it reminds me of the importance of living in the present, of the interconnectivity of all things, and the value of a simple life— of not getting lost in our materialistic world. Camped near Glacier Lake below the Black Buttes. —A poem by the Nobel Prize winner and the “poet laureate of Deep Ecology, ” Gary Snyder. The trailhead to Grouse Lake is located at Wrights Lake and is accessed by taking the Wrights Lake Road turnoff on Highway 50, 35 miles east of Placerville, and traveling eight miles. (They didn’t need it.) It was a long, bumpy dirt road to get to the parking lot. I had told him the night before that I lived in the Applegate Valley near the small town of Ruch in Southern Oregon and he wanted to know if I attended one of the churches there that he was familiar with. Too many fires right now. There isn't running water, but there is a vault toilet, and sites accessible by car. A gradual incline made it very enjoyable. Been coming here for 2-3 decades and I never tire of its beauty. Miracles are what have been pulling people into Christianity for millennia. little hemlock half in shade, The last mile +/- of the road is the worst, just gotta take it slow. We ended up doing 12 miles and two stops (glacier and carr lakes). A small pool fed by melting snow provided this reflection shot at Glacier Lake. Cody was like a Sierra badger, digging in and not giving up, mastering the trail one step at a time. Did this on Sunday 10/18. Lake mapping is a way to learn what a lake is like under the water's surface. There is still quite a bit of snow as of 6/24, though its compressed so you can walk on it. Took the family on this 12 mile round trip over the Labor day weekend and were surprised it was not busier. It was all beautiful. Whether you are there to swim, stalk wily trout, or watch a sunset over an alpine lake, this is the place to be. Yellow marks the general location of my two trips this summer into the Grouse Ridge area just north of Interstate 80 between Sacramento, California and Reno, Nevada in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Conducted by the DNR's Division of Ecological Resources Lake Mapping Unit, lake mapping provides a visual representation of the shape and depth of Minnesota lakes. Absolutely gorgeous. Being said this, wild flowers were amazing on high point on Sand Ridge trail. Gorgeous views all around, especially from the Sand Ridge trail! Giant red firs and pines stood as silent sentinels over the campground. The trail takes you into the Mokelumne Wilderness. The trail took us about 5 hours of actual walking but with stops to appreciate the lakes and brakes in between it took us about 7 hours. Grouse Ridge is in the U.S.A., CA.. Gorgeous hike. Bring a high clearance vehicle to get to the trailhead and make sure that your tires are solid because the road to get there is rough. The dog enjoyed the trail. One highway passes through this country on the north side of Great Salt Lake, Utah Highway 30, and it reveals a country as desolate as anywhere in America. He also told me that he believed in freedom of religion, that people should be free to worship according to their own beliefs, which is a concept that I strongly support. Sierra granite provides the backdrop. Thankfully we have a Jeep. A close-up of the area. One member of our group returned from our trip to find a slow leak in his back tire despite driving a truck. As I hiked past his camp to say goodbye on my way down into the Five Lakes Basin he urged that I read the Book of John in the New Testament. A great circuit with a lot of variety. Hiked this trail from the Grouse Ridge Campground trail head. The views were spectacular and the lakes were beautiful. The entire Grouse Ridge area is one of the most popular fishing destinations in Northern California because of the accessibility of so many fine lakes. Could not find the trail for the five lakes so we set up at the first lake after descending Sand Ridge. Our daughter Natasha with her two boys, Ethan on the left and Cody on the right. Fantastic backpacking trip. If you don't mind camping near others then you wouldn't be bothered. Thanks for the updates! Fall colors are coming out. Beautiful views. Beautiful views! Hemlocks, pines and firs grow on the hillside. In my youth, I had been considered a prime candidate for becoming an Episcopal priest. But if you are coming from afar highly suggest to spend the night and enjoy. Great loop with really cool views. The view of Granite Basin from the divide between it and the Grouse Lake/Copper Creek basin. There were a lot of bugs, which was fine but would be more fun with bug spray. I’d read John before. