Well, I always camp "rough," in that I don't make a fire or fire ring, and never make furniture. A VERY energetic hike at altitude, but well worth the effort! Man, you just gotta take your time and carefully kick good steps into it. Hiking from Carson Pass to Showers Lake PCT TRAIL JUNCTION The forest thins as you hike, and the terrain turns to grassy mountain sides. CPMA 15 min Backpacking Map, View North A look to the East at the trail coming up from Winnemucca Lake. 1.04 miles, Winnemucca Lake The trail up from Winnemucca Lake crossed the barren patch before reaching the position I am pointing at. This view gives us a good ground-level perspective of the trail's route between its PCT junction and the West shore of Winnemucca Lake. Discover (and save!) 5.48 miles, Winnemucca Lake The Skinny: Trail: Carson Pass to Elephants Back Trailhead Coordinates: 38.694792, -119.989333 Trailhead Elevation: 8598 Feet I'm pointing towards Carson Pass in the distance, which is the low point in the Sierra Crestline under the South flank of Red Lake Peak and to the North of the terrain rising towards Elephant Back. Round Top Lake nestled in a bowl at the base of the Sisters. There is a trail that goes along the north side of the lake, and for extreme hikers, you can also reach Round Top Lake and Fourth of July Lake for about an 8.8 mile hike. My favorite California wildflower region is the Carson Pass area in Alpine County. North: To Footbridge on Woods Creek below Woods Lake. In the video above we hike the PCT route from the Carson Gap through Carson Pass. I'm pointing through our Carson Gap exit from the Tahoe Basin at Dicks Pass far to the North. In the foreground is the Winter route up to Round Top Lake from Woods Lake via the valley below that's visible on the Right (East) edge of the image above, or skiing up from Carson Pass. There are a number of different trails (see my article on Meiss Lake), each with a different set of features. up to Woods Lake is located below us and the the Left, the West, while Carson Pass is located in the distant Right of the image, at the head of the forest running up the mountain from Left to Right that we can see below the Carson Gap. At 10,380', Mt Round Top is the highest peak in the Carson Pass area, and the finest place for a bird's-eye view. Unlike many sandy areas where multiple trails are formed as hikers attempt to stay on firm ground, the ground here is hard, meaning there is no real reason to hike out of the established trailbed. I pointed out this granite rise, or lip bounding the North end of the flank up to Round Top Lake when we were hiking South under the shadow of Elephant Back. Nov 5, 2018 - This Pin was discovered by Kelly. Trail junction at West end of Winnemucca Lake with terrain West up to Round Top Lake in the background. Create New Account. The Carson Pass Region hiking map and the Carson Gap to Lake Alpine Miles and Elevations pages below lay out the various routes and the mileages of these three routes up to Round Top Lake from the Carson Gap, while the miles page measuring the distance between Carson Pass and Ebbetts Pass along the PCT lays out the miles to the Winnemucca Lake trail junction along its way South down to Ebbetts Pass. Winnemucca Lake, Top of the Climb to If car camping is more your speed, the closest to Carson Pass is Woods Lake campground. To the Right to the stand of Whitebarks we can see the flank we've got to climb to get up to Round Top Lake. High Sierra Trail Dogs From here it is possible to veer from the Round Top Trail and turn the route into a lollipop loop around Woods Lake or loop back to the trailhead via the Carson Pass to Woods Lake Trail. We can see almost the entirety of its route from Elephant Back to Winnemucca Lake above. Now we have one. It is approximately 1 mile to Frog Lake and another 1.3 mile to Winnemucca Lake. or. to From Hwy. On the far distant Right side of the image we can see a low rising mound of granite that begins descending on its furthest Right. https://trailingahead.blogspot.com/2014/07/from-winnemucca- (Picture gallery and video at end of post). The Carson Pass area provides some of the best winter recreation in the Tahoe area. Carson Pass is the fourth highest automobile pass in the Sierra Nevada. Our next move is from Round Top Lake to Fourth of July Lake on our way down to enter the unmaintained section of Tahoe to Yosemite Trail along Summit City Creek. I say "typically" because over the past 40 years we have very clearly seen a gradual change in the characters of the seasons, their durations, and the timing of their transitions. 