Hiking Highway 4

 

Highway 4 Traveler Map

 

 

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.