Main Features: Murray and Golden Canyons offer excellent entry points North and South of Carson Falls on the East Carson River. Carson Falls is an exceptional feature. See the videos and forum for more information about Carson Falls.

South from Wolf Creek

Coming South past Wolf Creek we encounter a large open meadow space to the Northeast where we get long views of Wolf Creek's path below the Eastern flanks of Highland and Silver Peaks. To the Southeast we can see the gelogical structure sticking up out of the terrain that I call "the Northern sharkfin," which marks the beginning of Murray and Golden Canyons.

Once we enter Murray Canyon we hiking along the edge of Eastern limit of the East Fork of the Carson River's watershed.

Hiking South across the lip of the East-West ridge dividing Murray and Golden Canyons gives us broad views South of Stanislaus Peak backed up in the far South by Sonora Peak. To the East of Sonora Peak we can see the gap where the Pacific Crest Trail exits the headwaters of the East Carson River.

To the Southeast we can see the sheer granites of Eastern side of the valley holding the upper reaches of the East Fork of the Carson River.

Crossing Golden Canon we come to a cross roads in the trail.

To the West, Paradise Valley leads up and over the crestline and down 3.16 miles to Disaster Creek. Heading North, upstream along Disaster Creek Trail brings us first to the trail junction with the trail coming up Arnot Creek, then this unified route intersects with the trail linking Gardner Meadow to Wolf Creek Pass. Heading downstream along Disaster Creek brings you to the Disaster Creek Trailhead at the end of road along the Clarks Fork of the Stanislaus River.

To the East the trail through Golden Canyon brings you 3.76 miles down to the East Fork of the Carson River just upstream from Carson Falls. Carson Falls is an amazing geological feature.

To the South we have just a couple of more miles before we switchback down to the East Carson River to begin our long ascent up to the East Carson Gap.

This map depicts the Pacific Crest Trail from Wolf Creek across Murray and Golden Canyons.

Maps Miles Elevations Information

Miles and Elevations

Wolf Creek                               9040                   8.63

Murray Canyon                         9360                 10.87

Golden Canyon                          9200                 12.73

Marsh Lake                                9200                  14.65

Miles and Elevations

Ebbetts to Sonora Pass Topo maps Index

How to Get Here

Ebbetts Pass Trail head

Gardner Meadow Trailhead

Disaster Creek & Clarks Fork Trailheads

Sonora Pass Trailhead

Physical location

Between East Carson River and Disaster Creek on the East Flank of the High Sierra Crest.

USGS topo map information

Map Name: Dardanelles Cone Calif., 1979, 7.5 minute Topographic

Compass Offset: Magnetic North is 18.25 degrees East of True North

scale: 1:24 000

Contours: 80 Feet

Permits

National Forest Contacts

Toiyabe National Forest

Backpacking permitting authority

Carson Ranger District

Wilderness Area

Carson-Iceberg Wilderness

Wolf Creek: 9199 feet

Murray Canyon Junction: 9360 feet

Golden Canyon Junction: 9200 feet

Swampy Lake: 9200 feet

Trail Guide, Section: Ebbetts Pass to Sonora Pass

Trail Guide, trailhead: Ebbetts Pass Trailhead

Trail Guide, trailhead: Gardner Meadow

Google Map: Highway 4

U.S. Geological Survey, Department of the Interior

The USGS

Download Free USGS Maps:

USGS MAP LOCATOR

Move the Map to the Sierras. Select size of Maps you wish to locate. Click "Mark Point" on map to see the USGS map grid of the selected map scale.

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USGS Topographic

Map Information

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