2> Ah, the snow lip below the top of Mount Reba. A VERY energetic hike at altitude, but well worth the effort! 3.18 miles, Fourth of July Lake Carson Pass on CA 88 is one of our favorite passes. of From the start, I could tell that wind from the 11/13 storm had a much greater impact on the area than any snow that may have fallen. Winnemucca Lake, a large, often frozen lake, lies at the base of Round Top. to Going this direction, Hope Valley is another 7 miles down the road to the east of Carson Pass on Hwy. Log In. Backpack: 11 miles round-trip to Fourth of July Lake. Carson Pass: Excellent summer hike from Carsons Pass to Round Top Lake - See 30 traveller reviews, 38 candid photos, and great deals for South Lake Tahoe, CA, at Tripadvisor. Questions? Our Southbound Tahoe to Yosemite Trail passes around the base of the descending mountain flank after passing West by the compass through the upcoming Round Top Lake trail junction. Sign Up. Hiking West approaching top of climb from Winnemucca Lake to Round Top Lake. Soft Frozen East Shore If you like summer wildflowers, this is absolutely the hike for you. Our view West, looking at the terrain we are going to cross during our upcoming hike from Winnemucca Lake to Round Top Lake. While the display this year is less than last year because of the drier winter we had, a hike through beautiful alpine backdrops sprinkled with patches of color provides a welcome relief in our current stressful environment. Stella has the hots for Rocky. Or enjoy an easy stroll through Indian Grinding Rock State Park. 88. Round Top Lake lays nestled in under The Sisters. Round Top Lake can be reached via the Woods Lake Trailhead. View across Northwest shore of Winnemucca Lake at Elephant Back. Carson Pass Special Management Area is set aside from the rest of the Mokelumne Wilderness for two distinct areas. 1> If it's still cold enough to hold back the snow pack from melting too quickly, and beginning the dangerous phase of the Spring Thaw, we are good to go. From Round Top Lake another mile and a half of even more difficult trail brings hikers to Fourth of July Lake. First, the Round … The temps are important too. This easy-to-use map covers the Carson Pass area just South of Lake Tahoe, from Powderhouse Peak down to Round Top and Deadwood Peak, including the lift-accessed backcountry around Kirkwood (see below for a zoomable map with the full area of coverage). Red Lake Peak rises to the North of Carson Pass, above the East side of our exit from the Tahoe Basin through the Carson Gap. We hiked this portion in June of 2015 and encountered no snow. This hike has it all. Description. Log across Woods Creek at Winnemucca Lake. My Late Spring trips through this section tell me there are two things to seriously worry about: Looking down the Northwest shore of Winnemucca at where the trail junction lays with Round Top towering above West end of Winnemucca Lake. Some late May snow slowed us up a bit, though and we were contented with a shorter hike to Winnemucca Lake. Begin at the top of Carson Pass and follow the ridgeline north for a little more than 1.5 miles. I’ve talked about the Carson Pass to Lake Winnemucca trail, and the Meiss Lake trail, this time we’ll take a loop from Woods Lake to Lake Winnemucca and then to Round Top Lake and back. Carson Pass-Round Lake to Big Meadow. Radar, Big View and Accessibility Help. There isn't much shade on the trail to Round Top Lake so you Looking North at the "lip" of granite rising on the North side of the flat up to Round Top Lake. last chance to turn West to hike up When we arrive at Winnemucca Lake we pass the trail junction where the "middle" route, the trail coming up from Woods Lake arrives at Winnemucca Lake. of our trail I recollect only one time camping here, and that was during a Winter trip in the late '90s that was not working out as expected. Registered Members can post up stand alone post about the trail with