Backpacking California is a collection of more than 70 of the most intriguing backpacking adventures in Wilderness Press's home territory of California. With contributions from more than a dozen Wilderness Press authors, the book describes routes ranging from one night to one week. Backpacking novices as well as "old hand" California hikers will find expert-crafted trips in the Coast Ranges, the Sierra, the Cascades, and the Warner Mountains. Expanded coverage includes trips in Big Sur, Anza-Borrego, Death Valley, and the White Mountains. Several trips have been described in print nowhere else. Each trip includes a trail map and essential logistical information for trip planning.
night before your trip at one of the nearby Forest Service campgrounds is wise, especially if you arrive here from sea level. Resorts in the area include Parchers Resort (760-873-4177; www.parchersresort.net), about 1.5 miles below the dam along the South Lake Road, and Cardinal Village Resort (760-873-4789; www.cardinalvillageresort.com), in the community of Aspendell. The town of Bishop offers several choices for lodging, dining, and acquiring supplies. Photo: Temple Crag and the Palisades
From Soda Springs, you take a westbound, undulating trail, and in just under 1 mile descend to Delaney Creek, reached about 100 yards after a trail from the stables comes in on the right. In early season, look for a log to cross it; later on, boulder hopping will do. After 0.3 mile you reach the northbound Young Lakes Trail at 2.0 miles. Continue westward on your rambling traverse, and after more winding through scattered lodgepole pines, the trail descends some bare granite slabs and enters a
continues along the crest of a ridge, where the forest parts just enough to allow fine views of Emerald Bay and deep blue Lake Tahoe. Leaving the ridge, the trail follows the alder-lined outlet of Granite Lake on a gentler ascent through ferns, wildflowers, and shrubs to the lake. The trail remains well above the lake, with use trails descending steeply to the shoreline. Near the far end of the lake, the path switchbacks numerous times up the south-facing slope beneath the twin summits of Maggies
overgrown the trail, and you’ll want to continue on a straight course across the north side of this meadow to find a dry, rocky creekbed that after a short distance leads into distinct trail. A little farther you come to an old road that crosses the river, and a campsite. The trail follows the old roadbed for a bit, staying near the river’s south bank, and then narrows to a single track and veers closer to the water. Your gentle descent continues along the Sacramento for another 0.5 mile, to
return to the junction and follow ducks uphill to more discernible tread, which soon leads to a protracted, rising traverse of the slope above the canyon of Canyon Creek. Along the way are good views across the canyon of the mountains to the north. After passing through a burned area, you reach willow-lined Muse Creek above Muse Meadow. A little way farther is a small sign nailed to a fir tree with an ominous sounding message: STEEP BLUFFS, DISMOUNTING ADVISED. After passing through a small grove
