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Advice on proposed trip starting at Crabtree TH
Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2025 10:05 am
by edgeagg
Hi,
We are a bunch of Washingtonians planning a trip to the Emigrant Wilderness in Early August. Here is our proposed Caltopo route. (
https://caltopo.com/m/EJ01H08). We are all pretty experienced hikers and backpackers with routefinding experience.
Summary:
1) Day 1: Crabtree to Big Lake
2) Day 2: Prat around Big Lake
3) Day 3: Go offtrail from Big Lake to Buck Lake via Kole and Leighton Lakes.
4) Day 4: Fart around Buck Lake
5) Day 5: Move (mostly) out to Camp Lake
6) Day 6: Head out to the TH and start driving back to WA.
The first day looks long'ish but doable, I've heard that routefinding from Rosasco to Big Lake can be a bit hairy due to vegetation. Is that true? Same goes for the Big -> Kole -> Leighton -> Buck route due to vegetation.
Any advice will be appreciated.
thanks
ea
Re: Advice on proposed trip starting at Crabtree TH
Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2025 12:51 pm
by mschnaidt
Hi Ea,
That's a good trip. You will cover some spectacular terrain. I covered the same route last Summer and many times before.
Your first day is long, get an early start if you can. You might want to try starting at the Pine Valley Trailhead. The trail is labeled "Aspen Meadow Trail" in red on your map. Park at the curve next to the tent icon. That's where the Forest Service parks and it's the trail they use. It saves a few hundred feet of vertical and isn't as dusty and crowded as the Crabtree trail.
The navigation can get tricky from Rosasco to Big but if you use the Caltopo app it will keep you close to the trail. In August, horses should have left signs to guide you also. I wouldn't go to Pingree and then to Big. The last mile of the direct route to Big is one of the best sections in Emigrant.
Once at Big there is a great campsite on the West Side of the lake. Switch to the global imagery view on Caltopo, the campsite is in the trees West of the islands in the lake. The site you've noted on the map burned a few years ago. There is a lot of deadfall and downed trees. It does have a nice beach though.
On day 2, if you are going to fish, Yellowhammer is good. Fish the NW shore. There are steep cliffs and limited areas to access the water but the lake is very productive. Camp Yellowhammer is worth a visit. If you aren't going to fish, Hyatt is a good choice. Great scenery and a wonderful beach. On your way over stay to the south of the ridge. You do not want to be near the seasonal creek leading down to Hyatt. The south side is open and easy hiking. The route had sporadic cairns on it last year.
The trail from Big to Kole is not well marked but the navigation is pretty straight forward. Lots of random trail cairns leading to Kole that are confusing, so don't pay too much attention to them. Stay near the stream bed. Kole is great for a swim. Go around the north side of the lake and swim off of the big granite slab if you have time. Navigation around Leighton and Karls is pretty easy, keep an eye on the Caltopo app as the trail from Karls to Wood can be missed and there is a nasty use trail a little further on.
Upper Buck is prettier than lower Buck. Or camp at the upper (eastern) end of Wood Lake and explore the Buck Lakes from there. Emigrant Lake is a great destination but I'd skip Shallow Lake and Cow Meadow.
On your way out, instead of Camp Lake consider Cherry Creek in Louse Canyon. There are plenty of places to camp. My favorite is on the south side of Cherry where the seasonal stream flows in. There is a nice flat area and great swimming in the granite warmed creek. Gem and Piute lakes are small. Gem is pretty but usually very crowded. Camp Lake gets crowded also.
Enjoy your trip.
M
Re: Advice on proposed trip starting at Crabtree TH
Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2025 2:07 pm
by maverick
Good information above.
Using the search feature at the top of the Trip Reports forum will give you several hits.
search.php?keywords=R06+%2B+Rosasco+Lak ... %5B0%5D=38
search.php?keywords=R06+%2B+Big+Lake+%2 ... %5B0%5D=38
Re: Advice on proposed trip starting at Crabtree TH
Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2025 2:10 pm
by c9h13no3
It is so very Washington Cascades to worry first & foremost about bushwhacking.
Re: Advice on proposed trip starting at Crabtree TH
Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2025 2:32 pm
by edgeagg
Sorry. I had googled the route and did find some of these links.
Re: Advice on proposed trip starting at Crabtree TH
Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2025 2:33 pm
by edgeagg
c9h13no3 wrote: ↑Tue Apr 08, 2025 2:10 pm
It is so very Washington Cascades to worry first & foremost about bushwhacking.
Oh well, bushwhacking in the Cascades involves endless thickets of slide alder, crumbly gullies and getting well acquainted with Devils Club...,.
Re: Advice on proposed trip starting at Crabtree TH
Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2025 2:37 pm
by edgeagg
mschnaidt wrote: ↑Tue Apr 08, 2025 12:51 pm
Hi Ea,
That's a good trip. You will cover some spectacular terrain. I covered the same route last Summer and many times before.
