Hiking Highway 4
Key | Hiking Trails | Trailhead Directions | Effort | Miles (one way) |
Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
T1 | Arnold Rim Trail | Runs from Hathaway Pines to Arnold. Many access points; see web page. | Moderate | 17 | Views, streams, waterfall, older growth cedar, pine, fir oak. See Arnold Rim Trail website for more information and a map) |
T2 | Rock Lake | Union East Campground Trailhead (area is unavailable)/Elephant Rock Lake Trailhead | Moderate | 3.2/1.9 | Lakes, elephant rock, some burned-over areas; in the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness (map) |
T3 | Camp Irene | Lake Valley Trailhead | Difficult | 5.1 | Mokelumne River; trailhead access via road 7N93 (4WD road); in Mokelumne Wilderness (map). |
T4 | Lakeshore Trail | Lakeshore Trail/ Inspiration Point Trailhead, near Pine Marten Campground | Easy | 1.6 | Lake views, creek; part of Emigrant/Mokelumne Coast to Crest Trail. |
T5 | Bee Gulch | Bee Gulch Trailhead, across Hwy 4 from Chickaree Day Use/ Picnic Area | Moderate & Difficult | 3-4 | Forest, meadows, creek, flowers, panoramic views at Mount Reba (4 miles) (map) |
T6 | Inspiration Point | Lakeshore Trail/Inspiration Point Trailhead, near Pine Marten Campground | Moderate & Difficult | 1.5 | Views of Lake Alpine, Union and Utica Reservoirs, mountains, and the Dardanelles. |
T7 | Rock Lake | Silver Valley Trailhead (at Silver Valley Campground entrance) | Moderate | 4.5 | Lakes, forest, some burned-over areas at Rock Lake; in Carson-Iceberg Wilderness (map) |
T7 | Duck Lake | Silver Valley Trailhead (at Silver Valley Campground entrance) | Moderate | 1.2 | Lake, meadow, wildflowers, fall colors, loop adds 1.3 miles, in Carson-Iceberg Wilderness (map) |
T8 | Wheeler Ridge/Lake | Woodchuck Basin Trailhead | Moderate | 1.75/3.1 | Views, forest, meadows, wildflowers, lake, volcanic ridge; in Mokelumne Wilderness (map) |
T9 | Bull Run Lake | Stanislaus Meadow Trailhead | Moderate & Difficult | 3.5 | Alpine meadow, lake with island in the middle, great views; in Carson-Iceberg Wilderness (map) |
T10 | Sandy Meadow | Sandy Meadow Trailhead | Easy | 4.2 | Easier alternate to Wheeler Lake. Park on southside of Highway. In Mokelumne Wilderness (map) |
T11 | Heiser Lake | Mosquito Lakes Trailhead | Moderate | 2.5 | Shallow Lake, mild for swimming, views from west end, in Carson-Iceberg Wilderness (map) |
T12 | Deer Creek | Deer Creek Trailhead, at west end of Hermit Valley | Difficult | 1.6 | Goes along Mokelumne River to Deer Creek. In Mokelumne Wilderness (map) |
T13 | Asa Lake | Gardner Meadow Trailhead, Hwy 4, 113 and 8N01 (Highland Lakes Road) | Easy & Moderate | 2.3 | Lower Gardner Meadow, forest, spring-fed lake. In Carson-Icerberg Wilderness (map) |
T13 | Upper Gardner Meadow | Gardner Meadow Trailhead, Hwy 4, 113 and 8N01 (Highland Lakes Road) | Easy & Moderate | 1-1.6 | Expansive meadow, views, Half-moon lake (a marshy pond). About one mile to the beginning of the meadow, 1.6 to the other end. Trail forks at the other end: left fork is the Disaster Creek Trail, right fork is the Arnot Creek Trail. In Carson-Icerberg Wilderness (map) |
T14 | Noble lake | Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), Ebbetts Pass Trailhead, on Highway 4, 48 miles east of the Calaveras Ranger Station in Hathaway Pines, California | Moderate & Difficult | 4.5 | Beautiful high country, spectacular views, a lake. In Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. From parking lot, take connector trail .2 miles to Pacific Crest Trail; take PCT south (left). |
T14 | Upper Kinney Lake | Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), Ebbetts Pass Trailhead, on Highway 4, 48 miles east of the Calaveras Ranger Station in Hathaway Pines, California | Moderate | 1.75 | Beautiful high country, dramatic views of Ebbetts Peak and other volcanic peaks, a sparkling blue lake, two charming ponds along the way. In Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. From parking lot, take connector trail .2 miles to Pacific Crest Trail; take PCT north (right); trail crosses Highway 4 in .3 miles. |