Trail Guide

INDEX

Miles
and
Elevations INDEX

Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
PERMITS

Meiss
Country PERMITS

All
HIGH
SIERRA PERMITS

Local
Weather


All Sierra Weather

South Upper Truckee Road Trailhead
to
Round Lake

Location

Meiss Country Roadless Area

I consider Round Lake to be a staging area, an easy access point onto and off of the long trails reaching South into the heart of the High Sierra, or North into Desolation and the forests and rock along the West shore of Lake Tahoe.

Well, I don't turn North from here for long backpacking trips into Desolation Wilderness, but do hike up to Showers Lake in the Northern end of Meiss Country.
Desolation Wilderness' permit restrictions are a hassle, while backpacking in the Meiss Country does not even require a backpacking permit. Thus I've always though of Desolation and Meiss as two different places with very different requirements.
We'd have to get a permit for entering the very busy Southern Desolation Wilderness timed with our hike North out of Meiss Country. Naw. I'll hike South from Meiss Country Roadless Area. Many less people...

I generally turn South from Meiss Meadow into the isolated terrain of the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail through the Mokelumne Wilderness on my way to Lake Alpine on Highway 4, rather than North into the much busier terrain of Desolation Wilderness.

I start long and short backpacking trips here out of the South Upper Truckee Trailhead via Round Lake because of its fairly easy access via public or private transportation, and the personal affinity I feel for this beautiful little almost-wilderness area.
Below we consider our next potential moves South or North when we hike up onto the main Tahoe to Yosemite, Pacific Crest, and Tahoe Rim Trails.

But first we must establish where we are and where we're going.

We're
Departing Round Lake Southbound
to
Meiss Meadow
South to
The Carson Gap

Miles & Elevations
SOUTHBOUND

MILES & ELEVATIONS
General Information

Northwest to Southeast
along the
PCT-TYT
from
Echo Summit to Meiss Cabin to Carson Pass

North to South
from
South Upper Truckee to Meiss Cabin to Carson Gap

The South Upper Truckee Trailhead entrance to the Meiss Roadless Area via Round Lake is as good an entrance on to the long trails North and South as its is a start point for a short trips around/across the Meiss Country Roadless Area.

This easily accessible beauty here makes the South Upper Truckee a real good destination for a quick getaway on its own merits.

Hiking Map
Meiss Country Roadless Area

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Note how large rocks are embedded whole in this harder, finer volcanic slab remnant of an ancient volcanic flow. The lower density of the volcanic flows that produced the lighter cement-like composite boulders was likely insufficient to be able to lift bigger rocks, as this slab did, into their flows.
We can see that the dense composite boulder above is composed of a very different material than that making up the lighter and courser consolidated boulders we passed on our way up here, and are littered around this slab.

The other, lighter-material composite boulders we have seen on our way up here from the South Upper Truckee are composed of a weak-cement style composite material that captured and bound thousands of mostly smaller rocks, from pebble to palm-sized rocks, together.
We've noticed examples of the cement-type of composite boulders to the South of the Big Meadow trail junction on our way hiking up here to Round Lake. Not so many of the dense type of composite boulder above. It appears that this very dense material was able to capture much bigger rocks than most of the weak-cement style composite boulders we saw on the way up here, and that are scattered about us on the East shore of Round Lake.

The boulder above is not breaking down into a pile of loose gravel anytime soon, as are the rest of the composite boulders held together by weak cement scattered around it. This composite boulder's very hard and very dense material appear to have two significant differences from the weak-cement composite boulders: It holds very much larger rocks than the weak-cement boulders could capture, and it will hold these big rocks for a much longer time period than the gravel bound up in the weak-cement composite boulders.