Your first day is long, get an early start if you can. You might want to try starting at the Pine Valley Trailhead. The trail is labeled "Aspen Meadow Trail" in red on your map. Park at the curve next to the tent icon. That's where the Forest Service parks and it's the trail they use. It saves a few hundred feet of vertical and isn't as dusty and crowded as the Crabtree trail.
The navigation can get tricky from Rosasco to Big but if you use the Caltopo app it will keep you close to the trail. In August, horses should have left signs to guide you also. I wouldn't go to Pingree and then to Big. The last mile of the direct route to Big is one of the best sections in Emigrant.
Once at Big there is a great campsite on the West Side of the lake. Switch to the global imagery view on Caltopo, the campsite is in the trees West of the islands in the lake. The site you've noted on the map burned a few years ago. There is a lot of deadfall and downed trees. It does have a nice beach though.
On day 2, if you are going to fish, Yellowhammer is good. Fish the NW shore. There are steep cliffs and limited areas to access the water but the lake is very productive. Camp Yellowhammer is worth a visit. If you aren't going to fish, Hyatt is a good choice. Great scenery and a wonderful beach. On your way over stay to the south of the ridge. You do not want to be near the seasonal creek leading down to Hyatt. The south side is open and easy hiking. The route had sporadic cairns on it last year.
The trail from Big to Kole is not well marked but the navigation is pretty straight forward. Lots of random trail cairns leading to Kole that are confusing, so don't pay too much attention to them. Stay near the stream bed. Kole is great for a swim. Go around the north side of the lake and swim off of the big granite slab if you have time. Navigation around Leighton and Karls is pretty easy, keep an eye on the Caltopo app as the trail from Karls to Wood can be missed and there is a nasty use trail a little further on.
Upper Buck is prettier than lower Buck. Or camp at the upper (eastern) end of Wood Lake and explore the Buck Lakes from there. Emigrant Lake is a great destination but I'd skip Shallow Lake and Cow Meadow.
On your way out, instead of Camp Lake consider Cherry Creek in Louse Canyon. There are plenty of places to camp. My favorite is on the south side of Cherry where the seasonal stream flows in. There is a nice flat area and great swimming in the granite warmed creek. Gem and Piute lakes are small. Gem is pretty but usually very crowded. Camp Lake gets crowded also.
Enjoy your trip.
M
Great great suggestions. Will modify.
Re: Advice on proposed trip starting at Crabtree TH
Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2025 3:52 pm
by Flamingo
Hello @edgeagg, it's a great route. I did this loop in June 2021 (minus your Day 4), and here's a few suggestions. . .
- Your first day could feel longer than anticipated, as @mschnaidt mentioned. If you feel like stopping early, there's several excellent campsites along West Fork Cherry Creek (along your red line).
- I wouldn't worry too much about bushwhacking, but I would say that the hardest part of your route could be the climb to Rosasco Lake. I recall not finding a trail here; I grunted up a loose scree with a heavy pack. Ugh. If you find yourself in that situation, I encourage you to endure it, and trust you're still on track. I probably took a poor line through this section, hopefully you'll do better.
- Major agreement with @mschnaidt's comment
"...instead of Camp Lake consider Cherry Creek in Louse Canyon..." In my experience, Camp Lake can see lots of day-hikers, and I don't love its campsites. My other suggestion is to camp at Piute Meadow (where your blue line crosses Piute Creek). There's nice camping approx. 80m north of the trail on the west side of the creek, with views overlooking the meadow.
- Finally, I will say my favorite part of this loop is the western approach to Big Lake across the huge granite slabs. Fortunately, it's already on your red line. . . so enjoy!
Re: Advice on proposed trip starting at Crabtree TH
Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2025 6:51 pm
by edgeagg
Thanks! I am still editing the map! Yes, I have heard that the Rosaco Lake climb can be taxing. We hope to get an early start that AM and be buoyed by bacon!
I've done some significant edits to the map so that we land up at Jewelry/Gem on the day before we leave. We then march out via the Bell Creek Trail (Pine Valley) to our revised starting point. We will then stay in Copperopolis for the night before an early start next AM.
So many thanks for the recommendations. Will provide a TR
Re: Advice on proposed trip starting at Crabtree TH
Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2025 9:45 pm
by Wandering Daisy
viewtopic.php?p=136478#p136478
here is a link to my report- it is a similar trip but the reverse direction. I did not go out via Roasco, but I have gone up from the crossing and did find a nice trail. It is upstream from where I crossed. This was many more years ago. I also have gone along the north shore of Leighton Lake. That is much easier than what I did because I wanted to see Red Can Lake.
Also, I was at Buck Lake last year and they have really worked on the trail to Woods Lake. It seemed to be slightly re-routed, but easy to find.