Trip ideas around Emigrant with kids, 3-4 nights

[adam]

Hi,
We will be two families, each with 9 and 12 year old kids. Adults experienced in Sierra including XC, kids have backpacked before.
We're looking around Emigrant because it's new to us and a decent drive coming from oakland and truckee.

Our goals are to keep distances down, lots of time hanging around lakes (or rivers) swimming and goofing around. We'll be starting July 11, out for 3 or 4 nights, with potential exploration from a base camp, especially if we do 4 nights.

Personally, I'm attracted to the slabby granite, so I'd love something that offers potential to explore that.

Options I'm thinking of are below, please let me know your opinions and any other ideas that might be better. Thanks!

1. Gianelli-->Powell-->chewing gum and back again. Is the road to Gianelli drivable for minivans? Is chewing gum a nice place to hang out for a couple days?

2. Crabtree-->Bear-->Granite. Just saw this from a recent post. I'm attracted to the idea of a little adventure with xc, but manageable for kids. And Granite looks beautiful.

2. Box spring-->chain lakes. Drive seems prohibitive in a minvan, and xc beyond chain lakes not suitable for kids with packs?

3. Hoover: Leavitt Meadow-->Lane lake-->Fremont lake. Obviously not Emigrant but seems like a fun trip. Is rock there metamorphic or granite?

Thanks!

[NorCal_Hiker]

Personally I’d avoid Leavitt Meadow with kids. It’s a somewhat long and boring hike into the more interesting terrain. More metamorphic and fewer slabs than emigrant particularly on the first part of the trip.

Last summer right around that same time we took our 12 year old to Crabtree —> Piiute meadow with the plan to explore XC up Toms Canyon and over towards Big Lake. Unfortunately despite checking with the rangers on water flow ahead of time, when we got there Piute creek was not flowing. So I think your plan of being around lakes is probably a sound one given another relatively low-snow year.

The other option is get to Granite via Y meadow. This is short enough to day hike if you decide XC with packs is too much for your party.

I haven’t done it in 2-3 years, but I’ve been to Gianelli probably ~10 times over the years and a mini-van should be just fine. That said, conditions change on these roads and a more recent report would probably be helpful.

[adam]

thanks so much!

[balzaccom]

I agree that Leavitt Meadows can be a slog. You might also look at the Green Lakes trailhead. Lots to explore there within easy hiking distance ..

But if granite slabs are on the menu, Emigrant is the best choice. Camp/Bear/Granite lakes are good.

[sloflier]

Hello,

1. Yes. The road to Gianelli is maintained to a level that any vehicle could access the TH. Powell and Chewing Gum risk being crowded...especially Powell due to the proximity to the TH. Chewing Gum less so, but depending on when you go, it can be just as crowded but you do have more areas to camp.

2. I would suggest Gianelli to Y-Meadow to Granite rather than the route you suggested. If you feel comfortable navigating via rock cairns, Granite Lake is very easily accessed. It's an easy "intro" xc from Y-Meadow. Granite Lake is beautiful, there are plenty of camping spots, but it can also get a little crowded. That said, it's one of my favorite for swimming in. There are also some very old Junipers around the west side of the lake that are fun to walk amongst. This is my vote.

3. I am not familiar with this TH, but I hear Chain Lakes is nice.

4. As others have said, you're on the east side at this point and it's fairly dry.

As a side topic, most of my long hikes into Emigrant Wilderness start at Leavitt Lake TH, but it's not accessible in a fully loaded minivan...and not easily accessible in an average 4x4 or AWD vehicle. High clearance is key.

1. Gianelli-->Powell-->chewing gum and back again. Is the road to Gianelli drivable for minivans? Is chewing gum a nice place to hang out for a couple days?

2. Crabtree-->Bear-->Granite. Just saw this from a recent post. I'm attracted to the idea of a little adventure with xc, but manageable for kids. And Granite looks beautiful.

2. Box spring-->chain lakes. Drive seems prohibitive in a minvan, and xc beyond chain lakes not suitable for kids with packs?

3. Hoover: Leavitt Meadow-->Lane lake-->Fremont lake. Obviously not Emigrant but seems like a fun trip. Is rock there metamorphic or granite?

Thanks!

[balzaccom]

Good on you for answering the question about roads!

Chain Lakes is pleasant, but can be buggy before late summer, and doesn't have the same kind of granite as Y Meadow, Bear, etc.

We have trip reports on every one of these hikes on our website...and I think I posted them all here, too.

[adam]

Thanks for all the help.
I've checked out lots of TRs here, and they all look beautiful. I'm more interested comparative opinions, which are winners for swimming, etc... Again, I really appreciate the input from folks that have been there.

The Y-meadows-->granite suggestion gives me an idea: since we will have two cars, we could go in via Gianelli and out via Crabtree. "Hey kids, it's all downhill!" (except for the uphills)

[balzaccom]

Yep...in Emigrant, every downhill has an uphill. But you would start out about 800 feet higher at Gianelli. You still climb up to Burst Rock to start.

[Harlen]

Hello adam, I'll add to the good advice from others above by recommending the area we visited a few years back. We went in from Crabtree TH, and made a basecamp at upper Buck Lake. We really liked it there, and I believe it might also suit your plans for a base to hike out from. We camped in the Hemlock forest at the upper end of upper Buck Lake, and enjoyed a couple of hikes from there. I'll add a few photos from that area, and a link to the map. Good Luck, Ian.

p.s. Looks like my map came from ?, so I'll add the link to my TR, where the map does exist. viewtopic.php?f=1&t=21100&hilit=trip+re ... erry+creek

From the nice rock terrace above Upper Buck.

Campsite at U. Buck Lake.

Lower Buck Lake, which WD says may have better fishing?

A short, fun day hike from upper Buck Lk. was to the west for this view down on Big Lake.

[TehipiteTom]

I once camped at Chewing Gum on July 4 weekend and it was a zoo. I'm sure it's not nearly that bad most of the time, but I expect it does get a lot of use.

If you go to Granite, there's a fun off-trail route from there through Tom's Canyon to Leopold Lake, which is lovely. That may be farther in than you want to camp, but it would make a good dayhike.