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson.). A close-up of the area. The Grouse Lakes area is truly the “land-o-the-lakes.” A long but rewarding loop hike will bring visitors within view of more than fifteen lakes of all sizes, and to the shores of seven. The view here is epic. “I don’t need miracles, Dan” I responded. We arrived at the lot around 1100. Arrived around 5pm on Friday and had no problem parking at the Carr Lake Campground trailhead. From Round Lake Trail, take the turnoff toward Glacier Lake and continue to follow signs for Glacier Lake for the remainder of the trail. The area circled in yellow was where we backpacked. I got bit a mosquito in the first half hour walking past one of the swampy ponds between Feeley and Island Lakes. Great hike! Sand Ridge and the Five Lakes Basin is a 17.4 kilometer moderately trafficked loop trail located near Emigrant Gap, California that features a lake and is rated as moderate. Summited the Buttes, the views were well worth it. I went into the Basin on the Sand Ridge Trail when I backpacked in with my family. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. “It does an excellent job of describing the miracles of Christ,” he assured me. The southern part of the loop (on the Glacier Lake Trail) looked very snowy. A close up of the Black Buttes as the sun sets. Only saw 2 other people all day. Photos of Glacier Lake and my hike into the lake. The moon hovers above the Black Buttes in the northern Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. It was a holiday so we knew it was going to be busier than normal. We got an early start. The ascent up Sand Ridge Trail can be difficult, but beautiful views from the top. The lake basin itself is outside the wilderness boundary and is accessed by a maintained road. My last two trips included the Grouse Ridge-Black Buttes-Five Lakes Basin area, the same region Gary Snyder refers to above. Best part is coming up the rise about 10 minutes before you arrive at Glacier Lake -- you are greeted by the Black Buttes right in front of you, and it is awesome! We started at Carr Lake. I didn’t have to travel back in time 2000 years to events that required a leap of faith to believe. Great hike, and hardly anyone on the trail. This was also a great choice with only 2 other campers around this lake. This trail says 10.8 but my GPS tracked 12.1. But I read it again on Dan’s recommendation. Lionel, Baboon, and I drove from Truckee, California down to Fresno, where we m… Not an easy trail with a pack. Blue mountain, white snow gleam I also scrambled up to the saddle beyond there - no path, mostly boulder hopping, but it was only 20 minutes and a cool view. Great 4 day hike. That's ok. We found the lake, and had it to ourselves. Trail to Glacier Lake was easy to follow, trail to Five Lakes Basin was not. Near a small lake in the Rock Lakes Basin, go right at a T intersection, then go left at the next T intersection, while ascending to the Frazier Turnaround campground. While the road approaches from the west, the basin is actually drained east through the wilderness by Pleasant Valley Creek. That's ok. We found the lake, and had it to ourselves. ... Grouse Lake Located beneath Deadwood Peak, Grouse Lake is the terminus of the trail that leads to Granite Lake. STATE - California, Nevada. TAHOE NATIONAL FOREST Offers Virtual Services in Response to COVID-19. Sign up here and I will let you know when a new post is out. Other than that, didn't see any bugs the whole day. The mapset is spot on. We usually stick to 3 things for a hike: water, food and good vibe! Once you reach the final switchback before Granite Basin, continue north cross-country following the outlet of Grouse Lake, where additional camping options exist. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from June until October. 5 adults, 2 kids. The Bush Devil Ate Sam is an important record and a serious story, yet told easily, and with delightful humor. The guidebook was helpful, but contained some errors and omissions. down from the treetrunks, At Five Lakes Basin’s He had backpacked into Glacier Lake with his 13-year-old grandson and told me that he had been bringing youth groups into the area since the 70s. Beautiful and not heavily trafficked. The hike was amazing! Only downside is it's very trafficked. It was still snowy when we were there, so good GPS through AllTrails was key. The towering Black Buttes climbed above the blue-green Glacier Lake. Old Sand Ridge Trail is still buried in snow. Trail to Glacier Lake was easy to follow, trail to Five Lakes Basin was not. Reading Siddhartha after dinner beside a quiet Sierra Lake. I liked him immediately. I helped achieve the non-motorized status for the area in the 1970s