These two very different materials, as well as a variety of weak-cements holding together the less dense composite boulders tell us that a series of different ancient flows of very different compositions, temperatures, and densities surged through, and eventually filled this valley, apparently layer by layer. These materials flowed East into the Tahoe Basin down this ancient, previously glacial cut drainage.
Now this valley can claim to be both cut by the forces of frozen ice and then re-cut by the slower force brought to bear by tens of thousands of years of running water, wind, and rain.
Though we are still fairly close to the surging population and insanity of South Lake Tahoe, this valley and lake both show their age and experience, if we look closely. And it is quite a show, even if the power of its relentless forces are operating in slow motion, almost hidden from our sight, by our reckoning.

The whole span of our lives is no more than looking at just one frame of a very very long movie. The good thing is that all of the film leading up to our one frame is, "on the floor," for us to see, so to speak. Thankfully, the one frame of the film we can see shows us much of the previous plot of the movie we did not see.

It looks to me like waves of lahars swept through the valley, filling it up layer by layer. After these waves of volcanic flows eventually slowed down and abated, the relentless flow of water over tens of thousands of years eventually re-cut and swept away the soft volcanic materials that filled the center of Christmas Valley.

The power of erosion washing away the volcanic rock from the center of Christmas Valley is what left the Round Lake Pinnacle behind.
As the steady force of erosion cut deeper and deeper into the volcanic deposits in the center of the valley it left taller and taller remnants of these flows clinging precariously to the side of the valley. Today we can look up at the Round Lake Pinnacle and see the layers of the various flows that filled this valley, as big chunks of those depositions continue to fall off, each appearing to deliver a truckload of gravel into the valley floor when the weak cement holding these composite boulders together finally breaks down.

Diverse Terrain
What a 360 degree view we get over time and space from the North Shore of Round Lake! Looking around to the North and West we have fine views of serene granite rising out of dense green forests wrapping around the tranquil North and West shores of Round Lake. To our East we have grand views of the last contemporary repercussions of these massive ancient volcanic flows, the Round Lake Pinnacle surrounded by unstable volcanic cliffs and formations.

Round Lake has it all, a fine lake decorated with the eroding time capsules of composite boulders, a unique volcanic pinnacle towering above dense forest, fine granite, and great campsites all sitting cozily wedged in dense forests between granite and volcanic terrain.

The different types of volcanic composite boulders reflect the different characteristics of the forces that created this meandering interface between volcanic and granite terrain we straddled on the way up here from the South Upper Truckee Road Trailhead. This an interesting trail on many different levels, if we observe the terrain closely.

It is physically challenging while being esthetically pleasing as the curiosities of its beauty challenge our understanding and imagination.

The depth of the experience here stretches well beyond my sensory and intellectual ranges.

Thus the Backpacker's Forums.

The Backpacker's World
We will likely be more worried about dealing with the physical stresses and strains of the 1560 foot climb from the South Upper Truckee Trailhead to Round Lake than the external beauties and mysteries we are hiking through. But these two very different aspects of the experience are deeply related. We have to be able to deal with the physical stresses to enjoy the beauty and mystery.

It's a steep climb up to Round Lake from the South Upper Truckee Trailhead, especially for the first day of a trip. But it's a short hike up to Round Lake in exchange for great beauty. This "short but steep" terrain makes Round Lake a great place to do some warm-up trips to break us into Sierra Nevada hiking conditions. It's a great place to get and keep the legs and lungs ready for the long trail.

Practical Considerations
These great composite boulders on the East side of Round Lake, be they held together by hard or soft materials, are all situated within rolling distance of the Round Lake Pinnacle towering above us, along with its associated formations.
Look around between the East shore of Round Lake and the base of the Round Lake Pinnacle. You'll see that there is a huge field of composite boulders scattered throughout this dense forest under the pinnacle that have fallen off the Pinnacle, decorating the whole Eastern side of Round Lake under its dense forest cover.

Look up at the Round Lake Pinnacle. There are lots of potential composite boulders up there, ready to fall. Heck, I'd say the Pinnacle itself has some chance of coming down all at once. That would make a noise!

This situation is very much like snags: It is going to fall. The only question is when.

