Which 9000+ trailhead is the shortest drive from the Bay Are

If you've been searching for the best source of information and stimulating discussion related to Spring/Summer/Fall backpacking, hiking and camping in the Sierra Nevada...look no further!
User avatar
oleander
Topix Expert
Posts: 480
Joined: Wed Aug 18, 2010 10:15 am
Experience: N/A

Which 9000+ trailhead is the shortest drive from the Bay Are

Post by oleander »

I'm taking a friend up to the Sierra for a quick 2-day overnighter. I just learned that she will be climbing Whitney in a couple of weeks. So I'd like to expose her to altitude a bit. And yet she has limited time and prefers not to drive the 5-7 hours it would probably take to get from Oakland to any of the 10k+ trailheads.

I figure somewhere there must be some trailheads at 9000+ from which we could hike to 10k+, less than 4.5 hours away. Drawing a blank for some reason.

Sonora Pass is one. That's about 4.5 hours away. Tuolumne is about 4:15 from us and at 8600, that could work too. Saddlebag Lake or Kuna Crest, about 4.5 hours. Any others a little closer?

- Elizabeth
Last edited by oleander on Fri Aug 29, 2014 9:36 am, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Jimr
Forums Moderator
Forums Moderator
Posts: 2175
Joined: Fri Jul 31, 2009 2:14 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: Torrance

Re: Which 9000+ trailhead is the shortest drive from the Bay Are

Post by Jimr »

Take her from Road's End up Copper Creek to one of the Granite Basin lakes. That'll get her legs in shape as well.
If you don't know where you're going, then any path will get you there.
User avatar
balzaccom
Topix Addict
Posts: 2952
Joined: Wed Dec 17, 2008 9:22 pm
Experience: N/A

Re: Which 9000+ trailhead is the shortest drive from the Bay Are

Post by balzaccom »

Except that it doesn't meet the immediate criteria of being close to the Bay Area.

Giannelli Trailhead in Emigrant Wilderness is closer than Sonora Pass by about half an hour---depends on how fast you drive the dirt road.
And I am not sure how long it takes you to get to Carson Pass---but you can hike up to Winnemucca and Round Top Lakes from there.

Closest/fastest? It's not quite 10,000 feet, but it's over 9,000: Climb Castle Peak of Highway 80, and then hike onwards to Paradise Lake. On the way back you can also climb Basin Peak.

And that's on the near side of Donner Pass...three hours max driving.
Check our our website: http://www.backpackthesierra.com/
Or just read a good mystery novel set in the Sierra; https://www.amazon.com/Danger-Falling-R ... 0984884963
User avatar
old and slow
Topix Acquainted
Posts: 73
Joined: Wed Jun 05, 2013 8:55 am
Experience: Level 2 Backpacker
Location: Monterey Bay

Re: Which 9000+ trailhead is the shortest drive from the Bay Are

Post by old and slow »

Another possibility, the Mono Pass/Parker Pass trailhead, just a little east of Tuolumne Meadows, starts at 9600 feet. You have to obtain a Yosemite wilderness permit, not too hard as this isn't one of the most popular trailheads in the Park. However, you can't camp until you reach the Ansel Adams Wilderness e.g just the other side of Mono Pass (10,620) at upper or lower Sardine Lake OR on the other side of Parker Pass (11,100).
User avatar
oleander
Topix Expert
Posts: 480
Joined: Wed Aug 18, 2010 10:15 am
Experience: N/A

Re: Which 9000+ trailhead is the shortest drive from the Bay Are

Post by oleander »

Nice ideas all of them, thanks.

Yes, I'm long overdue to finally see Round Top and Winnemucca. And also Paradise Lake, which somehow I had never even heard of till this year.

Good to know about all the various options. Whichever ones we don't do this time around, can be stashed in the back pocket for an early-ish season acclimatizing weekend next year.

Roads End is approximately 5:15 from Oakland with no stops. Wolverton is closer, around 4:45 and that could get us up to Pear Lake, although the trailhead is below 8k.