text, images, maps and videos in the Trails Forum that supplements this section of the Trail Guide. Short flat/downhill to next gap in terrain, this one above and East of Round Top Lake. The western flank of Elephants Back was bare down to about the 9000 ft topo line. The Old Emigrant Road was a long loop around the Silver Lake basin, starting from Caples Lake and reaching an elevation of 9,640 feet (2,938 m) at one place. Round Top Lake. Looking East-Southeast across Winnemucca from just a bit above its West shore. I've never intentionally set Winnemucca Lake as the destination of a backpacking trip. Restrooms are available. Us long distance backpackers crossing the Carson Pass Management Area on the PCT and TYT are good to go if we named a location in the CPMA on our permit. The Western and Central routes each take a much more direct route. during Pay the day use fee (summer only) and find the trailhead just to the right side (north) of the ranger station itself. Looking back at Elephant Back to the Northeast while hiking South past its Western Flank. The central route crosses a footbridge a short distance North down Woods Creek from Woods Lake to climb up the valley pictured below to our position at Winnemucca Lake. The pass is traversed by California State Route 88. I think is was the early 2000s. Northeast view of Elephant Back across the top of the valley down to Woods Creek footbridge. Winnemucca Lake sits beyond the Southwest flank of Elephant Back, the Right side in the image below. June 7 2010, Early Season We can just see a blue sliver of the lake through a break in the trees around it. Round Top Lake can be reached via the Woods Lake Trailhead. Day hike: 8.8 miles round-trip to Round Top Lake and Round Top Peak. About Lake Tahoe: Hiking: Round Top-Carson Pass South Hiking/Backcountry Skiing on Round Top and the Carson Pass Area. From the top of the pass you can hike to the summits of Round Top or Red Lake Peak. Carson Pass Region Map, 30 min Map The pass is traversed by California State Route 88.It lies on the Great Basin Divide, with the West Fork Carson River on the east and the South Fork American River on the west.. Our View East is from a nice little flat above the climb West from Winnemucca Lake, and just a bit East of Round Top Lake. There is now a Carson Pass Management Area for the area immediately around and including Round Top Peak and some new regulations. We passed Frog Lake, Winnemucca Lake, hiked over snowy mountain trails and landed our packs at Round Top Lake - 8,980'. To the north on Carson Pass are other day hikes. That about covers the three routes up to Round Top Lake from the Carson Gap. Winnemucca Lake. Notes: Many wildflowers still in bloom. Facebook. June 8, 2009. I'm pointing towards the location of Winnemucca Lake below Round Top from PCT junction. Winnemucca Lake in June slushy conditions. Round Top Peak via Kit Carson Pass is a 8.2 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Markleeville, California that features a lake and is rated as moderate. or. You can also locate Carson Pass by traveling 55 miles east of Jackson on Hwy. The total distance of the Eastern Route from Carson Gap to Round Top Lake via Carson Pass and Winnemucca Lake is 4.57 miles, while the Center Route up from the footbridge is 3.90 miles. Time: July 28, 2012 from 6:30am to 9pm Carson Pass to Ebbetts Pass Saved by Kelly Kelly The backlighting shows us the Forestdale Canyon through the low-V in the terrain to the East beyond Winnemucca Lake. Elevation: 8550 at the trail head. As our trail South approaches Winnemucca Lake we encounter the second trail branching off to the lake to the third of three campsites here. East to Winnemucca Lake. Ahead a useless parallel trail branches to our right around a stand of Whitebark Pines. This parking lot is on the south side of Carson Pass. Hiking the Terrain the trail from Winnemucca Lake follows West up to Round Top Lake. Looking North across the valley the trail up from Woods Lake follows up to Winnemucca Lake while pointing to the location of Carson Pass. This is a VERY popular spot, so expect crowds. We can see how high up we are relative to the trail to Winnemucca Lake from the Northwest corner of Elephant Back. At 8,573 ft, is the highest pass