when I was serving as Executive Director of the Sacramento Ecology/Environmental Center. The dog enjoyed the trail. The Grouse Ridge area is very popular, with Glacier Lake, the 5 Lakes Basin, Black Buttes and other destinations all accessible from this location. Afterwards, continue the circuit up onto Sand Ridge Trail -- again, some elevation gain, but not terrible. Conveniently three hours from Salt Lake City International Airport or thirty minutes from Rock Springs, you'll find the House of Grouse in the Green River Basin; shaped by the influence of the Uinta, Wind River, and Wyoming mountains, eighteen miles from the Green River. The greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; hereafter sage-grouse) is an iconic western species, a symbol of remote landscapes.Sage-grouse populations in the Great Basin have been in decline over the past 30 years. There was still a bit of patchy snow on the ground and the lakes were frozen in spots but gorgeous views. It lies in a wide, level basin ringed by thick timber and marshy willow below Grouse Mountain (12,726’). Nice trail. The Great Basin’s two largest cities are Salt Lake City, Utah and Reno, Nevada. We met over 10 backpackers on a summer weekday on their way into various locations in this area. This is where the SHR leaves the trail and begins the cross-country traverse of Monarch Divide to nearly its junction with the Sierra Crest. The Sierra Trek, “Captain Sully, May I Take Your Photo?” … A Fateful Plunge into the Hudson River, Making Waves... No One Does It Better than the Pacific Ocean, The Duomo and Santa Croce: Two Great Churches of Florence. We camped at Milk Lake and hiked to Penner. Dogs and horses are also able to use this trail. Great hike. He’s a serious Christian, and a heck of a nice fellow. 7-6-2019: There are still too much snow on the trail. While the decline has been linked to an accelerated cycle of wildfire and invasion of cheatgrass (annual grass), exactly how these landscape changes drive sage-grouse … I was getting ready to leave the next morning when he came over for a chat. The maps below provide information on the location of the area and where I backpacked on my two trips. About Grouse Creek Northwestern Utah is characterized mainly by the deserts and salt flats of the Salt Lake Basin. The Grouse Lake Trail closely follows Grouse Creek through grassy aspen groves into thick coniferous forests up to the lake. Having a GPS or a good maps is necessary and compass. ragged rocky skyline, single clear flat nuthatch call: While the lake aesthetic is limited, the hike itself is compelling. Milk Lake, a deep blue lake, has campsites near the east and west ends. I met Dan at Glacier Lake on my first trip into the Grouse Ridge area this summer. I obtained a permit out of Lodgepole for September 6th online via email application. I hid out under my tent’s groundcloth as lightning flashed, thunder rolled, and hail pounded down on my campsite. Towering cumulus clouds threatened thunder, lightning and hail at Glacier Lake. This boulder next to the campsite reminded me that the area had been carved by glaciers. You'll need a permit for this loop so make sure to stop by the Summit District Ranger Station in Pinecrest to pick yours up. Dogs are also able to use this trail. Will definitely be back to explore more and go backpacking out here once it warms up a bit! Enjoy the blog? Length 10.4 miElevation gain 1732 ftRoute type Out & back Elevation gains are manageable. Later, as the sun set, all that was left of the storm was a few puffy clouds. Park in the dirt parking area and then cross the metal footbridge, and you will see the trailhead marker on your left. Gorgeous hike. The south shore is steep, rising sharply to the ridge where Grouse Ridge Campground is located. Not sure where that extra mile came from. Late start camp at Island Lake, 5 Lakes via Sand Ridge, Glacier Lake, Round Lake, out. Trail Map | … I went into the Basin on the Sand Ridge Trail when I backpacked in with my family. Dan and I must have talked for 45 minutes or so about our lives. An abundance of campgrounds, picnic sites, and small lakes dot this picturesque area. The one drawback of this trail is that it seems to be very well-trafficked, so it may not be as secluded as some other less beautiful trails. Late start on a Monday. Outstanding hike on a beautiful Autumn day and the last day of September. Today I am featuring Glacier Lake and the trail there from Grouse Ridge marked in yellow, which was the route I followed on my first trip. Through pine bulk and slender needle-sprays; This is one of the most satisfying books I have ever read, because it entertained me thoroughly AND made me feel