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Wilderness Areas | Mokelumne Wilderness
Wilderness Areas Around Lake Tahoe
Mokelumne Wilderness
The 105,165 acre Mokelumne Wilderness straddles the crest of
the central Sierra Nevada, within the
Stanislaus,
Eldorado, and
Toiyabe National
Forests. This area lies within portions of Calaveras, Alpine, and Amador
Counties and is bordered by State Highway 4 on the south and State Highway 88 on
the north. Watersheds drain to the Mokelumne River on the west slope and the
Carson River on the east slope. New Management Guidelines were recently adopted
for the Mokelumne Wilderness.
The Mokelumne Wilderness is a rugged landscape of great
scenic beauty. Much of the area is dominated by volcanic ridges and peaks. The
prominent feature is disputably the rugged Mokelumne River Canyon. There are
many smaller streams flowing through deep granitic canyons but only a few lakes
concentrated in the northern portion of this spectacular area. Elevations range
from about 3900 feet near Salt Springs Reservoir to 10,380 feet at Round Top.
Precipitation averages 50 inches annually on the west slope and as little as 15
inches on the east slope, 80 percent of it in the form of snow. Snowcaps
typically linger into June in the Round Top region to the north and on the
Mokelumne Plateau to the south, while the Mokelumne River Canyon above Salt
Springs Reservoir can be free of snow as early as March. Summers are generally
dry and mild, but afternoon thundershowers occur periodically and nighttime
temperatures may dip below freezing anytime.
Permits
Permits are required for overnight camping. Permits are
not required for day hikes. For more
information, please either visit the
Eldorado
National Forest or the
Stanislaus National Forest.
Campfires
Campfires are allowed with the proper permit below 8,000 feet in elevation. Camp stoves are allowed in the entire wilderness. Your Wilderness
Permit is also your campfire permit while visiting the Mokelumne Wilderness
provided you are in a location where a campfire or camp stove
is allowed.
Campfires are prohibited in the following locations:
Campfires are prohibited in these areas to reduce human-caused fires, impacts to vegetation from firewood collection,
and to reduce the visual impacts of fire rings and surface scarring.
Method of Travel
Travel is restricted to horseback or foot only. Trails in the Mokelumne Canyon are maintained in a primitive and
challenging condition and are not recommended for stock use. All means of mechanical transportation, including bicycles,
are prohibited in wilderness. Wheelchairs are allowed. Stay on trails and do not shortcut switchbacks or create parallel
ruts by walking alongside the trail.
Waste
Visitors are required to bury human waste 6 to 8 inches deep and at least 200 feet away from water, trails, and
campsites. Toilet paper must be buried or packed out. Garbage must be packed out.
Group Size
Maximum group size: 12 people for day-use, and 8 people for overnight use.
Pets
Domestic pets are allowed in the Mokelumne Wilderness at this time. You are responsible for their actions
and waste as well as
their welfare. In the Carson Pass Management Area pets should be leashed or physically restrained at all times. Elsewhere
within the Wilderness, dogs should be either leashed or under direct voice control. Dogs can disturb other campers, get
in fights with other dogs along the trail, and scare wildlife away. The Amador and Alpine County leash laws will be enforced
inside the Wilderness Boundary where dogs off leash are an impediment or hazard to the safety of any person, or where dogs
are harassing or molesting wildlife.
Wilderness Ethics
Wilderness areas can provide breathtaking vistas and quiet
solitude. They are special places that require special behavior from each of us.
Regulations alone will never guarantee protection of these special places, that
will come only with your understanding of what not to do when visiting. Please
educate yourself and follow
Wilderness Ethics.
Location to the Lake Tahoe Basin
The Mokelumne Wilderness is located south of the Lake Tahoe
Basin on Highway 88. There are several day hikes for this wilderness listed
below. Permits are not required for day hikes, but please review the
permit information above for overnight permits.
Day Hikes
- Carson Pass Trailhead to Winnemucca Lake
- 2.5 miles. An easy hike with great vistas. This trail passes through a
spectacular wildflower display which reaches its peak in mid-July to August.
- Winnemucca Lake to Round Top Lake - 1
mile. A steeper trail into higher elevations approaching Round Top Peak.
Excellent photo opportunities of the surrounding landscape and hardy,
windblown alpine and sub-alpine plant species.
- Woods Lake Trailhead to Winnemucca Lake -
1.5 miles. This moderate hike leads you into the cool forest and opens up to
magnificent, flowering meadows in mid-July and August.
- Woods Lake Trailhead to Round Top Lake (Lost Cabin
Mine Trail) - 1.9 miles. This steeper trail weaves along a creek
through red fir forests with scattered open rocky areas. Look for a variety of
vivid flowers tucked in the cracks!
- Caples Trailhead to Emigrant Lake - 4.3
miles. The longest trail meanders gently along the shore of Caples Lake,
climbing slightly through mixed rocky and forested areas, ending with a
steeper ascent to grassy meadows surrounding shimmering Emigrant Lake.
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