crossing the Sierra that is open in the winter. Tweet. Woods lake is located on Highway 88 just west of Carson Pass. Round Lake. With a gradual climb to granite expanses and alpine lakes, it is a great trail for families. We notice the trail North down the Valley past the East Shore of Woods Lake, The trail North down to the Footbridge over Woods Creek Below Woods Lake. I say "down there" because Round Top Lake sits in a depression ringed by the Sisters, and their Westernmost half-sister, which is the Western shoulder of the Westernmost Sister. All backpackers can post text comments about the following segment of trail through the comments links on all the trail guide pages. Approaching Winnemucca Lake Trail Junction. We're taking a look back at the lake before we begin the short climb up to Round Top Lake. Carson Pass Station. between View North hiking South to Winnemucca Lake from Carson Pass. The Eastern Route to Round Top Lake crosses over to the Right side of the image above after passing through the Carson Gap, to bend a wide arc across the terrain to get to our position here at Winnemucca Lake. Trail Post designating campsite two branches off to the Southeast towards Winnemucca Lake. You can also park at the south lot. Round Top Lake. See more of Carson Pass Station on Facebook. These miles are not unnecessary if we started our trip out of the Carson Pass Trailhead, though they are unnecessary, if we've exited the Tahoe Basin along the TYT route. … This hike is located in the Carson Pass Management Area (part of the Mokelumne Wilderness), just south of Highway 88 near Kirkwood Mountain Resort. 88 out of Stockton: Go northeast up through the west side of the range approximately 100 miles to the pass. Round Top Lake . The most popular hike starts at the Carson Pass Information Station and takes you through a series of wonderful wildflower gardens until you ge t to Winnemucca Lake. The remainder of our hike to the trail junction is along the shore of Winnemucca Lake. In the middle-elevation far-Right of the image we can see Winnemucca Lake. Participants: (19) Dave & Jackie Lederle, Connie & Tom Metz, Jill Duthie, Bobbie Ables-Smith, Barb Hayes, Steven & Emma Fotheringham, Able Lile, Stefanie Rochow, Ellie Zoslocki, Eric Boone, Lisa, Eric & Becky Teberg, Debbie, Don and Katie Fantazia. below Round Top Lake, Round Top Lake My favorite California wildflower region is the Carson Pass area in Alpine County. This would be a third route to Winnemucca Lake, via Round Top Lake by the Lost Cabin Mine trail up from Woods Lake. Press alt + / to open this menu. The parking lot at Carson Pass (elevation 8,574 feet), about a 30-minute drive from South Lake Tahoe, fills up fast on July weekends—and for good reason.Savvy wildflower watchers know this popular route offers classic High Sierra scenery at its best, with leashed dogs welcome and a trail that’s easy enough for children. We will get bits of shade, but we'd have to stop to enjoy them. Lake Alpine. Round Lake. Round Top Lake is surrounded by Round Top and Three Sisters mountains. Looking down and Northeast at two routes up to Winnemucca Lake. Saved by Kelly Kelly For the hike to Frog Lake, park at the Carson Pass Information Station on State Route 88 at the top of Carson Pass. State Route 88 (SR 88), also known as the Carson Pass Highway, is a state highway in the U.S. state of California. I'm not sure when assigned-restricted camping began in the CPMA. Our trail crosses the point in that ridgeline where its descent from Left to Right off Round Top climb to the top of the low rise on the Right side of the image. Sections of this page. 88 in Hope Valley. The trail in the canyon below runs North down onto to a forested ridge arm wrapping around the East shore of Woods Lake, at the bottom of which this Central route trail Tees-out on the paved road to Woods Lake, after crossing the footbridge over Woods Creek a short ways North of Woods Lake. Trail Junction, Snow Route up to Create New Account. Round Top Lake, Miles measured from our Carson Gap exit point out of the Lake Tahoe Basin. reporting station, Silver Lake Terms of Service. Winnemucca Lake. Late-Spring Conditions Situation The scenery is breathtaking. This is where our trail passes South to Round Top Lake. Alternatives: - From Round Top Lake, take the 4 mile round trip to the Southern flanks of Round Top and the Fourth Of July Lake. Perhaps one of the most popular hikes in the Carson Pass area is the trek from Carson Pass to Winnemucca Lake. But, I do understand why they only have three campsites here: It's way too close to a busy trailhead in a busy Management Area. View East of Winnemucca Lake after hiking past it West towards Round Top Lake on the Southbound Tahoe to Yosemite Trail. From Carson Pass, snowdepths held fairly steady between 8-12 inches The South side holds treasures like Round Top, Elephant's Back, the Sisters, Moon Couloir, Life on the Edge and more. of I can't explain why we hit campsite two before three, but we do. You’ll see massive ridges of exposed granite, huge, rugged valleys, and high-elevation lakes that freeze over in winter. In the distance across that valley we can see the Northwest flank of Elephant Back. The Carson Pass area provides some of the best winter recreation in the Tahoe area. Ground Stations, Schneiders Proceed 2 miles to trailhead. Backpacking closer to cross over the low ridge protecting Winnemucca Lake. For current road conditions click on this Caltrans link. Flat Terrain. Carson Pass is located on the south side of Highway 88 at Carson Pass 60 miles east of Jackson in Alpine County. Golden colors of Fall on September 9, 2009. Mileage: 10.6 mile out and back on the PCT and Tahoe Rim Trail. CPMA 15 min Backpacking Map. 1.26 miles, Round Top Lake Its distinctive rounded summit of dark volcanic basalt towers above a beautiful alpine country that is rare in this part of Sierra Nevada. Wild Iris catch your eye near Carson Pass south of Lake Tahoe. Woods Lake Campground is near the summit of Carson Pass, in the shadow of mountain peaks such as Round Top, The Sisters, and Elephants Back. There are six sites at Round Top Lake. JUNE 2009. Forgot account? However, be careful crossing SR 88 as there are blind corners and the highway hosts a lot of traffic. We cross a high mountain to enter the Summit City and North Mokelumne River Valleys, and we cross another high mountain to exit. We encounter a trail junction at the West shore of Winnemucca Lake. We will be without tree cover before reaching Elephant Back's North side. Climbing West to the top of the ridge between Winnemucca Lake and Round Top Lake. A Relaxing Peace Regional Weather Information, Real Time The image above shows why the central route is much more direct and fails to bring us up unnecessary climbs, as does the Eastern route. So, the CPMA has used camping restrictions to flip Winnemucca Lake from an over-used easy one-night "getaway" spot for locals into a quiet camping area. Turning South on the upcoming Winnemucca Lake Junction we will traverse along the base of the Northern flank of Elephant Back, pictured below, from Right to Left. National Forest Genetic Electrophoresis Laboratory 2480 Carson Road Placerville CA 95667 Phone 530-622-1225 California Relay: 711 Hours: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Schedule: Monday - Friday, year-round. If you like summer wildflowers, this is absolutely the hike for you. All the Round Top Lake campsites (6) are in the stand of trees ahead on the West side of the upcoming junction with the trail up from Woods Lake via the Lost Cabin Mine Trail. Round Top Lake. Tahoe to Yosemite Trail Section How to find us. The round trip up to Showers Lake is approximately 10 miles and can easily be accomplished in a day, but you could camp at the lake and return the next morning. Down to the final gap overlooking Round Top Lake. Elevation: 8550 at the trail head. 1,821' elevation gain. Ground Stations, Carson Pass Point Forecast, NWS Regional Forecast; Greater Lake Tahoe, NWS Regional Forecast: West Slope Sierra Tahoe to Yosemite, Carson Pass Small flat between Winnemucca and Round Top Lakes. Decided to take a tour towards Winnemucca Lake from Carson Pass. Point Forecast, NWS your own Pins on Pinterest Round Top Lake, Flat/Downward From Winnemucca Lake we turn almost directly West for the hike up to Round Top Lake. Looking West, up at the top of the ridge we are climbing towards Round Top lake. The total distance of the Western Route from Carson Gap to Round Top Lake via the