better informed. It lies in a wide, level basin ringed by thick timber and marshy willow below Grouse Mountain (12,726’). On the way back I detoured to Round Lake for a moment and contemplated jumping in for a swim but by then the breeze had picked up a bit and I decided against it. It's also dog-friendly - a huge plus for us. Biggest little lake Both boys, Ethan at 12 and Cody at 9, carried full backpacks. Still, I could tell he was concerned about my soul, that he would have considered a day spent trying to convert me as a day well-spent. Challenging climbs but leveled out often enough that the hike still felt doable. What insect could resist this brightly colored Red Mountain Heather that I took a close up of along the Glacier Lake Trail. It is a 6 mile hike to Grouse Lake. There seems to be quite a number of off trail camping options at some unnamed lakes towards the end of the trail. People were arriving when we left around 1400. I had Glacier Lake all to myself for lunch at 1pm. Amazing views from the top of the ridge in all directions. Beautiful Milk Lake rests in a basin only a mile by trail below the Grouse Ridge campground near Grouse Ridge Lookout.Milk Lake's long shoreline offers plenty of opportunities for good fishing in deep water as well as shallow. You can off-road (though some places are non-motorized, same with motorized boats). Excellent weather: sunny (but not hot - mid 70's) and not a cloud in the sky, with a light breeze blowing in the afternoon. Well marked trail the entire time. Parking lot was packed. Hey, It’s Burning Man. Grouse Lakes Basin Trails near Lake Tahoe Grouse Ridge Campground and Trail Head 11-2012 This is a car campgroud recently improved. I have just returned from my last backpacking trip of the summer, my fifth— one for each decade I’ve shouldered a pack and disappeared into the wilderness. Saw multiple fish jumping in both of these lakes. Gold Lake Road The Gold Lake Road travels from Hwy 49 beneath the towering Sierra Buttes and heads north to Graeagle. The following day we did a day-hike to the 5 lakes which would have been very difficult with packs on! after all day scrambling on the peaks, There are many things to do at Grouse Ridge, especially when there are over 150 lakes in the Grouse Ridge Lakes Basin. I suggest an AWD /4WD. The improved stream flows to Mono Lake tributaries have restored delta habitats important to the aquatic birds that reside there and created a healthy ecosystem. Location: UNIT - Pacific Ranger District, Placerville Ranger District, Truckee Ranger District, Lake Tahoe Basin Mgt Unit, Carson Ranger District. Rush Creek is the largest stream in Mono Basin carrying 41% of the total runoff into Mono Lake. Cato Wildfire – working with NRCS, Lake DeSmet Conservation Service, Johnson County Weed & Pest, The Nature Conservancy, Johnson County Emergency Management Coordinator, BLM, and seven landowners on the reclamation and restoration of 28.000 acres of which about 20,000 is high priority sage grouse habitat. Craig. Lots of beautiful lakes to camp around. From the Copper Creek trailhead, gain 5,000 feet in 6 miles (option: camp partway at Lower or Upper Tent Meadows) to the last switchback before the pass into Granite Basin. While there are very few ruffed grouse in Lake County they are generally found along riparian areas. Lots of fun lakes to swim in and have fun around. Massive cumulus clouds spoke of lightning and thunder and rain and hail— of the incredible power of nature. Please be extra cautious out there! I am taking my kids here on Wednesday, looking for an update on Trail and Lake conditions, backpacking into Glacier Lake or 5 Lakes Basin. You get a variety of environments, from exposed granite rock to newly formed meadows, so you get a wide variety of wildflowers. The sage grouse utilizing the Clear Lake NWR is part of the larger 1.1-million-acre Devil’s Garden/Clear Lake population of sage grouse. I should have said, “Thanks, I’ll do that,” and moved on. Only saw a couple people on the trail (with super cute dogs so no complaints!) Livestock ranching and mineral extraction (including gold, silver, mercury, lithium, copper, and iron) are the main economic drivers for small communities in this region. There is a good trailhead at the Grouse Ridge campground. Only made it 1 mile before setting up camp at lovely Island Lake. NEXT POST: It’s down into the Five Lake Basin. It was our grandkids’ first backpacking trip and I wanted them to explore the area where my own backpacking experiences had begun in 1969— where I had first discovered the joys of backpacking, and the beauty of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. It was pretty crowded