road to Leavitt Lake TH

All discussion related to transportation to, from and within the Sierra Nevada. Need directions or flight information? Info on road conditions? A ride to the trail head? Can you offer a ride, or do you run a transportation business or shuttle service for the Sierra Nevada? Come on in and post the details!
User avatar
mediauras
Topix Acquainted
Posts: 94
Joined: Sat Apr 28, 2012 7:21 pm
Experience: N/A
Location: Oakland

road to Leavitt Lake TH

Post by mediauras »

Hi. I'm going to be leaving out of Leavitt Lake TH next week and am wondering how bad/ good? the dirt road is leading up to the lake. I could either take up my old Jeep Cherokee or a Subaru Outback depending on conditions. I'm hoping the newer, comfier Outback would suffice. ;)
Thanks!
Last edited by mediauras on Sat Jul 16, 2016 10:01 am, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
rhyang
Topix Regular
Posts: 166
Joined: Mon Oct 16, 2006 3:29 pm
Experience: N/A
Location: SJC CA

Re: road to Leavitt Lake TH

Post by rhyang »

I tried it in my 2005 Forester back in 2014 and no go. I was not the only Subaru to do so. But I just parked on a pullout and walked the rest of the way. Call up Summit RD and ask for current conditions.

Sent from my XT1045 using Tapatalk
User avatar
mediauras
Topix Acquainted
Posts: 94
Joined: Sat Apr 28, 2012 7:21 pm
Experience: N/A
Location: Oakland

Re: road to Leavitt Lake TH

Post by mediauras »

Thanks @rhyang. I will call them, but I find the intel here to usually be much better.
User avatar
giantbrookie
Founding Member & Forums Moderator
Founding Member & Forums Moderator
Posts: 3580
Joined: Wed Dec 28, 2005 10:22 am
Experience: N/A
Location: Fresno
Contact:

Re: road to Leavitt Lake TH

Post by giantbrookie »

There are some short steep sections of road that require high clearance and (depending on the year and time of year) 4WD for traction, whereas most of it is easy 2WD. In addition, the 4WD is useful for such sections to have traction and also be able to drive them slower and minimize the risk of damage to the vehicle. Whereas it is commonly possible to drive a high clearance vehicle all the way to Leavitt Lake without shifting into 4WD, using 4WD is easier on the vehicle. My vehicle (which does this road easily) is a 1992 Nissan Pathfinder w 4WD, stock (highway) tires, but fairly high clearance (including fairly generous factory-installed lift).
Since my fishing (etc.) website is still down, you can be distracted by geology stuff at: http://www.fresnostate.edu/csm/ees/facu ... ayshi.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
User avatar
rlown
Topix Docent
Posts: 8225
Joined: Thu Oct 25, 2007 5:00 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: Wilton, CA

Re: road to Leavitt Lake TH

Post by rlown »



This road? I've only been there twice, both times in a K5 chevy blazer 4wd. I thought the horse trailer on the road was a nice touch in the video.
User avatar
mediauras
Topix Acquainted
Posts: 94
Joined: Sat Apr 28, 2012 7:21 pm
Experience: N/A
Location: Oakland

Re: road to Leavitt Lake TH

Post by mediauras »

Ha, that looks like the road. What a world. Looks a little rough, but not too bad. The Sub and its superior air conditioning will likely get the nod. Happy trails all!

EDIT: Nevermind, found some videos showing those steep, rutted parts @giantbrookie mentioned. Get me to the trail already!
User avatar
rlown
Topix Docent
Posts: 8225
Joined: Thu Oct 25, 2007 5:00 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: Wilton, CA

Re: road to Leavitt Lake TH

Post by rlown »

Yeah. I was stuck behind a white van on one of the steep parts for a bit. He backed down and gave us berth. You could do it, but carry the winch? I've done worse in a Triumph spitfire. Clutch was a bit burnt afterward, but heck.. worth the try.
User avatar
mediauras
Topix Acquainted
Posts: 94
Joined: Sat Apr 28, 2012 7:21 pm
Experience: N/A
Location: Oakland

Re: road to Leavitt Lake TH

Post by mediauras »

Always worth the try, always worth the try (except, probably, in my wife's 5 month old Subaru...) ;)
User avatar
ChasingRainbows
Topix Acquainted
Posts: 72
Joined: Tue Jan 05, 2010 7:17 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: Menlo Park, CA

Re: road to Leavitt Lake TH

Post by ChasingRainbows »

I did that two years ago in my 4wd tacoma and made it fine, but jarred the skid plate a bit and had to get out once or twice to check my line or move an exceptionally large rock. I have ~ 9.3" of ground clearance on my truck, internet says your Subaru has 8.7". The gnarliest part is the turn at the 2:00 mark in the video, although the video doesn't give you a very good look at it.
User avatar
mediauras
Topix Acquainted
Posts: 94
Joined: Sat Apr 28, 2012 7:21 pm
Experience: N/A
Location: Oakland

Re: road to Leavitt Lake TH

Post by mediauras »

Circling back on this -- this road is GNARLY! I ended up taking my 2000 Jeep Cherokee (old boxy kind) and it did fine, but there were a few parts where I was a little nervous I didn't quite have the clearance. Like @chasingrainbows we had to get out and scout lines on three different parts (and build up rocks in a few washed out parts). In the end, it was a bit of fun technical 4x4'ing. Not sure of clearance measurement on my Jeep, but anything less wouldn't fare well. The road gets you to the goods though.
Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 4 guests