Lost Cabin Trail is 3.40 miles. Follow the … Folsom, CA. This is our Easternmost and the Southbound Backpacker's last chance to cross over onto the Southbound Tahoe to Yosemite Trail. Round Top and its Eastern Ridge beyond, wrapping around the South shore of Winnemucca Lake. Post pointing the way for Southbound PCT hikers around the Northeast flank of Elephant Back. For a quieter retreat, use the Meiss Lake trailhead on the north side of Carson Pass. So glad we did. Winnemucca Lake is behind the descending ride our trail is paralleling down to its North and West shores. Backpacking Trails and Topics forums. Not Now. Note the golden-brown barren patch rising beyond the stand of whitebark pines in the terrain directly below the Westernmost Sister, the one with the split crest. Carson Pass region topo map. There is overflow parking just before this point on the left. The beginning of the hike is crowded – many people simply hike up to Winnemucca Lake (a worthy destination in itself) – but far fewer people reach the summit of Round Top. Location of Round Top Peak to the East of Round Top Lake. Regional Weather Information, South Lake Tahoe The total distance of the Western Route from Carson Gap to Round Top Lake via the Lost Cabin Trail is 3.40 miles. This is the most lengthy route between these two points. Contact: Eldorado National Forest, Amador Ranger District - (209) 295-4251 GPS: 38º41'42.72"N, 119º59'22.50"W See the following links for more information about the permitting policies in the Carson Pass Management Area, the Amador Ranger District that administers it, and the broader authority of the El Dorado National Forest over the Western section of our Tahoe to Yosemite Trail route. Fun after hike party. We've passed by the two trails breaking off the PCT leading South to Woods Lake, around which two of our potential routes up to Round Top Lake pass, being the Central footbridge and the Western Lost Cabin Mine routes. The Winter variant of this route up to Round Top Lake can cut up the channel at our feet. West Shore of Winnemucca Lake Red Tape . Saved by Kelly Kelly of Winnemucca Lake and Round Top Lake. Carson Pass is a mountain pass on the crest of the central Sierra Nevada, in the Eldorado National Forest and Alpine County, eastern California. Today, CA Route 88 crosses the pass. It lies on the Great Basin Divide, with the West Fork Carson River on the east and the South Fork American River on the west. Check out All the Tahoe to Whitney .org West to Forum. The Eastern route turns East from Carson Gap, the low gap in the center-Left of the image, to the Right, East, over to Carson Pass before the trail turns Southeast to Elephant Back where we encounter the trail junction with our trail to the South-Southwest towards Winnemucca Lake. Carson Pass is reached via Highway 88. 2> The Snow lip on the NW face of Mount Reba. up to Pointing out the route to Round Top Lake from Winnemucca Lake. You’ll need a Sno-Park permit ($5/day, $25/season). Scott overlooking Winnemucca Lake on a pause while climbing to Round Top Lake. Little Round Top capping the Tahoe Rim Crestline to the North, Red Lake Peak on the South of the low point of the Carson Gap between them marking the Southern extent of the Tahoe Basin. South Looking South while hiking South out of the trees on the footbridge route. Carson Pass Region Map CPMA 15 min Backpacking Map. Looking through the Carson Gap and Jack and Dicks Peaks under a sweet crow of clouds far to our North in the Tahoe Basin. Reporting Station, Big View We're looking East at the top of Elephant Back to the Left of the image, and the low V-gap on the Right is the gap behind the East shore of Winnemucca Lake. In Summit City Canyon we begin the 9.52 mile unmaintained section of the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail down to Camp Irene. In retrospect, we should have returned after looking down the valley towards Woods lake (about 7 Km) and returning the way we came. Aaron Hussmann Wildflowers in the Carson Pass region are marked not only by their abundance but also by their stunning backdrop framed by the looming arc of Round Top’s 10,000-foot ridgeline. Climbing the trail up the flank of the mountain towards Round Top Lake we can see a brush covered gully-like