The distribution of that field of composite boulders is why I always camp on the North shore of Round Lake, rather than the East. The odds of having a composite boulder fall on us here is likely equal to winning the lottery: Slim to None. But to win the lottery we'd have to first buy a ticket, and to have a composite boulder fall on us we'd have to camp on the East shore of Round Lake.
I rarely camp on the East shore of Round Lake because I don't play the rockfall lottery. And there's the additional reason that the campsites on the North shore, and especially the ones by and behind the check dam, are superior to the campsites along the East shore of Round Lake. Unless you want evening Sun. Then the East shore sites are for you.

Conclusion
The composite boulders pictured above rolled through the area above the East shore of Round Lake where the campsites are located to get to their present positions on the Eastern shore of Round Lake. This happened thousands of years ago, most likely, but listen closely and we will hear that these mountains are alive with the sounds of falling rock. Our goal is not to be under any of these falling rocks.

In the long view of things the Eastern shore of Round Lake is an old and active rock-fall target zone under the Round Lake Pinnacle. I look at it as I view the lottery: the odds are long, but somebody always "wins."

My point here is that we should never camp under snags, big dead branches on trees, cliffs that are shedding rocks, or composite boulders. Most important is the underlying fact that we must observe, analyze, understand, and accommodate the inherent risks of the terrain as we encounter changing conditions, characters of terrains, and challenges on our way down the long trails along the Sierra Crest.

Eyes Open--Brain Engaged...

At our position here besides this huge block of solid ancient lava we are directly under the Round Lake Pinnacle.

Check this view of Christmas Valley from Echo Summit which clearly shows the Granite in the foreground and the deteriorating Volcanic wall above us in the background.

Terrain Forum
Composite Boulders

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Taking this long view Northwest we can see Tallac Peak along the distant West Shore of Lake Tahoe with the top of the Southern end of the ridge holding Rubicon Peak below and beyond Tallac Peak.

Phipps Pass is located to the West (Left) down the ridgeline running Left from that most distant ridge.

Miles and Elevations
South Upper Truckee to Meiss Meadow

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Southbound options
from
Round Lake
to
Highway 4

Long Distance Backpacking Options
out of
Round Lake
from the
South Upper Truckee Trailhead

The Local Situation
Departing Round Lake marks our second day hiking South out of the South Upper Truckee Road trail head. Your next move from here depends on your route, which depends on your specific hiking plan. We can go short, long or intermediate distance from here.

Short distance hikers may hike back to the trailhead or continue on to Meiss Meadow. From Meiss Meadow we can turn North at Meiss Cabin on the way to Showers Lake, and to possibly exit Meiss Country and end our backpacking trip through the Echo Summit Trailhead. That's a bit above 14 miles total.

Another option is to turn South from Meiss Cabin to exit Meiss Country and end our trip through the Carson Pass Trailhead, a distance of about 8.42 miles, plus the extra distance added by the trail rerouting at and above the South Upper Truckee Trailhead.

Check out these maps to check out our other backpacking trip options: The Schneider Cow Camp trailhead is best shown on the bottom-Left of the 15 minute map, while it's trail route from its trailhead near Caples Lake to its junction with the TYT/PCT/TRT within the Tahoe Basin is completely laid out on the bottom of this 30 minute map, though the 30 minute map still shows a section of trail no longer maintained, being the section of trail leading to the South of Showers Lake.

The current trail from Schneiders Cow Camp intersects with the TYT/PCT to the North of Showers Lake.

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Long Trails South
If we are hiking the long trails South out of the Lake Tahoe Basin via Meiss Meadow and the Carson Gap, our next question may well be, "which route should we hike" across Highway 88 down to the next trans-Sierra highway, Highway 4.
Should we backpack the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail route down to Lake Alpine or the Pacific Crest Trail down to Ebbetts Pass on Highway 4?

The discussion below deals with water conditions along both route options.

