Recreational Activities
Summit Ranger District
Hiking
Many trails on the Summit
Ranger District are open and accessible to those
who enjoy hiking. Contact the Summit
Ranger District for additional hiking information. Distances
given below are for one-way travel, unless otherwise shown.
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Burst
Rock (1 mile) Spectacular views. An additional 1
mile hike will take you to Powell Lake in the Emigrant
Wilderness. Visitor's Permit required for overnight
camping. |
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Camp
Lake (3 miles) Trail to this small granite bound
lake in the Emigrant Wilderness begins at Crabtree
Trailhead. Moderate difficulty. An easy hike of one more
mile will take you to Bear Lake. Visitor's Permit
required for overnight camping. |
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Catfish
Lake (1 mile) Side trip from Pinecrest Lake Loop on
north side of lake. Shallow lakes surrounded by old-growth
mixed conifer forest. |
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Clark Fork Stanislaus
River (3 miles)
Begin at Clark Fork Trailhead at Iceberg
Meadow (end of Clark Fork Road). First 2.5 miles of easy hiking along
the Clark Fork
to the Boulder Creek crossing. After high water season, cross Boulder
Creek and proceed another 1/2 mile to a waterfall overlook. Visitor's
Permit required for overnight camping. |
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Columns
of the Giants (0.25 mile) An easy ¼ mile walk to unusual geologic formation with
spectacular views of basalt columns. Next to Pigeon Flat
Campground 24 miles east of Pinecrest on Highway 108. |
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Donnell
Vista (0.25 mile) A ¼ mile paved trail with signs
along the way, leads to an overlook with sweeping views
of the Middle Fork Stanislaus River Canyon, and Donnell
Reservoir. On Highway 108 about 18 miles east of Pinecrest. |
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Eagle
Creek (4 miles) Best to start at Eagle Meadow and
hike down to Highway 108 near Dardanelle Resort. Requires
two vehicle shuttle. Passes through beautiful sub-alpine
meadows, then descends steeply through dense forest along
Eagle Creek. |
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Pinecrest Lake National
Recreation Trail (4 mile loop) A National Recreation trail
around Pinecrest Lake, 1 mile off Highway 108. A fairly easy
hike starting from the marina. Dogs must be on a leash (Tuolumne County
Leash Law enforced). |
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Relief
Reservoir (3 miles) Start at Kennedy Meadows Trailhead. Popular destination for fishing. Moderate
difficulty. Trail from Kennedy Meadows is heavily used by
stock. |
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Shadow
of the Me-Wuk (0.25 mile) An easy ¼ mile walk
through an outdoor exhibit showing how Me-Wuk Indians
lived. Located across the street from the Summit
Ranger Station.
Brochures are available at the Ranger Station. |
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Sugar Pine Railway - the
Strawberry Branch (3 miles) This gentle three mile (one way)
hike parallels the South Fork of
the Stanislaus River and overlays the historic Sugar Pine
Railroad System. Access the trail from either Old
Strawberry Road or the bridge at
Fraser
Flat Campground. Arrange to be picked up at one end and your trip is
either all a gentle uphill or a gentle downhill. Brochures are
available at the Summit
Ranger Station. |
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Trail
of the Gargoyles (1.5 miles)
A scenic 1 ½ mile walk
has sweeping views of unique geologic features and
formations which shape the Sierras. Excellent wildflower site in June.
Brochures are available at the Summit Ranger Station. On
Herring Creek Rd., 6 miles from Highway 108. |
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Trail
of the Survivors (0.25 mile)
An easy ¼ mile trail
with signs along the way, showing how trees struggle for
life. Off Dodge Ridge Road, by Pinecrest Community Center. |
BACKPACKING
Most backpacking
opportunities on the Summit Ranger District are found in Wilderness.
The 113,000 acre Emigrant Wilderness contains
approximately 185 miles of developed trails.
Primary attractions are numerous sub-alpine
meadows and glacial lakes. Many areas receive
heavy use in the summer months. Major trailheads
are Bell Meadow, Crabtree Camp, Gianelli Cabin,
Coyote Meadow (Cooper Meadow), and Kennedy
Meadows on the Summit District (Highway 108); Box
Springs and Bourland Meadow on the Mi-Wok
District (Highway108); and, Cherry Lake on the
Groveland District (Highway 120).
About 78,000 acres of the
Carson-Iceberg Wilderness
are
within the Stanislaus. This portion has about 94 miles of
developed trails providing access to most areas.
Unlike the Emigrant Wilderness to the south, the
Carson-Iceberg has few lakes, but you are likely
to find a greater degree of solitude. Major
trailheads are Wheats Meadow, County Line, Arnot
Creek, Disaster Creek and Clark Fork on the
Summit District (Highway 108), and Silver Valley (Lake
Alpine), Stanislaus Meadow, Heiser Lake, Pacific
Valley, and Highland Lakes on the Calaveras
District (Highway4). If possible, please avoid the
Sword and Lost Lake area on weekends.
About 3.2 miles of this Pacific Crest
Trail National Scenic Trail
generally follows the boundary
between the Stanislaus and Toiyabe National
Forests. Access to the trail is at Sonora
Pass Trailhead (Highway 108) and Ebbetts
Pass Trailhead (Highway 4).
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