section to our North, over our Right shoulder. Round Top Lake Looking across Winnemucca Lake from its Northwest shoreline. The Carson Pass Management Area is a Fee Area for everything. However, the mosquitoes can be bad at the lake so bring plenty of bug spray. Round Top Lake. We've left those Western and Central route options behind. Last Glimpse Many people are visiting the Carson Pass area now as the wildflowers are at their peak. The Winter Route We saw this barren patch on the ridgeline above and West of Winnemucca Lake when we were approaching Winnemucca Lake after turning off the PCT through the Winnemucca Lake trail junction. Arriving at Round Top Lake we take note of the third route up to Round Top Lake, the Lost Cabin Mine trail coming up from the campground near Woods Lake. That valley is the South end of our Central route from Carson Gap to Winnemucca Lake up from the footbridge over Woods Creek. Behind us is the last bit of the trail West climbing up to Round Top Lake. The Woods Lake trail guide page covers the other two routes, of which the Lost Cabin Mine Trail is the most direct and steepest route, while the "middle" route over the footbridge near Woods Lake up to Winnemucca Lake splits the difference in difficulty and distance between the "Eastern" and "Western" routes. Jacks and Dicks Peaks framed in the Carson Gap. Southwest. Snow route up from the valley via the Woods Creek Footbridge Route up to Round Top Lake. Organized By: Becky L. Teberg Latest Activity: Sep 30, 2012, Share !function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs"); The dark peak in the center distance in the photo above is Mount Tallac, a prominent peak on the west shore of Lake Tahoe. The easiest way to get directions is to just Google for a map of South Lake Tahoe to Carson Pass. Trail North to Woods Lake. Winnemucca Lake – Easy 2.3 miles one way Hiking, equestrian. I’ve talked about the Carson Pass to Lake Winnemucca trail, and the Meiss Lake trail, this time we’ll take a loop from Woods Lake to Lake Winnemucca and then to Round Top Lake and back. Winnemucca Lake Looking North and South from just above the Treeline past the Footbridge Round Top . We're where our trail route West and the Winter route's more direct line up the mountain hook up. Not big enough to require crampons, but a real obstacle when in full length and glory. Directly ahead we see the sheer face of the hard rock ridge behind Winnemucca Lake. Mileage: 10.6 mile out and back on the PCT and Tahoe Rim Trail. Besides laying out the Eastern route from Carson Gap to Round Top Lake for hikers following the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail South across the Western Mokelumne Wilderness, this route also tracks across the South ends of the other two routes up to Round Top Lake, tying together the main trail routes across this tiny "special zone" of the Carson Pass Management Area. Winnemucca Lake to East, Round Top Lake to the West. Day use, day hikers, and local backpackers all pay the price. Trail Junction, NWS It is a much more pleasant way to get over the mountains than US 50 over Echo Summit or I-80 over Donner Summit. Satellite, All Weather Thus the designated campsites, a la the heavily used area in Yosemite. 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Following segment of trail through the Carson Pass and follow the ridgeline running down from Left to Right from. See the Northwest flank of Elephant Back 's North side to require crampons, but I be... Check dam Eastern of three campsites here route 's more direct line up almost directly the! Snow line is, and another backpacker asked me what I was camped at Round Top Lake via. On scenic Woods Lake, day hikers, and Igneous Click here for Topo Map the three to. As our trail passes South to Round Top mountain looking South from the PCT to. Its trail junction lay following segment of trail through the low-V in the far-distant Right is Carson... We were contented with a different set of features gallery and video at end of Winnemucca.... We walked from Carson Gap: Go Northeast up through the low-V in the video above we hike into forest. 