The PCT and TYT are routes of very different characters, the specific traits of each which will match up better with some hikers than others. The PCT is dry and volcanic along very well and deeply established trails. The TYT crosses much wetter granite terrain with a significant length of unmaintained trail. Give each some study time and pick the route which best suits your character, capabilities, and expectations.

Nonetheless, today, hiking South from Round Lake we will cross out of the Tahoe Basin through the Carson Gap to either begin our hike to the Southwest over Round Top and the Sisters along the Tahoe Yosemite Trail to Lake Alpine on Highway 4, or we will begin following the Pacific Crest Trail Southeast through Carson Pass towards Ebbetts Pass on Highway 4.

Today we begin our next section hiking South through the Sierra Nevada. We exit the Tahoe Basin to begin our hike across the Mokelumne Wilderness section of our trail South to Mount Whitney.

Check out the Carson Pass Region Map for details of our transition out of the Lake Tahoe Basin on to our selected Southbound trail. Or not.

I used to hike from the Tahoe Basin to Round Top and back during Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter, but have given up the Summer Trip as I don't like having to stop at the Carson Pass Cabin and not get a permit for Round Top at the Carson Pass Cabin halfway through my trip...

Now (2008 and on, or so) the El Dorado National Forest is saying we need Winter permits for the CPMA. Sigh. How I'm going to get a permit from El Dorado for a trip beginning (Winter) in the Tahoe Basin is questionable. No, no question about it: it's just a hassle.

My point is that we can hike out of, and back into the Tahoe Basin as part of a fun short/medium distance backpacking trip during any season of the year.

We'll have to screw around a bit to obtain the proper permits from the LTBMU, who don't require permits for hikes in the Meiss Country Roadless Area, to get them to issue our permit for trips beginning in the Meiss Country on our way to Round Top and back.

Us long distance Summertime backpackers hiking South out of either the South Upper Truckee or Echo Summit Trailheads in the Meiss Country Roadless Area have already drawn our long distance permits from the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit specifying which campsites we will utilize in the Carson Pass Management Unit before we hit the trailhead.

Right?

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South from Round Lake

Backpacking two miles South from Round Lake our trail tees out at the Meiss Meadow trail junction. This is the last point where the Pacific Crest, Tahoe to Yosemite, and Tahoe Rim Trail routes are unified for all Southbound backpackers.
From here the clockwise Tahoe Rim Trail runs Northwest with the other two trails, the counter-clockwise TRT runs Northeast towards Big Meadow, while the Southbound TYT and PCT continue South across Meiss Meadow on their way out of the Tahoe Basin via the Carson Gap.

Meiss Meadow is where our trail up from the South Upper Truckee Trailhead (or Big Meadow) intersects with the TYT and PCT passing North and South through the Meiss Country Roadless Area.

The PCT-TYT trail bisects the length of the Meiss Country Roadless Area, crossing the 12 miles separating Echo Summit from Carson Pass.

All Southbound backpackers will turn South, left, to hike the short 1.52 mile intermediate difficulty trail to the Carson Gap by crossing the Southern corner of Meiss Meadow to find the trail above the gully for the short climb up to Carson Gap's 8800 feet of elevation. Carson Gap is 400 feet above Meiss Cabin.
On the way up to the Carson Gap we will see excellent views North across the expansive South end of Lake Tahoe, its Southern and Eastern shores, and the Carson Range wrapping around them. The view to the North is gotten while hiking up to the Carson Gap, while grand views to the South don't open up until we approach the gap itself, where the view to the North is obscured.

No problem. We'll keep an eye on the view to the North as we hike South up to the Carson Gap.

