Any suggestions for a pretty 5 day route that has minimal crowds?

[Gnomar]

I want to spend the first week of October out backpacking somewhere beautiful. After over a week of research, I've found lots of great options but can't really get an idea of crowded they'll be and haven't figured out how to be able to predict this. My girl and I are categorically allergic to people and love the feeling of being the only ones out there. I know that might not be realistic, but we at least want to avoid routes where we're going to have to share campsites and pass other hikers every hour if possible.

We're experienced backpackers but haven't done any overnights in the Sierras yet. We're looking to do ~10 miles per day (with full packs, 15 miles with daypacks) and are hoping to avoid any serious death marches. Class 2 hiking. We love the high county views and being amongst the tree line, but we don't need any particularly gorgeous lakes or waterfalls to enjoy the scenery. We'd be happy to set up a basecamp and do exploratory dayhikes if any places like that come to mind. If not, loop hikes are preferred over out and backs.

I'm seeing lots of options out of the Crabtree trailhead that look like exactly what we'd want but it seems like a very crowded area?
Out of Twin Lakes, the Crown Point Loop or Benson Lake loop seem to also be great, but again, are they getting a lot of action in early October?

I'd super appreciate some suggestions and information about how to avoid the crowds.

[c9h13no3]

If you go somewhere terrible, you can usually avoid crowds.

And that advice is only a little cheeky. To avoid crowds, do something other people dislike that maybe you don't mind. Go further than them, invent your own route, go off trail, use a trailhead that requires lots of dirt road driving, go somewhere completely out of season.

Where you coming from? My guess is you're probably in the Bay Area looking at Crabtree and Twin Lakes. Both of those are pretty heavily used, but as always, once you get ~5 miles past the trailhead people start becoming rare. If you've never been to the Sierra, I wouldn't focus on avoiding crowds. It ain't so bad. Just avoid the Whitney Zone, the JMT, Desolation in Tahoe, and the popular Yosemite routes and it won't be so bad.

[FrankPS]

The first week of October will not be crowded almost anywhere.

[wildhiker]

For the first week of October, I worry more about the weather than about crowds. It will be cold, and there is a chance of an early season snow storm. For that reason, I would prefer a trailhead on a main road, rather than something miles back on an unmaintained road that could get snowed in from an early season storm. I would also avoid getting too far into the backcountry so I could get out easily if it does turn stormy. And of course, pay attention to the weather forecast and abort if a big storm is coming!

Twin Lakes trailhead to the Hoover Wilderness on the east side fits my criteria. It also gets you into some dramatic mountain scenery. There will be day hikers up to Barney Lake and there could be good fall color in the aspens! I would not do the whole Benson Lake loop, mostly because you drop 3,000 feet into the hole where the lake is and then have to immediately climb back out again on the other side. I would do shorter mileage with the pack and spend time dayhiking from camp. Don't forget that the days are getting short! One idea is to head up past Barney Lake to the Robinson Lakes or Crown Lake (outstanding view of Crown Point over the lake from campsite on the bluff above the north shore). Then go over Mule and Burro passes to the basin at the head of Matterhorn Canyon for a second night - explore down the canyon with just a day pack. Return over Burro and Mule passes but then head south past Snow Lake over the low Rock Island Pass. Take a short cross-country jaunt from just west of the pass over to look at Rock Island Lake - camp there or in the basin along the trail west of Rock Island Lake. Back on the trail, go down to Kerrick Meadows, possibly explore down trail without pack to Arndt Lake, and then head back north to camp at Peeler Lake. Final day is back down to the trailhead.

-Phil

[Gnomar]

Great suggestion, Phil. The weather issue is definitely a concern for me. With some not so easy reorganization of my schedule, it could move it to the second week of September, and honestly, that's feeling like a good idea. I'm born and raised in SoCal and of all my wilderness experience, snow is probably my least familiar factor and the one that is most intimidating. If we went the Monday after Labor day, do you know what the population on the Twin Lakes trails would look like?

[tahoefoothills]

I agree with Wildhiker about entering the Hoover Wilderness at Twin Lakes. After Barney Lake you are not going to encounter many people in September or October. I've done several trips, including the so-called Matterhorn Canyon loop, and you will not be disappointed by the scenery and isolation. The Crown Lake suggestion is excellent, too. I've done that in mid-October and it was great. Cold nights, but terrific days. Just watch the weather.

[Wandering Daisy]

You will be past the permit quota system in most places, so you will have little problems getting a permit and can change locations last minute if needed. In addition to poor weather and short days keep an eye on wildfires and smoke conditions.

[Gogd]

Due to weather considerations, I would opt not taking a route requiring you cross a high pass to get back to your car. Same concerns with choosing a trailhead that won't be impassible to drive, should rain decide to visit.

A nice loop for late season starts out of South Lake, and takes you over Hurd Col. It is a short hike, if all you do is chase the route, start to finish.
But it travels through some pretty scenery, offering great day hike trips from base camps. There are various options, en route. Chocolate Lakes and Rauwa Lake, are good for solitude that time of year and have the Inconsolable Range as a pretty spectacular back drop. You could venture further up South Fork Bishop Creek and stay at any of the lakes above Long Lake Arrow Lake is pretty and doesn't get much traffic even during peak season, as the modest XC effort to reach discourages the lazy types. Margaret Lake sees the least traffic and makes a great base camp for a day hike up Mt Goode or visit Bishop Pass and Dusy Basin. The back side of the loop takes you over Hurd Pass. Any of the Treasure Lakes are good stop overs; obviously the upper lakes will see few if any people. Treasure Col is a good challenging day trip up to the Sierra Crest. Get back to the car, descending via the trail below Treasure Lakes.

You could also cobble a route among the basins above South Lake. You will need to get a bit off trail, however, if you wish to hide from other campers. But as others shared, there are FAR fewer people in the Sierra backcountry after mid September.

Ed

[thegib]

In the high Sierra, mid-Sept is an almost universally great time to be backpacking and the first week of Oct is dicey. October can be very pleasant but the first snow of the season often falls and the wind is colder and shadows long. Why are you limiting yourself to those trailheads?