San Joaquin river crossing below Garnet Lake

[oldranger]

Looks like a big snow year so concerned about crossing SJ river after dropping down unmaintained trail from Garnet lake. Is there a bridge or if not what is the ford like to join the river trail?

Thanks

Mike

[LMBSGV]

There’s no bridge. The river is pretty narrow at that point, but not deep. My wife, son, and I waded it on June 20, 2001, with no major problems. I also did it last July, but last year is not a good indicator for this year. There’s a packer campsite by the crossing so Mammoth Lakes Outfitters may be able to give a more definitive analysis.

[Tamarack]

I also crossed without much difficulty in mid-August 2017 after descending from Garnet Lake. I tried to find places to boulder hop across both upstream and downstream, without success, and ended up having to wade--reluctantly, as the flow looked like it might be too strong to handle comfortably even though it was not deep. But it ended up being no problem.

[kpeter]

I crossed in mid July 2015, which was a dry year. My daughter rock-hopped and I waded. It was not a challenge, but 2015 was radically different from 2023. Obviously, a lot will depend upon how much snowmelt is feeding the river from the 1000 Island and Garnet drainages at the time you cross. If there is a lot of snow left in those basins, and if the weather has been warm, then it could be a torrent.

Here is my advice. Before you take the unmaintained trail down from Garnet Lake, carefully assess how much water is coming out of Garnet. Perhaps you also will have recently seen the outflow from 1000 Island. If the water is roaring through the outlets, then take the conventional trail past Shadow and cross on the bridge. If the outflow seems normal then take the unmaintained trail and be prepared to wade the river at the bottom.

I don't have a picture of the crossing, but I do have a picture of the outlet to Garnet at that time. Clearly the outlet is very placid. During the height of snowmelt it looks like there could be water sweeping around the end of the bridge, or at the very least covering the rocks with cascades. But if the outlet looks as placid as this, then obviously the crossing below is going to be placid too.