Where to take my wife on a short 2 night backpacking trip in the Sierra Nevada's?

S

supertac916

Joined
Sep 6, 2014
Messages
603
My wife and I watched A mile and a mile and half documentary last night on Netflix about several friends backpacking 210 miles on the John Muir Trail. So the wife mentioned that she wants to go on some short two night backpacking trips and eventually do a longer one. I took her out to Paradise Lake last summer near Donner Summit on a short 5 mile in and 5 mile out few night trip. She loved it!! I've been to the Lake Velma's, Dick's, and a few other lakes up near Emerald Bay as well. However, I'd like to take her somewhere new and she wants to go during the kids Spring break because her parents offered to watch them for a few days.

Do you guys have any suggestions and I haven't been up to the Sierra's this year due to the lack of snow. We like secluded with little or no people, lake, stream, or river, and surrounded by trees. I also enjoy doing some fishing while we're out. I appreciate any recommendations.
 
The Mammoth Lakes area has some great trail heads that you can customize for short/long trips.

I like the Devils Post Pile loop and you can head up Kearsarge pass into several different meadows. The pass is 2-4 hours depending on your hiking.

Mike
 
EyeDog said:
The Mammoth Lakes area has some great trail heads that you can customize for short/long trips.

I like the Devils Post Pile loop and you can head up Kearsarge pass into several different meadows. The pass is 2-4 hours depending on your hiking.

Mike
Click to expand...

Thanks Mike!! I will take a look. How are the mosquito's this time of year? Just want to make sure we head out there prepared and don't ruin it for her by getting devoured..haha
 
supertac916 said:
Thanks Mike!! I will take a look. How are the mosquito's this time of year? Just want to make sure we head out there prepared and don't ruin it for her by getting devoured..haha
Click to expand...

I've not been out this year in that area. It's a little early for Mosquitos and we've not had a lot of rain so probably not a lot of standing water. Check with Forrest Service and other web sites for the area for conditions like weather and restrictions.

Devils Post Pile is a well know day hike, maybe 1.2 miles to the base, another mile to the top. However, there are a number of trail heads near the base of the Post Pile.
 
EyeDog said:
I've not been out this year in that area. It's a little early for Mosquitos and we've not had a lot of rain so probably not a lot of standing water. Check with Forrest Service and other web sites for the area for conditions like weather and restrictions.

Devils Post Pile is a well know day hike, maybe 1.2 miles to the base, another mile to the top. However, there are a number of trail heads near the base of the Post Pile.
Click to expand...

Thanks again Mike, I'll check it out and see what the wife wants to do. I noticed it's a 4.5 hour drive from our house, which is a decent ways away. May have to setup a trip for the summer. I'm thinking we may head for Aloha Lake and the surrounding lakes because it's only about an 1.5 hour drive. Mammoth Lakes are definitely on our to do list this season:)
 
Hmmm...if you're south, closer to Palm Springs there is a great hike into Skunk Cabbage Meadow from the top of the tram. I've taken a lot of "first time" back packers on this hike.

The tram does the heavy lifting. It's a beautiful day hike or can be longer and a couple of days.
 
EyeDog said:
Hmmm...if you're south, closer to Palm Springs there is a great hike into Skunk Cabbage Meadow from the top of the tram. I've taken a lot of "first time" back packers on this hike.

The tram does the heavy lifting. It's a beautiful day hike or can be longer and a couple of days.
Click to expand...

I live in the Roseville area, which is about a little over an hour from Donner. South Lake Tahoe is about an hour and 45 minutes away. It's nice to live so close to such a beautiful area, which makes it hard to travel further away:) So many places that we haven't explored yet. Thank you!!
 
supertac916 said:
I live in the Roseville area, which is about a little over an hour from Donner. South Lake Tahoe is about an hour and 45 minutes away. It's nice to live so close to such a beautiful area, which makes it hard to travel further away:) So many places that we haven't explored yet. Thank you!!
Click to expand...

Oh where to start! Not sure if you have spent any time up in the el dorado natl forrest up past placerville there are some great through hike loops that flank the west side of tahoe. The mammoth suggestion is also great! Twin lakes and postpile are worth the couple hours drive, not to mention the hot springs in travertine and in mammoth as well. Closer to home, but south as well is Stanislaus with some great fishing, and close to that is Yosemite. Which won't have as many tourists as later in the summer, plus you can see the falls while they still have water. How far are you guys thinking on driving? Lotta great stuff just right off the 50. Mosquitos are here, but not as bad as it's been so dry, some light bug repellent has been pretty sufficient.
 
B34NS said:
Oh where to start! Not sure if you have spent any time up in the el dorado natl forrest up past placerville there are some great through hike loops that flank the west side of tahoe. The mammoth suggestion is also great! Twin lakes and postpile are worth the couple hours drive, not to mention the hot springs in travertine and in mammoth as well. Closer to home, but south as well is Stanislaus with some great fishing, and close to that is Yosemite. Which won't have as many tourists as later in the summer, plus you can see the falls while they still have water. How far are you guys thinking on driving? Lotta great stuff just right off the 50. Mosquitos are here, but not as bad as it's been so dry, some light bug repellent has been pretty sufficient.
Click to expand...