Round Top and the Sisters
Carson Pass Management Area Map

Looking South from Carson Gap we observe the impressive forms of Elephant Back, the awesome ridge wrapping around Winnemucca Lake, Round Top, and then The Sisters, from left to Right. Out of sight behind us and to the North Lake Tahoe lays hidden at the base of its expansive Basin.
Standing in the Carson Gap puts us at the center of a low gap in the ridgeline of the Tahoe Rim that makes up the natural Southern exit from the Tahoe Basin.
Our position in the Carson Gap puts us about a mile West and about 400 feet above Carson Pass on Highway 88 if we are following the Pacific Crest Trail route Southeast, instead of breaking off to the Southwest to follow the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail.

Here's a close-up picture of what the Carson Gap looks like, looking North from the South, from a position hiking South on the TYT up to Round Top and the Sisters via the Lost Cabin Mine Trail. Check out this wider perspective of the Carson Gap taken from the trail between Winnemucca Lake and Round Top, which is the Westernmost of the 3 routes we have to choose from connecting the PCT to Round Top and the TYT.

We don't have to hike South through Carson Pass following the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail South unless we want to. There are two quicker routes to Round Top and the Sisters into Summit City Creek than the Winnemucca Lake trail junction situated a mile South of Carson Pass.

At an unmarked trail junction about 50 yards South of the Carson Gap breaks off to the Right (Southwest) from the Pacific Crest Trail to follow this first trail split of the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail to the Southwest, or we can continue hiking Southeast on the Pacific Crest Trail towards the Carson Pass along the PCT.

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Tahoe to Yosemite Junction

If we are hiking the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail we have three basic routes to choose to get up to the top of Round Top and the Sisters on our way over to Summit City Creek.

The first two routes require we hike straight down from the unmarked junction just South of the Carson Gap to cross Highway 88 hiking towards Woods Lake. The second unmarked trail is just a little further South down the trail at the base of the descent South from the Carson Gap. These two trails meet at the creek, and run together down to Highway 88.

After joining together the combined trail leads down to a crossing of Highway 88 a bit West of Carson Pass. On the South side of Highway 88 we see and follow the dirt road Southwest (Right) to eventually take a Left turn (South)where this dirt road meets with the paved road to Woods Lake.

Approaching Woods Lake we'll find two ways up to Round Top, the Lost Cabin Mine Route and the Footbridge Route.

Lost Cabin Mine Trail
Just before reaching Woods Lake we will turn to our right to hike up the paved road looping through the Woods Lake Car Campground, if we want to hike to Round Top on the Lost Cabin Mine Trail.
We can pick up this trail as we hike down the paved road to Woods Lake, before we reach the Woods Lake Car Campground, because part of this trail sits off to the West of the paved road, paralleling it South to Woods Lake.
I find the best way to hook up with the Lost Cabin Mine Trail is by hiking down the paved portion of the road to and through the Woods Lake Car Campground.
A short trail at the top of the campground loop leads between two campsites to tie into the old jeep road up to the Lost Cabin Mine. The jeep trail narrows into our foot trail as it continues South past the rustic but active Lost Cabin Mine up to Round Top Lake. This route approaches Round Top from the North.

The Lost Cabin Mine Trail is a pretty hike that gives us some great views of the Carson Pass region, the South end of the Lake Tahoe Basin, the surrounding mountains, and good looks at the Carson Gap we passed through out of the Tahoe Basin on our way up here.

I prefer to take this route to Round Top Lake. It is the steepest but shortest route, and I always stop at Woods Lake for a snack break and to meet the locals. It's a pretty lake with people from up and down the East Sierra kicking back, picnicking, hiking and fishing.
I generally walk the more populated routes through places like Woods Lake so I can check out how it's being used, who's using it, and talk to them to find how they are doing.

How Ya Doing?

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Footbridge Route
The second way up to Round Top Lake is the footbridge route across Woods Creek to our Left, East, as we walk down the paved road to Woods Lake and its Campground.

We'll cross the footbridge prior to reaching the Woods Lake Campground or Woods Lake. I still walk down to Woods Lake for a break before I hike the short distance back to either the Lost Cabin or Footbridge routes.

