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Beckwourth Trails

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Trails on the Beckwourth Ranger District
Lakes Basin Trails	Bear Lake Connector	Bear Lakes Loop
Gray Eagle Creek	Jamison Creek	Jamison Lake
Lily Lake	Long Lake	Mt. Elwell
Mt. Washington	Mud Lake	Red Fir Nature Trail
Round Lake	Silver Lake	Smith Creek
Smith Lake	Wades-Jamison Lake Connector
Frenchman Lake Trails
Big Cove Connector and Big Cove Enabler		Spring Creek Connector

Lakes Basin Trails

Overnight camping is only allowed in the vicinity of Smith Lake, Grass Lake, Wades Lake, Rock Lake, and Jamison Lake. Most of these limited campsites are utilized during summer weekends. Overnight Camping is Prohibited at all other lakes because of the numerous day visitors to the area.

Bear Lake Connector:

At 6,600 feet in elevation, this trail head is off the road to Gold Lake Lodge. A well maintained trail of 0.7 miles leads to Big Bear Lake.

Bear Lakes Loop:

at 6,300 feet in elevation, this trail head is at the end of the road past the Lakes Basin Campground. A well maintained trail exists for 2.0 miles on a loop past Cub, Little Bear, and Big Bear Lakes.

Gray Eagle Creek:

at 5,800 feet in elevation, this trail head is off the road to Gray Eagle Lodge just west of Gray Eagle Creek. The trail descends along the west side of Gray Eagle Creek for 1.8 miles to a junction. At the junction you can travel 0.4 miles east across Gray Eagle Creek to another trail head on the Gold Lake Highway. Or you can continue north 0.4 miles to a 4WD road which goes through mostly private land for 2.0 miles to the town of Gray Eagle.

Gray Eagle Creek / Smith Creek Connector:

Elev. 5380 - 5440
Trail Length - 2.4 miles
Difficulty -- Moderate
Connector goes from Smith Creek Trail over a ridge to Gray Eagle Creek Trail.

Jamison Creek:

at 5,200 feet in elevation, this trail head is at Jamison Mine in Plumas Eureka State Park. The trail climbs steadily 3.7 miles to the Pacific Crest Trail past the Smith Lake, Grass Lake, Jamison Lake and Rock Lake trail junctions. The trail is generally maintained but some rough and steep segments exist.

Jamison Lake:

at 6,000 feet in elevation, this trail head leaves the Jamison Creek trail and climbs steadily 0.8 miles to Jamison Lake, a 0.2 mile trail leads to Rock Lake.

Lily Lake:

at 6,400 feet in elevation the trail head is on the Gold Lake Hwy. The trail descends 0.4 miles to Lily Lake and continues on 0.3 miles crossing Gray Eagle Creek to the Long Lake trail.

Long Lake:

at 5,800 feet in elevation, the trail head is off the road to Gray Eagle Lodge. The trail climbs gradually 2.7 miles past the Lily Lake trail and grassy Lake trail intersections to Long Lake. Then onto Mt. Elwell trail, horse use is OK but not advised beyond Long Lake because of the unstable rock area.

Mt. Elwell:

at 6,700 feet in elevation, the trail leaves the Smith Lake trail and climbs steadily for 3.0 miles to Mt Elwell (7818 feet). It descends 0.7 miles to the Long Lake trail junction and continues another 1.1 miles to the PCT and a 4WD trail. This trail is strenuous and receives light use.

Mt. Washington:

at 7,000 feet in elevation, the trail leaves the Jamison Creek trail near its junction with the PCT and extends north 1.3 miles along the ridge top to near the top of Mt. Washington. Horse use is not recommended.

Mud Lake:

at 6,500 feet in elevation, the 1.2 mile trail connects the Silver Lake trail with the Mt. Elwell trail.

Red Fir Nature Trail:

at 7,100 feet in elevation, the trail head is located on the dirt road leading to Mills Peak Lookout. An easy dirt trail leads 0.5 miles past informative signs interpreting the ecosystem occurring in a red fir stand.

Round Lake:

at 6,600 feet in elevation, the trail head is at the intersection with the road to Gold Lake Lodge. A well maintained trail leads 1.7 miles to Round Lake then climbs steadily up a steep and rocky 0.7 miles to the PCT and a 4WD trail. A rough and rocky 0.9 mile trail connects Round Lake with Silver Lake. Horse use is OK but not advisable on the trail between Round and Silver Lakes.

Silver Lake:

at 6,300 feet in elevation, the trail head is at the end of the road past Lakes Basin Campground. The trail begins on the west side of the Bear Lake Loop and travels .2 miles to Silver Lake. It climbs 1.6 miles past Mud Lake trail junction and Hellgrammite Lakes to the PCT.

Smith Creek:

at 5,100 feet in elevation, the trail head is on private property and is difficult to find. The trail ascends 2.4 miles along Smith Creek to the Smith Lake trail.

Smith Lake:

at 5,800 feet in elevation, the trail head is off the road leading to Gray Eagle Lodge. A well maintained trail climbs steadily 0.8 miles past the Mt Elwell trail junction to Smith Lake. The trail extends on another 1.7 miles to the Jamison Creek trail.

Wades-Jamison Lake Connector:

at 6,500 feet in elevation, a 1.0 mile trail connects the Jamison Creek trail near Wade Lake, with the Jamison Lake trail below Jamison Lake. The trail has several steep and rocky sections.

Frenchman Lake Trails

Big Cove Connector and Big Cove Enabler:

at 5,588 feet in elevation, both trail heads are at Big Cove Campground. Big Cove Connector is a 0.8 mile trail that connects Big Cove and Spring Creek Campgrounds. Big Cove Enable trail is universally accessible and leads from the campground to the lake.

Spring Creek Connector:

at 5,700 feet in elevation, the trail head is at Spring Creek Campground. This 0.2 mile trail connects Spring Creek Campground and Frenchman Campground. Overnight camping is only allowed in the vicinity of Smith Lake, Grass Lake, Wades Lake, Rock Lake, and Jamison Lake.