Ideas for taking my daughter on her first backpacking trip

[maverick]

Hi Goonerick,

Welcome to HST! Thank you for taking the time to chime in and helping out a fellow
HST member with you personal experience.

[wildhiker]

Another gentle alpine area that is good for children and not too far from you is the Grouse Lakes roadless area off Interstate 80 in the Tahoe National Forest. You take the Hwy 20 exit westbound down to Bowman Lakes road and then up that to various signed trailheads on the west side of the roadless area. I think the easiest is the Carr Lake/Feeley Lake trailhead. A short hike of less than 2 miles over a low pass takes you past Feeley Lake to beautiful Island Lake. Side trips to other lakes are possible from there. Since we have a cabin nearby, we regularly hike into this area and the trails are in good condition. Theoretically, since it is not an official wilderness area (maybe someday?), mountain bikes are allowed, but I haven't ever seen any on the trail to Island Lake. We took our kids here more than 25 years ago when the youngest was only 1.5 years old. He walked a bit, but mostly, we carried him. His older sisters (5 and 6.5 at the time) even carried small packs. I do have to warn you that this is a popular area for both day hikers and backpackers, so you won't have solitude.

-Phil

[Goshawk]

Another gentle alpine area that is good for children and not too far from you is the Grouse Lakes roadless area off Interstate 80 in the Tahoe National Forest. You take the Hwy 20 exit westbound down to Bowman Lakes road and then up that to various signed trailheads on the west side of the roadless area. I think the easiest is the Carr Lake/Feeley Lake trailhead. A short hike of less than 2 miles over a low pass takes you past Feeley Lake to beautiful Island Lake. Side trips to other lakes are possible from there. Since we have a cabin nearby, we regularly hike into this area and the trails are in good condition. Theoretically, since it is not an official wilderness area (maybe someday?), mountain bikes are allowed, but I haven't ever seen any on the trail to Island Lake. We took our kids here more than 25 years ago when the youngest was only 1.5 years old. He walked a bit, but mostly, we carried him. His older sisters (5 and 6.5 at the time) even carried small packs. I do have to warn you that this is a popular area for both day hikers and backpackers, so you won't have solitude.

-Phil

I've gone through same process recently, and I second Bowman Lakes nomination. The main downside where we stayed was cows rumbling with their bells on the other side of the lake at night. But distances are as easy as you want them to be, access is easy (from the Bay Area/NoCal), and elevation manageable.

for trip # 2 a year later if the first one goes well: the Desolation Wilderness near Wrights' Lake is good, although the climb to Grouse Lake was rather daunting for the kids in parts. Twin Lakes is probably better, less steep, although more popular