The Footbridge route is an easy intermediate difficulty trail bending Southeast after crossing the bridge to follow the rise on the East side of Woods Lake up to where we get into and follow a low valley leading up to the trail junction at Winnemucca Lake.
The Winnemucca Lake junction ties our trail together with the trail South out of Carson Pass, and to the Westbound trail up to Round Top Lake.
At this Winnemucca Lake trail junction we turn West to approach Round Top from the East.

Carson Pass Route
Our third option for connecting to the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail out of the Lake Tahoe Basin is to continue South on the Pacific Crest Trail from the Carson Gap to and through Carson Pass to the Winnemucca Trail junction located a mile South of the Carson Pass.

The Winnemucca Lake Trail breaks off the PCT to the Southwest towards Round Top Lake via Winnemucca Lake below the North face of Elephant Back. This route approaches Round Top Lake from the East. At Winnemucca Lake we will intersect with the footbridge trail coming up from Woods Lake, and at the Round Top Lake trail junction we will meet the South end of Lost Cabin Mine trail.

Check out the Carson Pass Hiking Map. Click the red dots.

That's the basics of our three route options we've got for today's hiking from Round Lake to Round Top Lake, if we're going to hike the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail.

Though it's only a 6.97 mile hike up to Round Top Lake from Round Lake, and downhill afterward into Summit City Creek, I'm likely to spend tonight enjoying the stunning view of the expansive horizon and surreal terrain at Round Top Lake.

Round Top Lake is a real nice place to spend a night on our way South on the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail.

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Camping options are plentiful on the Tahoe to Yosemite Route

Round Top Lake is the second highest point we will have hit so far on the trail South from Meeks Bay, thirty feet lower than Dicks Pass. But there is water and great camping here, which Dicks Pass lacks.

I always like to camp at the highest point, if possible. Continuing past Round Top Lake brings us around the Western shoulder of the Western Sister.

From Round Top we'll descend down the Southwestern side of the Round Top-Sisters massif overlooking, then passing by the crystal blue waters of 4th of July Lake on our way down into Summit City Canyon. Round Top Lake, 4th of July Lake, and the campsite near the Summit City Canyon trail junction at the base of Summit City Canyon are excellent places to camp.

Fourth of July Lake is quieter than Round Top Lake, due to its further distance from the Carson Pass Management Area Trailheads, and I've never seen anyone in the campsite near the Summit City Canyon trail junction.

If either Round Top Lake or Fourth of July Lake in the Carson Pass Management Area are potential campsites on your route South along the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail, I strongly recommend that you make sure to name these locations on your backpacking permit.
If you want to start a hike out of Carson Pass make sure you inquire at the El Dorado National Forest about the Carson Pass Management Area Permitting policies.

Carson Pass Management Area
El Dorado Forest Service web site page.

Carson Pass Management Area
TahoetoWhitney notes.

Carson Pass Management Area

The Carson Pass Management Area was set up to manage Winnemucca Lake, Round Top Lake and 4th of July Lake because of their heavy usage by Tahoe and Sierra Locals, especially during the high Summer Season. Day hikers are also scattered all over the mountains around here during Summer.

During high Summer backpacking season weekends, I just stop for lunch or a break at Round Top Lake. It is just too busy to be enjoyable on Summer weekends. It is always better to pass through Round Top and the Sisters during the week, if possible. Then I spend a night.

Long-distance through hikers should have no problems camping here, as permits that cross more than one National Forest are generally honored by all special zones along the trails between Lake Tahoe and Mount Whitney.

When I am following the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail across Round Top, I generally list Round Top Lake or 4th of July Lake as one of my campsites on my through-hiking permit, and I have camped there for years without problems, so far. But in recent years they have marked out all of the campsites at Round Top and 4th of July Lakes, and fill them up every Summer weekend.

If we name a campsite at Round Top or Fourth of July Lake, and find a local backpacker with a local permit for that site we either share or use another campsite. No problem. We local and long distance backpackers should have no problem accommodating each other...