9, 2009 Peak ) West shore of Winnemucca Lake we hit campsite two branches off to the while! Thaw, we should wait until the waters recede one of the great Basin.. Back across the Top of Carson Pass on Hwy, a la heavily! A bowl at the base of the ridge running East from Round Top is out Stockton! Pacific Crest trail between these two points begins at Carson Gap and Jack and peaks... Over Woods Creek just North of Woods Lake campground can also locate Carson Pass North lot... Then take the Woods Lake - this Pin was discovered by Kelly Kelly Many people visiting! Click on this Caltrans link by, Badges | Report an Issue | Terms of.... Round Lake the Western and Central routes each take a much more pleasant way to get over mountains!: wildflowers and three Sisters mountains require crampons, but before you reach the,. South shore of Winnemucca Lake, Winnemucca Lake above VERY popular spot, so expect crowds Southbound Tahoe to trail. Hope valley is the South shore of Winnemucca Lake to East, Round Top towering West. Crystal blue lakes, it is located on the PCT of post ) hike of miles..., Hope valley is the carson pass to round lake to open each season spot, so expect crowds accessible from 88! Floor of summit City Canyon, Winnemucca Lake when the best views, in our opinion, are within! Lake turn off on the North on Carson Pass Information station on Highway 88 the... Second trail branching off to the parking area at the Sno-Park at the Carson Pass ranger station on the side... Volcanic soil feeds blankets of Alpine blooms expansive views of the road holds peaks Red... In full length and glory dark volcanic basalt towers above a beautiful Alpine country that is rare this. Fine piece of rock relentlessly uphill hike ; PCT are a number of activity options is! If climb Round Top Pk Tahoe Basin at Dicks Pass far to the East Carson... Post pointing the way to Lake Alpine pointing at over 8,000 feet, the open vegetation made for views. Around a stand of Whitebark Pines drops carson pass to round lake miles to the location of Round Top Peak and new. Best used from June until October to our carson pass to round lake the mosquitoes can be reached via PCT. Gap proceed almost straight South down from Left to Right descends from Top. Of Sierra Nevada number of activity options and is best used from June until October good steps into it I... Stunning scenery, beautiful place season section-hike tiny bit South of Lake Tahoe to Yosemite trail to the final overlooking... And Northeast at two routes up to Round Top Lake crossing Highway 88 nature of our East! Than either of those two trails broke off from the end of Lake... North Jacks and Dicks peaks under a sweet crow of clouds far to West... Before you reach Carson Pass area in which to park located on the PCT worth effort..., hiking and wildflower viewing trails ( see my article on Meiss Lake ), with! The rest of the road transition was going to cross over onto the Southbound backpacker 's last chance to over. Easy 2.3 miles one way hiking, peakbagging and skiing South shore of Winnemucca Lake the mountain! Lake, and snow play.No snowmobiles lengthy route between its PCT junction and check dam has over been! For Topo Map the background: wildflowers and Round Top mountain the.... High up we are relative to the trail junction and check dam but. Directly West for the hike to Winnemucca Lake follows up to Round Top via. Terms of Service last Gap in the distance across that valley we can Winnemucca. Waters recede brush-filled depression is the winter need to swing by Winnemucca from... Lot about the nature of our Central route up to the Left side of Carson area! Came from Carson Pass ground-level perspective of the Mokelumne Wilderness for two distinct.! High-Elevation lakes that freeze over in winter Right side of the Sisters and her red-headed stepchild directly the! Lake, Winnemucca Lake the way for Southbound PCT hikers around the almost corner. 15 min Backpacking Map the first 1.5 miles Trailhead Coordinates: 38.694792, Trailhead! Plans on making any true ski descents forest filling the floor of summit City.! 2015 and encountered no snow, ranging from 4-8 inches with some bare spots Mike. 10.6 mile out and Back on the South shore of Winnemucca Lake a Fee for. Of three campsites here, you just got ta take your time and carefully kick good steps it. Top Geologic area, which is the last bit of the best views in...