The 18 miles of
the Pacific
Crest Trail (PCT) within the Trinity
Alps Wilderness are without question the newest and best 18
miles of trail in the area. Paradoxically, this stretch of trail
gets less use than many of the other trails, despite being very
scenic, easy hiking and close to a whole string of lakes.
One reason for the lack of traffic is that this section of trail
is near the midpoint of the PCT, and only very serious PCT walkers,
starting from either Canada or Mexico, get this far. Another reason
is that this part of the PCT is a long drive from just about anywhere.
Whatever the reasons, the lack of attention is wonderful for those
who do choose to hike this section. It is a marvelous way to see
the eastern part of the Trinity Alps.
|
|
Trail at a Glance |
|
Trip
Type: Through-trip
of 3 to 5 days requiring
a car-shuttle or pick-up |
|
Distance: 18.4
miles; plus 1.6-mile side
trip to Telephone Lake,
and 1.3-mile trip to Upper
South Fork Lake |
|
Elevation
Change: 6785 feet,
average 369 feet per
mile |
|
Season: Early
July to early October |
|
Topo
Maps: Scott Mountain,
Tangle Blue Lake, Billys
Peak and Deadman Peak
(all provisional 1986)
7.5' quadrangles |
|
|
The PCT comes within a mile of each of a beautiful series of lakes
north of the Scott River crest. In order from east to west, they
are: East Boulder, Middle Boulder, Telephone, West Boulder, Mavis,
Fox Creek, Section Line, Virginia, and upper and lower South Fork
lakes.
Although many of these lakes are not described in this particular
trip, they can all be easily reached
from the PCT, along with Marshy and Mosquito lakes, located south
of the Scott River crest.
Along with the potential for solitude, the PCT offers ridgecrest
walking abounding in spectacular vistas including Mount
Shasta, Lassen
Peak and the central Trinity Alps peaks.
Much of the trail is
constructed to a relatively level grade
through a variety of vegetative zones including meadows, chaparral
and evergreen forests. You will have to descend into the various
drainages to find decent campsites, but because of the individual
attractions that the lakes have to offer, this can hardly be
considered to be a drawback. Solitude, panoramic vistas and diversity
make the PCT a very worthwhile undertaking.
Starting Point
You have a choice of trailheads from
which to start. The recommended route
begins at the Scott Mountain Campground
just off Highway 3 at Scott Mountain
Summit. This route is 4 miles longer
than the alternative, but it is all on
the well-graded Pacific Crest Trail.
The other choice is to begin at the Mosquito
Lake/Marshy Lake road and hike one-and-a-half
miles from the wilderness boundary along
the dusty road to an intersection with
the PCT. The terminus of your trip as
described is at Carter Meadows Summit
on Forest Highway 93.
There are only two reasons for walking
down the Mosquito Lake/Marshy Lakes road
from the saddle where the PCT crosses
the road 2.1 miles down the southeast
side of the ridge. The first is a spring
running into a pool just below the road
.6 mile from the saddle. An excellent
campsite is beside the pool where a cabin
once stood. The second reason for walking
down the road would be to go to Mosquito
Lake and Camp Unalayee. The camp is .4
mile up a moderately steep road that
forks right from the main road 1.8 miles
below the saddle. Mosquito Lake is .2
mile above the camp. Backpackers are
welcome to visit Camp Unalayee, but overnight
camping is discouraged since 75-80 young
people and a staff of 25 adults are in
the area. Mosquito is a gorgeous little
lake, surrounded by meadows, but hardly
worth fishing while camp is in session,
June through August.
A good reason for not walking the road,
in addition to most people's natural
preference for good trail over dusty
road, is that you might miss the PCT
where it crosses the road .3 mile beyond
the Mosquito Lake junction. Although
the trail is signed where it crosses
the road, it is not very obvious. If
you cross the Mosquito Lake outlet creek
on the road, you have gone past the PCT
junction.
Scott Mountain Campground Trailhead: The
Pacific Crest Trail crosses Highway 3
at the very top of Scott Summit, and
continues west just north of Scott Mountain
Campground. Park well off the highway,
but not in the campground, and look for
signs and emblems marking the trail where
it crosses old roads between the campground
and Forest Road 40N63 on the north side
of the summit.
Mosquito Lake/Marshy Lakes Road Trailhead: Turn
left (west) from Highway 3 immediately
north of Scott Summit on Forest Road
40N63 and travel a locked gate, which
presumably stops all vehicular traffic
at the Wilderness boundary except for
Forest Service vehicles, those of Camp
Unalayee and a few private inholders.
Park along the side of the road as space
allows.
Carter Meadows Summit Trailhead: To
locate the trailhead for the end of Trip
27 drive north from Scott Mountain Summit
on Highway 3 to the small town of Callahan.
Just beyond the town turn left onto Forest
Highway 93, which heads toward Cecilville,
Forks of Salmon and Somes Bar, leading
11.7 miles to Carter Meadows Summit.
A sign as you approach the summit reads"Pacific
Crest Trail, 1/4 MILE." As the highway
curves, an unsigned dirt road on the
left quickly leads to a parking area
large enough for about 10 cars. The trailhead
is obvious at the far edge of the parking
area.