From the Carson Gap South on the Tahoe to Yosemite trail there is regular water all the way to our first ford of Summit City Creek. Conditions are much drier following the Pacific Crest trail South of the Carson Gap to Ebbetts Pass than on the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail.

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Water

General Thoughts
on
Seasonal Water Conditions

From when the trails first fill up and flow as creeks during the thaw of early Spring, to the end of fall when only the main drainages contain weak flows, the Sierras will have displayed an amazing range of water conditions.

Approaching Summer the streams draining the perimeter of the bowls and upper valleys are still flowing. From that point on all of these drainages will begin receding until most creeklets that were flowing heavily in early Spring will be bone dry by late Fall.

In a broader context we can see that the long term emergence of drier conditions and a drier environment are creating low water situations earlier with each new year.

Generally only the main drainages in the High Sierras are flowing in late Fall. A good rule of thumb is to anticipate that the full flow of water through creeks and tributaries in Spring will gradually recede down to the main drainages in Fall, and then even the upper reaches of the main drainages themselves can dry out, meaning the rivers begin their flows down the mountains from much lower elevations in late Fall.

Each season is different, so late season travelers should check local conditions and just what kind of season they are getting into before, if not when they order their permits.
If you are planning on picking up your permit from a Trailhead permit box, consider calling the local Ranger District and seeing what their Wilderness Ranger has to say about water conditions.

The extremes in Sierra Nevada water availability are incredible. During the height of the Spring Thaw the rivers can kill you. At the end of Summer we will have a hard time finding water for significant stretches of trail.

Here's the link to the Ca. Dept of Water Resources reporting station maps. From there we can find all the river reports to get a general idea of water conditions.

I've also added water and fire reports to the High Sierra Weather page.

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Specific Considerations
The Pacific Crest Trail South from the Carson Gap

If we are following the Pacific Crest Trail South our main concern will be where we are going to get water. Especially during Summer and Fall of the recent very dry years, which are forming into a new, drier environment.
The reason this is important is that from the Carson Gap moving South we are entering a fairly arid portion of the Eastern High Sierra, especially during these drought Summer years, and during late Fall of any year.
My next, and related concern is where to take breaks and where to set up fine campsites. I always insist that break spots be at/near watering points and at the top of every mountain or high points with views, if at all possible.
Do enjoy the views we have worked so hard to see. Take enough time to enjoy all aspects of the experience. Our final concern is where we are going to camp between the Carson Gap and Ebbetts Pass.
We'll check out campsites as we hike South on that section of the PCT guide.
The areas we are going to select campsites from are determined by our daily miles, and in some cases the distances between premium campsites will determine our daily miles.

Carson Gap to Highway 4, Ebbetts Pass

Carson Gap
Nice Pond and flowers, if in season. Iris blooms annually in the Carson Gap, and they are the crowing glory of the amazing Spring Bloom that spreads a carpet of color across the gap.

Pond water sucks. I water up for the next stage of the hike towards Ebbetts Pass out of the South Upper Truckee River at the last ford before climbing South to the Carson Gap.

For what distance do we water-up for?

Under "worse-case conditions" I'd say we could lack fresh water sources for 11.49 miles South of Carson Pass until we reach Tamarack Lake to the South of the Blue Lakes Road. Adding the distance from the South Upper Truckee river in Meiss Meadow, and that figure goes up to 14.4 miles.

That's a long ways!

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Water Sources
Carson Gap to Ebbetts Pass on Highway 4
Pacific Crest Trail

There is plenty of water in the Meiss Country Roadless Area, and good water availability continues along the Southbound TYT.
But there's not so much good water hiking South on the Pacific Crest Trail. The water availability we experience is dependent on the season, and the Winter and Spring seasons have been diminishing in length and moisture with each passing year. The PCT between Carson and Ebbetts Passes begins quickly drying out after the Spring Thaw.