already. Really dry and crispy up there though. We saw about three backpacking groups, will come back for sure. The road between Bowman Lake Rd and Carr campground is passable in a high clearance vehicle, no 4WD necessary. I dipped my feet in at Glacier Lake while eating lunch and it was pretty dang cold, which is no surprise because it's fed by snowmelt from a patch about 500 feet away from the edge of the lake. I found these two moss colored elders along the trail to Glacier Lake. It was nice and refreshing. You begin at the trailhead which is right by the Upper Blue Lake Camp Ground. Only reason it didn't get a 5 was the amount of people. The trail is easy to follow. It is doable in a day If you are a local. Nice walk not super strenuous. For a straightforward three-day, 14-mile escape, point your compass to Grouse Lake, a tarn tucked among classic Sierra granite ridges at 10,500 feet. After 2 nights at our campsite we trudged up to Granite Lake at the base of the Black Buttes and took that trail back to Carr Lake and the end of our trip. There are at least three developed campsites at Five Lakes. Highly recommend swimming at Island Lake. Sprout purchased Skurka’s mapset and guidebookfor the hike, which was invaluable. At this time of year the water is warm, and we enjoyed swimming. We had a good time so did the dog! If I needed awe, if I needed inspiration, if I needed a reason to believe, it was right there in front of me, behind me, surrounding me. Exploring the world with Curtis and Peggy Mekemson, Backpacking in the Five Lakes Basin-Grouse Ridge area, Meet Bone: World Traveler, Fearless Adventurer, and Sex Symbol, In the Beginning… A Reflection on the Grouse Ridge-Black Buttes-Five Lakes Basin Area. We will return later this summer. He introduced himself as the Dean of Graduate Studies at the Shasta Bible College in Redding, California. He described himself as a Professor of Practical Theology and told me of his efforts to help children and women in Africa who had been left homeless and destitute by the seemingly endless conflicts. He lives outside of nearby Nevada City (just above Grass Valley in the map below), and, like me, has wandered and loved the glacier carved country from top to bottom, from the Buttes to the Basin. The Grouse Lakes area has a number of good hiking trails, although it isn’t the easiest area to get to. Heading cross-country toward Grouse Lake. Good trail overall. Lakes / ponds EVERYWHERE. Definitely recommend! Trail is clear and easy to follow. conditions are optimal now (June), lakes are VERY cold but it was awesome jumping in after a 12 mile hike. Hiked, swam, and ran. The Tahoe National Forest is closing offices and implementing virtual services to protect the health and safety of employees and members of the public during the COVID-19 outbreak in accordance with guidance from federal and state authorities. I dug into my pack and found Siddhartha, a 1922 novel by Hermann Hesse that a friend had given me in the 70s. We swam in Island lake, Five lakes Basin and glacier lake. I removed bear scat from the campsite so they wouldn’t get too nervous. Pretty well marked. I highly recommend! Dan Iles would like it. There are at least three developed campsites at Five Lakes. We got lost a few times. I explained that I was a bit more Eastern in my beliefs, a bit more Zen, and something of an Agnostic. If you're a hardcore biker, you can bike at Grouse Ridge.You can go boating at Lake Spaulding. The first trip into the Basin I made by myself this summer; the second was with my wife Peggy, my daughter Natasha, and her two sons, Ethan and Cody. Jesus changes water to wine, feeds five-thousand people with two fish and five loaves of bread, walks on water, heals the sick, revives the dead, and ascends to Heaven. Ethan and Cody contemplate another climb. The few people I saw were mostly doing this as a backpacking loop, but it can certainly be done as a long day hike. I recommend taking the Glacier Lakes trail towards Glacier Lake - there is some elevation gain but it's fairly gradual. I waved one last time, turned, and hiked down the trail toward the Five Lakes Basin. A waterfall in the Five Lakes Basin provides water from snowbanks to one of my favorite lakes. We stopped at the Five Lakes Basin area and camped for the night. We didn't do the full loop - we did the northern part on the Sand Ridge Trail, which was completely accessible. In the beginning: It sounds almost biblical. This year we took the trail to Glacier Lake. It went with the territory of who he was and what he believed. Description: Authorize a 3-part foot-race event surrounding Lake Tahoe Basin on existing roads and trails through a special use permit.