- Elizabeth
User avatar
afahrland
Topix Acquainted
Posts: 25
Joined: Fri Feb 11, 2011 2:08 pm
Experience: N/A

Re: Which 9000+ trailhead is the shortest drive from the Bay Are

Post by afahrland »

Sonora Pass for sure. It takes me about 3:45 to get to the pass proper with no traffic. Gianelli is closer, but lower elevation. Way faster than Tuolumne or Kings Canyon.
User avatar
seanr
Topix Regular
Posts: 285
Joined: Thu Feb 06, 2014 9:46 am
Experience: Level 4 Explorer

Re: Which 9000+ trailhead is the shortest drive from the Bay Are

Post by seanr »

oleander wrote:Nice ideas all of them, thanks.

Yes, I'm long overdue to finally see Round Top and Winnemucca. And also Paradise Lake, which somehow I had never even heard of till this year.
If you haven't seen Carson Pass area to Round Top area, I highly recommend going there. It is very scenic and a great year round option from the Bay Area. It reminds me a bit of Lassen area, which although not Sierra, is also pretty convenient up I-505 and I-5 (high elevation backpacking is probably limited in Lassen though).

Tahoe options may be slightly closer if freeway traffic cooperates, but going with Carson Pass can get you away from Bay Area and Sacramento area traffic sooner. Sonora Pass is only a little farther and great, but has more significant curviness getting there and is stark for high elevation backpacking. Tioga Pass area gets much more traffic and, in theory, is about an hour farther than the passes to the north.
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: Which 9000+ trailhead is the shortest drive from the Bay Are

Post by giantbrookie »

Having lived in the Bay Area for 46 years from 1959-2005, with the last 15 in Hayward I often thought of stuff like this.

Sonora Pass is certainly the closest and if you have high clearance you can add to it Sonora Pass option no. 2 which is Leavitt Lake.

I figure the 120 corridor in Yosemite has several options of which Dana Meadows (9600') offer the best options (see also the early August TR I did of a 3 day trip from there). The beauty of this is that it is easy to obtain the wilderness permit because the restriction of NOT being able to camp before the Ansel Adams Wilderness border (ie until leaving Yosemite) makes this a rather unpopular trailhead as mentioned above in Old and Slow's post.

You can also do some short overnighters from Tioga Pass (9940) to places like Gaylor Lakes, Granite Lakes etc. or from Lee Vining Creek (several kickoff points) to destinations just outside of the Hall Natural Area (you have to be outside of Hall Natural Area to camp). I would presume this trip isn't planned for Labor Day weekend. Things would be mighty crowded up there (Yosemite) Labor Day weekend but the crowds will thin dramatically afterwards.
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
seanr
Topix Regular
Posts: 285
Joined: Thu Feb 06, 2014 9:46 am
Experience: Level 4 Explorer

Re: Which 9000+ trailhead is the shortest drive from the Bay Are

Post by seanr »

giantbrookie wrote:
Sonora Pass is certainly the closest and if you have high clearance you can add to it Sonora Pass option no. 2 which is Leavitt Lake.
I don't mean to be that guy, but when driving from Oakland, Sonora Pass is not closer nor necessarily a faster drive than Carson Pass. Echo summit can be a faster drive than either. My caveat to my statement is that route choices, traffic, speed limits, driving style, and curviness will influence actual results. Actual conditions could make this an excercise in splitting hairs. Sonora Pass would also be roughest on a passenger and hardest to drive in non-nimble vehicles. However, it would be my personal first choice for my own preferences and is my usual route to the Eastside. Good point about Leavitt/Latopie area. I almost mentioned it myself, but still it is stark. Also, you make a good point about considering when, where, and how easily you will get a permit. If willing to deal with the crowds and fees before getting deeper in the backcountry, Tioga Pass area ideas mentioned can be worth a little longer drive. All would be fun.
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: Which 9000+ trailhead is the shortest drive from the Bay Are

Post by giantbrookie »

seanr wrote:I don't mean to be that guy, but when driving from Oakland, Sonora Pass is not closer nor necessarily a faster drive than Carson Pass. Echo summit can be a faster drive than either.
Donner Summit is even closer, but none of the trans-Sierra roads north of 108 have trailheads at >9k elevation which is the original query.

When I lived in Hayward if I wanted to get somewhere really fast (<3 hrs) it was I-80 country (Grouse Ridge-Donner etc) or some of the kickoffs near Pinecrest, but none of these are 9k+.
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;
Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Bing [Bot] and 148 guests