If we are heading South on the PCT, I advise getting water at the South Upper Truckee headwaters before climbing up to the Carson Gap. I carry water from there to Lost Lakes or Tamarack Lake. I would prefer not to water at the pond in the Carson Gap after grazing season begins, nor any of the ponds we find along the trail South.
In fact, after the Spring Thaw ends we can only depend on having a series of diminishing ponds South of the South Upper Truckee water source down to Lost Lake.

Though the ponds will have an acceptable quality of water after the Spring Thaw ends, it will quickly become stagnant and stale as Spring progresses into Summer and Fall.

The pond at Carson Gap, Frog Lake South of Carson Pass, and the ponds at the top of Forestdale Creek are all less preferable to the water in the South Upper Truckee River to the North, and the water in the Spring-feed creek coming off the Northeast side of Raymond Peak, which is my preferred source of water between Carson and Ebbetts Passes.

The series of lakes stretching South of Blue Lakes Road down to the spring fed creek coming off the Southwestern flank of Raymond Peak generally have acceptable water, but I prefer the fine spring fed creek.

Here's a list of places to get water for the 11.49 miles South from Carson Pass to Tamarack Lake.

Carson Pass
No Water at Carson Pass,
...but say hello to the Volunteers!

Frog Lake
OK in Spring, pond-like during Summer, and too low during Fall.

Crossing Forestdale Creek & Ponds
Forestdale Creek withdraws down the mountain below where our trail crosses early during dry years. The Forestdale ponds are nasty when low. I don't like pond water, and especially don't like it when the ponds are low...

Forestdale Divide above Blue Lakes and Headwaters of Summit City Creek
No water here, but it's got nice Views Southwest down Summit City Canyon and of Devil's Corral. Note that the Tahoe Yosemite trail dropped down to Summit City Creek on the West Side of the Sisters and Round Top. We are viewing Summit City Creek from the Eastern side of the same massif.

Lost Lakes
Good place for hot lunch with water, shade, improved sites, and a great view of the backside of The Nipple. But it's about a half-mile offset to the East from the PCT.
Though the map indicates the PCT goes by Lost Lakes, it does not. The trail and road have been rerouted, putting Lost Lakes about a half-mile East of the current (2014) trail route and Forestdale Road.

View South from under The Nipple
There is no water up here, but we can see the upcoming section of forest our trail enters that will soon give us relief from this fairly long section of exposed trail, and lots of water. Under that forest to our South are a series of lakes and creeks where we will find fresh clean water.

Tamarack Lake
Excellent camping sites, though accessible to cars.

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TYT

If we are backpacking South on the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail there are many water sources all the way to the first ford of Summit City Creek from Meiss Meadow. In fact, the TYT route has lots of water, and water will not be a problem hiking this section from Carson Gap to Lake Alpine with a little investigation and planning.

The main water consideration for TYT hikers will be the hike from Camp Irene over Mount Reba and down to Lake Alpine.

If Lake Valley, the upper valley on Mount Reba below its crest, is dried out late in the season we will have to consider carrying enough water for the full 8.36 mile hike from Camp Irene to Lake Alpine.

The water availability assumption I make is for late Fall conditions, when water is at its shortest supply in the High Sierras. This generally means that the perimeter and side drainages of every bowl or valley that we will cross have completely dried up, and therefore the only running water will be the main drainage at the center of the Valley, or the middle of the bowl we are passing through.

Many times we will find that even the main drainage has retreated down mountain as Fall deepens into Winter.

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Hiking Information

7.5 min
Topo Hiking Map
Meyers to Carson Pass

30 min
Topo Hiking Map
Meiss Roadless Area
to
Carson Pass Management Area

Miles and Elevations

comments

Next page South
Approaching Meiss Meadow

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General comments about the South Upper Truckee to Carson Gap section of the High Sierra trails, or this particular location:

Section
South Upper Truckee to the Carson Gap

Location
Round Lake