Alpine & Smith Lakes – Trinity Alps Wilderness
- Distance = ~22 miles
- Stuart Fork Trailhead to Alpine Lake = 8 miles one-way
- Stuart Fork Trailhead to Smith Lake – 10 miles one-way
- