Cottonwood Pass This 7-mile round trip trail ascends 1,200 feet to an 11,200-foot pass and a junction with the Pacific Crest Trail, with access to Golden Trout Wilderness and Sequoia National Park. That spring, the majestic mountains to the west were covered with snow, and the entire scene, from Mount Whitney to Mammoth Lakes, looked like something you’d see on a Christmas card. California Dept. Enter your email below to be notified when we get access. The Golden Trout lakes offer a scenic getaway just out of the Gallatin Valley Canyon. Added by Derek Tice. After trudging up the trail for two hours, we met a couple headed in the opposite direction. (For now!) Golden Trout Lake Loop is a 5.4 mile lightly trafficked loop trail located near Independence, California that features a lake and is rated as moderate. Golden Trout Campground is not operated by Hipcamp and can only be booked externally. Discover places to visit and explore on Bing Maps, like Golden Trout Lake Idaho. This fall, Kathy and I returned with a limited amount of time, so we decided to spend one day checking out the Golden Trout Wilderness west of Lone Pine and the next morning photographing the annual aspen display near Conway Summit. Caught fish, saw lots of wildlife, and had a good time; with some CRAZY surprises. After spending the night in Bishop, Kathy and I drove north on Highway 395 before dawn, in hopes of capturing  the trees at Conway Summit in the early morning sunlight. Badges, Bears, and Eagles—The True-Life Adventures of a California Fish and Game Warden. The trip begins on a mostly sandy trail leading you North into the Golden trout Wilderness. Since Kathy and I had gotten a late start, our plan was to hike the trail to the first lake we encountered, take a few photographs, and return to the trailhead before dark. Fearing that the unsuspecting reptile would be flattened by a passing car, I nudged it toward some high grass at the side of the road. Tom's Place is 30 miles north of Bishop, 9 miles south of the Mammoth Lakes turnoff, or 34 miles south of Lee Vining. Trails lead into the Golden Trout Wilderness, Inyo National Forest portion from Hwy 395 via Horseshoe Mdw., Sage Flat, and Haiwee Pass. Shutterbugs have been photographing the Eastern Sierra since Brownie cameras were popular, but the so-called leaf peepers have taken this activity to the next level. of Game and Fish, every few years, have Golden Trout eggs that are excess to their needs. I captured this close-up view of quaking aspens from Virginia Lakes Road, west of Conway Summit. Save Add Review Get Directions Add Photo. Golden Trout Lake is a water feature in Inyo County and has an elevation of 11,401 feet. All Rights Reserved. The view of the Owens Valley from Horseshoe Meadows Road. I often find late August and early September to be the best times for camping, because the temperatures are better and the fishing is the best. Jul 2, 2013 - Beautiful pictures of the golden trout in the high country were fly fishing is good!. Golden Trout Lake from Mapcarta, the free map. Over the years I’ve visited again and again, sometimes in the spring, sometimes in the summer, and sometimes in the fall. The steep switchback road to Horseshoe Meadow offered spectacular views of Owens Valley. At a Glance. About 8 miles from the trailhead over Cottonwood Pass. Almost too easy. Saving this moisture-dependent species, and so many others, may require significant cuts to greenhouse-gas emissions. This is a favored place for backpackers to bed down, and for good reason. Cottonwood Lakes Loop starts from Horseshoe Meadow and travels from the Golden Trout Wilderness into John Muir Wilderness. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from April until September. Lower Golden Trout Lake is a water feature in Fresno County and has an elevation of 10,791 feet. Leave Hwy 395 on McGee Creek Road about 6.5 miles north of Tom's Place (Rock Creek). Taxonomy. Admirers of  quaking aspens  flock to the Eastern Sierra by the thousands for a few weeks every fall, in hopes of witnessing one of nature’s most spectacular events in all its glory. This piece originally appeared in my October 26, 2018, “On Patrol” column in My Outdoor Buddy and Nor Cal Fish Reports. Once you get to the beginning of the trail, the hike is a nice little workout until you reach the final location of Golden Trout Lakes. The Eastern Sierra economy must increasingly rely on other activities to help fill motels and sustain local businesses throughout the year: skiing and snow sports, hunting, hiking, mountain climbing, backpacking, cycling, and nature photography. The fish I saw--all Golden Trout--were only briefly emerging from the depths to take a few food items from the shallows before their route took them back down out of sight. We stock Golden Trout in select high mountain lakes as the fish become available. From my experience and what I thought was that Golden Trout were usually in lakes in the sierras over an elevation of 10,000 feet. Starting from Onion Valley, Golden Trout Lakes Trail ends at Golden Trout Lakes, in the John Muir Wilderness. Fall-Color Update: As of October 2, 2019, Chuck Kilpatrick of the Bishop Visitors Bureau reports that the bulk of the fall color is in Bishop Creek Canyon at elevations of 8,000-10,000 feet; it has not yet made it down to the 4,000-foot level. A host of trails and off-trail targets make this a prime base camp. Lower Golden Trout Lake is situated northwest of Wahoo Lakes. First stocked in 