Where would you recommend in Stanislaus for fishing and the falls? I think that would be awesome to experience. Thanks!!
 
Last edited:
supertac916 said:
My wife and I watched A mile and a mile and half documentary last night on Netflix about several friends backpacking 210 miles on the John Muir Trail. So the wife mentioned that she wants to go on some short two night backpacking trips and eventually do a longer one. I took her out to Paradise Lake last summer near Donner Summit on a short 5 mile in and 5 mile out few night trip. She loved it!! I've been to the Lake Velma's, Dick's, and a few other lakes up near Emerald Bay as well. However, I'd like to take her somewhere new and she wants to go during the kids Spring break because her parents offered to watch them for a few days.

Do you guys have any suggestions and I haven't been up to the Sierra's this year due to the lack of snow. We like secluded with little or no people, lake, stream, or river, and surrounded by trees. I also enjoy doing some fishing while we're out. I appreciate any recommendations.
Click to expand...

I'm sorry, I have zero experience in that mountain range.
 
With how close you are to the South Lake Tahoe area why venture too far? The whole Eldorado National Forest Area by Emerald Bay, Pyramid Peak etc. has so much you should make that your "second back yard". As summer arrives I bet there are some hikes around the Tahoe rim that you could park, hike and then either hike back or take the bus service that drives around the lake back to your car.

Eventually you should try some off season in Yosemite to avoid the crowds, lots of "loops" you can create around and above the Valley.

also pick up a copy of the California Gazetteer book of maps. There are lots of roads that will get you further into the wilderness if you do some research.
 
billym said:
With how close you are to the South Lake Tahoe area why venture too far? The whole Eldorado National Forest Area by Emerald Bay, Pyramid Peak etc. has so much you should make that your "second back yard". As summer arrives I bet there are some hikes around the Tahoe rim that you could park, hike and then either hike back or take the bus service that drives around the lake back to your car.

Eventually you should try some off season in Yosemite to avoid the crowds, lots of "loops" you can create around and above the Valley.

also pick up a copy of the California Gazetteer book of maps. There are lots of roads that will get you further into the wilderness if you do some research.
Click to expand...

It's nice being so close to the Lake Tahoe and we may just head back to Paradise Lake next week. My wife loved having our own private little island on the lake last summer. I'll definitely take a look at the California Gazetteer to research some other spots for us to try out this summer. Thanks!!
 
I used to pack mules in the sierra's there is to many good spots to even start listing them all. One of my favorite places was always French canyon. There's a couple ways to get there for example pine creek trailhead, or from the trailhead near lake Sabrina up from bishop creek. Anywhere you go in the sierra's you won't regret it.
 
Wardak54 said:
I used to pack mules in the sierra's there is to many good spots to even start listing them all. One of my favorite places was always French canyon. There's a couple ways to get there for example pine creek trailhead, or from the trailhead near lake Sabrina up from bishop creek. Anywhere you go in the sierra's you won't regret it.
Click to expand...

Thanks Wardak!! I will check out French Canyon. You are right that there really isn't a bad spot in the Sierra's. I haven't had a trip that I've regretted yet.
 
If I wanted to fish I'd head to Courtwright Reservoir above Fresno. The Dinky lakes trail has 7 nice lakes and a couple streams and I've caught some beautiful trout up there. A bit far to drive, (closer than Mammoth) but an easy hike. You don't have to do the whole loop either. Closer to home there are some really nice hikes in the Gold Rush country, many have streams and ghost towns. You should pick up a book at REI or from Amazon.
 
supertac916 said:
Where would you recommend in Stanislaus for fishing and the falls? I think that would be awesome to experience. Thanks!!
Click to expand...

Oh yea! Carson-Iceberg wilderness is great, Emigrant and Mokulumne. We call it the highway 108 corridor, curious are you into river or lake fishing?

Carlon falls are pretty cool, I need to find the waterfall locator site we've used, lots of unnamed ones.
 
B34NS said:
Oh yea! Carson-Iceberg wilderness is great, Emigrant and Mokulumne. We call it the highway 108 corridor, curious are you into river or lake fishing?

Carlon falls are pretty cool, I need to find the waterfall locator site we've used, lots of unnamed ones.
Click to expand...

I'm more into river fishing, but also like hanging on the lake and fishing from the bank. I will look up Carlon falls. Thanks!!
 
eisman said:
If I wanted to fish I'd head to Courtwright Reservoir above Fresno. The Dinky lakes trail has 7 nice lakes and a couple streams and I've caught some beautiful trout up there. A bit far to drive, (closer than Mammoth) but an easy hike. You don't have to do the whole loop either. Closer to home there are some really nice hikes in the Gold Rush country, many have streams and ghost towns. You should pick up a book at REI or from Amazon.
Click to expand...

Thanks I will also look into the Dinky Lakes trail and pick up a book at REI. There's a lot of places to go pretty close by, but the hard part is figuring out where to go from the options:)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top