Gold Lake and Snake Lake Trail

I just watched a youtube video called gold lake Jeep trail to snake lake. Looks pretty cool!

I've always wanted to visit the area but have yet to make it up that way.

Gregulator said I've always wanted to visit the area but have yet to make it up that way.  

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sounds like we need to plan a re-con trip up there soon 👍

Gilbert & Betty said sounds like we need to plan a re-con trip up there soon 👍  

Let's do that. I will be in the Graeagle area Thursday through Saturday. I will be quading somewhere on Friday. I might take my Jeep along and venture up to the Gold Lake area on Saturday but I won't go too far in by myself. If things look promising then let's plan a recon trip. Earlier today a left a voicemail with the trail master of the Grass Valley club that adopted the trail to find out about trail conditions and potential opening dates. Packer Lake Rd. is paved up until it intersects Butcher Ranch Rd. There is a dirt road off of Butcher Ranch Rd. that leads up to the Sierra Buttes Lookout. The last part of the road is a trail, is one way and off camber, making it difficult to pass vehicles coming the opposite direction (usually there are not many other vehicles). The road gets bad so it may be late to open. There is a parking area below the lookout. You have to hike the rest of the way which takes about 30 minutes to get to the lookout. The lookout is about 8600 feet in elevation. There is also a trail for hikers that starts down by Butcher Ranch Rd. I prefer to Jeep it up! Here is information about the lookout: http://californiathroughmylens.com/sierra-buttes-fire-lookout

For anyone who has never been there, and even for those who have, this area is stunning. Lots of beautiful small lakes and some good fishing. The trail system between Gold Lake, Snake Lake and the lookout go by several small lakes and crosses the Pacific Crest Trail a few times. Camping options include Gold Lake (limited space at the 4X4 campground but it does have vaulted toilets!), to remote camping at Snake Lake, other lakes or just along the trail. Here is more info about the trail: http://4x4trailmaps.com/4x4Trails.php?Trail_ID=47

Did a bachelor party wheeling trip up there with one of my college buddies last year (far less snow than this year) in mid-june and still hit some pretty big snow drifts on north facing slopes.  I will see if I can dig up our planned route vs what we took but essentially we started in Downeyville/Sierra City and drove up to near the peak of the Sierra Buttes from the west side but got stopped about 1/2 mile from the top by snow and hiked.  We then drove north on the top of the ridge and dropped down into the 4x4 campground at tamarack lake for the night (also accessible from the graeagle side).  Day 2 we climbed back up to the ridge and hit deer lake for lunch before we ran snake lake trail with about 2 hrs of shoveling to get through the snow drifts in the trees at the top of the ridge before the trail drops down the west side of the ridge.  At the bottom of the west slope we turned north and camped. On day 3 we followed the ridge through about 8ft snow drifts all day before finally having to turn back and take an alternate route out since we couldn't cross a few side hill sections on the road leading out towards Johnsville.

I will gladly lead a weekend camping trip out here but the high areas wont be accessible until late June.

kris_olof said    I will gladly lead a weekend camping trip out here but the high areas wont be accessible until late June.  

That would be awesome Kris. I'm away at a business conference June 21-25 so if we can avoid that weekend I would appreciate it. The following weekend (July 1st and 2nd) might be a little busier due to the July 4th Holiday but probably not a big problem for remote camping/wheeling. We could always go sooner, like June 17-18th, but in both cases, we are at the mercy of the snow conditions. It's nice to go early enough in the year so we can have a campfire before campfire permits get suspended. Why don't we consult the group and try to get a (tentative?) date on the calendar.

My suggestion would be to have those who can get the time off to go up a day or two before the weekend. Those who can't get the time off can always meet up with us on Friday night or Saturday morning and we can guide them in to where we are camped.

kris_olof said   

That looks awesome!!!! We should do that!

I've camped up there. At Plum Campgroud. I've been on the lookout trail but picked a bad day to hike and got rained out half way in. This is a very beautiful area. I've never Jeeped there however. Sounds interesting!

Well, I wasn't able to check out the Lakes Basin area because Gold Lake HWY is closed due to snow below Gold Lake and Hwy 89. The only current access is from the Hwy 49 side. Went to Frazier Falls and had to hike in the last two plus miles due to snow. I'm guessing Frazier Creek Road won't be passable for at least another month. This area is much lower than Gold Lake so who knows when the Snake Lake Trail might be doable.

Jeff_R said Well, I wasn't able to check out the Lakes Basin area because Gold Lake HWY is closed due to snow below Gold Lake and Hwy 89. The only current access is from the Hwy 49 side. Went to Frazier Falls and had to hike in the last two plus miles due to snow. I'm guessing Frazier Creek Road won't be passable for at least another month. This area is much lower than Gold Lake so who knows when the Snake Lake Trail might be doable.  

Jeff, this looks like a great area!  The snow has to eventually melt... Count us in for a trip up there!

Jeff,

Do you think the snow has melted enough as of yet?  I am looking for someplace to go on Saturday?

Sharkbyte said Jeff,   Do you think the snow has melted enough as of yet?  I am looking for someplace to go on Saturday?    

Jeff, I called Sardine Lake resort to get some local input on conditions for you. He said that that Gold Lake Highway from Gold Lake to Graeagle has been open for about three weeks now. It was closed when I was there four weeks ago today. He said the roads are all good. I tried to call Packer Lake Lodge/Resort to get more information but there was no answer and I didn't want to leave them a message. I would recommend calling them to see if the road to the top of Packer Lake Saddle is open. Their number is 530-862-1221. I'm sure there is still snow in places but it sounds like a lot more areas are accessible. Do you know exactly where you want to go up there or what you would like to do? My son backpacked to Penner Lake on Friday for two nights and he said that there was still at fair amount of snow. Penner Lake is just under 7000 feet and that is the elevation of Packer Saddle so I would expect snow in places.

You should be able to explore but im not sure the road up to snake lake trail is clear enough for travel. I was up there last year one week ago and there were 6ft deep drifts on snake lake trail at the top in the trees.  That was a year when the Gold Lake snow gauge was completely melted by the first week of june.  This year the Gold Lake snow gauge still shows over 1 ft at 6,700 ft gauge location.  As the trail requires a climb to 7,400ft I do not think it will yet be clear enough to run snake lake trail itself.

You will still be able to run some of the forest roads but if you go alone, probably dont bash through snow drifts unless you have a few winch extensions or at least a shovel.

Jeff and Kris,

Thanks for the information!  If we go up there we won't stray too far through any snow etc.  If I have learned nothing else I realize from our Snow Runs that these Jeeps are fairly easy to get snow stuck.

With how hot it is going to be today and the next 5 days, I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of snow melted. I think it was nearly 90 in Tahoe.