1938, the golden trout at Sylvan Lake are well known in Montana for their genetic purity. Common Destinations: Golden Trout Lakes. To get to Golden Trout Lakes, head north out of Big Sky on highway 191 for 5.1 miles. The stocking of eggs continued through 1925 with additional stockings in 1929 and 1932. Along the way, we stopped to rest on the banks of  a gorgeous little stream called South Fork Cottonwood Creek. This trail is steep, rugged and difficult to follow. I spent a couple of hours catching trout-after-trout at this unnamed lake, which I’m calling 10594 by the elevation I mapped it at. Lower Soldier Lake lies at 10,800 feet on the eastern edge of Sequoia National Park. When that happens, they make them available to other western states including Idaho. Golden trout lakes is a 5-mile rout trip hike with the opportunity to fish for Golden Trout. Could they be goldens? Looming In the background were the famous Alabama Hills, where 150 movies and at least a dozen TV shows had been filmed over the decades. Rough roads to the Golden Trout Lakes It was difficult driving up the road to get to the beginning of the trail, so I recommend a vehicle that can handle the rough road; preferably a truck or AWD. Much to our delight,  grove after grove of quaking aspens were decked out in their most brilliant fall colors. After a mile there is reliable water in the form of a creek. Whatever the season,  the Eastern Sierra always offers an eyepopping display of color and natural beauty. As we climbed higher and  higher, eventually rising to 10,000 feet, I commented that we hadn’t seen a single car on the way up and maybe we would have the whole mountain to ourselves. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/montana/golden-trout-lakes Since Kathy and I had gotten a late start, our plan was to hike the trail to the first lake we encountered, take a few photographs, and return to the trailhead before dark. The blooming wild sunflowers that decorated Lubken Canyon Road made me think it was April, rather than late September. The opening of trout season in the Eastern Sierra remains popular, but as some of the veteran game wardens will tell you, it doesn’t draw the crowds it did back in the sixties and seventies. “How much farther to the first lake?” I asked. Elevation change: 1200 feet, Old Cottonwood Creek Trail to South Fork Lakes, Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Kura Tawhiti / Castle Hill Conservation Area, Pu‘uhonua O Hōnaunau National Historical Park, Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area, Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument. › Golden Trout Wilderness ... Golden Trout Wilderness. Sitting quietly and listening to the gentle babble of water tumbling over the rocks, we spotted several fingerling trout darting in and out of the shadows. The parking lot at Horseshoe Meadow was full, and a dozen excited backpackers, many of them speaking foreign languages, were readying their gear for the ascent into the Golden Trout Wilderness. Originally the golden trout was described as a subspecies of the salmon species, with a name Salmo mykiss agua-bonita, and it is still often considered a subspecies (now called Oncorhynchus mykiss aguabonita) along with several other rainbow trout subspecies commonly known as redband trout. Seeing that it was already three o’clock and we were equipped with nothing but a camera and two containers of water, Kathy and I decided to head back to the car and come prepared to spend a night or two the next time. Get directions, find nearby businesses and places, and much more. www.NevadaFishReports.com © 2021. See more ideas about trout, fly fishing, fish. Golden trout eggs from California were first brought to Cook Lake (Sublette County) in 1920 by U.S. Forest Service personnel. The distance to the lakes is approximately 2.2 miles, and the elevation gain is approximately 2,200 feet. According to Jeff Simpson of Mono County Tourism, the following sites currently have the best fall color:  Rock Creek, McGee Creek, Sagehen Summit, and Lobdell Lake. The wik says “The golden trout is commonly found at elevations from 6,890 feet (2,100 m) to 10,000 feet (3,000 m) above sea level”. Fantastic tenkara fishing. The Eastern Sierras themselves are full of adventures to be had, with some only 30 minutes off the main Highway 395. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from July until July. The trip begins on a mostly sandy trail leading you North into the Golden trout Wilderness. Download area map for trail names. Sitting quietly and listening to the gentle babble of water tumbling over rocks, we spotted several fingerling trout. Please check their website for updates. HORSESHOE MEADOW – This trailhead area is also referred to as the Cottonwood Lakes Trailhead Several trails embark from the Horseshoe Meadow area including those going northwest to Cottonwood Lakes and New Army and Old Army Passes, those … Directions: The trailhead to Hilton lakes can be accessed from two locations. The Golden Trout Creek volcanic field consists of a group of Quaternary basaltic cinder cones and lava flows in the Toowa valley of the Sierra Nevada about 25 km (15.5 mi) south of Mount Whitney, California. Shortly after sunrise, we reveled in this incredible view of quaking aspens from Conway Summit. Hipcamp is working closely with the government to allow bookings here asap. Cottonwood Lakes Loop starts from Horseshoe Meadow and travels from the Golden Trout Wilderness into John Muir Wilderness. Boy, was I wrong! There are also campspots with fire pits if you want to make it an overnight. The dirt road follows Portal Creek. Golden Trout Creek: Starts at the headwaters of Big Whitney Meadow and Rocky Basin Lakes. Photos; Directions; Print/PDF Map; Share; More; Muir Lake from the old Cottonwood Trailhead is a 13.9 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located near Lone Pine, California that features a lake and is rated as moderate. Lubken Canyon Road turned out to be everything the motel clerk said it would be. They say no good deed goes unpunished; before slithering into the weeds, my scaly new friend showed his gratitude by wheeling around and hissing at me. Unlike Lower Lake where the Cutthroat were rising constantly, I only saw one of these Goldens every 20-30 minutes. Starting from Onion Valley, Golden Trout Lakes Trail ends at Golden Trout Lakes, in the John Muir Wilderness. It is 303,511 acres (1,228.3 km 2) in size and was created by the US Congress in 1978 as part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. I’d like to think it’s worth it. Golden Trout Lake from Mapcarta, the free map. Get directions, find nearby businesses and places, and much more. We hadn’t driven a mile when Kathy and I began oohing and aahing at vast meadows of green grass, willows, and cottonwoods, adorned with massive rock outcroppings. Isn’t it worth it? The Cottonwood Lakes and Golden Trout Wilderness in the Eastern Sierras are one of those places that helped to grow my love for adventure travel in California. Stay right at the first fork. “If I didn’t know better, I’d swear it was April, instead of the end of September,” I said to Kathy, as we approached a farm field  blanketed with wild sunflowers. Once the Cook Lake fishery was established, it served as the brood stock for Wyoming, providing eggs for Wyoming and other Rocky Mountain states from 1936 through 1954. Populus tremuloides has been referred to as the canary in the coal mine when it comes to analyzing the effects of climate change (increasing hot, dry weather) on our Western forests. Four buddies hiked to Cave Lake, MT in hope of catching Golden Trout. Saving this moisture-dependent species for future generations to enjoy may depend on our making dramatic cuts to greenhouse-gas emissions. Pass over the log bridge or rock hop, and proceed on the flat trail skirting a meadow that holds Cottonwood Creek. Meanwhile, campers will be just feet away from a mile-long trout stream bragging “trophy size” golden, brown and rainbow trout – 10 to 12 pounds -- and maybe even salmon. The creek has about 14 miles of fishable water from just below Rocky Basin Lakes at 10,500 feet to above Volcano Falls next to the Kern River at 7,500. The Mono County Tourism fall-color report is updated every Wednesday. The Golden Trout Wilderness is a federally designated wilderness area in the Sierra Nevada, in Tulare County and Inyo County, California.It is located 40 miles (64 km) east of Porterville, California within Inyo National Forest and Sequoia National Forest.. Notice the famous Alabama Hills in the background. The motel clerk in Lone Pine directed us to Lubken Canyon Road, a scenic one-lane path through miles of green meadows and awe-inspiring rock formations, leading to Horseshoe Meadows Road and our eventual first-day destination. Other than humans, this golden-mantled ground squirrel was the only mammal we saw at 10,000 feet. The scene reminded me of an artist’s color wheel—pale green,  yellow, gold, orange, and  several shades of red. “You can probably make it in two hours,” said the gentleman and his wife, both equipped with backpacks and sleeping bags. The view from Lubken Canyon Road. This trail is steep, rugged and difficult to follow. Every fall, aspens put on a magnificent display in California’s Eastern Sierra. Shimmering beneath Sylvan Lake lies the prize most anglers and hikers seek- the California Golden Trout. That has not been my experience or what I understood about the Golden Trout. Turn east at the Portal Creek turnoff – FS Road 984. The first time I experienced the awesome grandeur of California’s Eastern Sierra was in 1975, when, as a rookie Fish and Game warden, I drove there on assignment to work the Crowley Lake trout-season opener. Could these be some of the legendary golden trout that the wilderness area was named for? This is the thanks I get for saving your life? Discover places to visit and explore on Bing Maps, like Golden Trout Lake California. After a mile there is reliable water in the form of a creek. Gateway to the Cottonwood Lakes and Golden Trout Wilderness. Most of the fish were golden trout, which are not native. The lakes, meanwhile, have been stocked with walleye, pike, muskie, largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and other native species. The parking lot at Horseshoe Meadow was full, and a dozen excited backpackers, many of them speaking foreign languages, were readying their gear for the ascent into the Golden Trout Wilderness. Turn southeast (left) at Crowley Lake Drive at a 4-way stop sign. At a Glance. I stopped to take a few photographs and noticed a three-foot gopher snake sunning itself on the warm asphalt ahead. Golden Trout Lake is a lake in Idaho and has an elevation of 8153 feet. Download area map for trail names. The distance to the lakes is approximately 2.2 miles, and the elevation gain is approximately 2,200 feet.

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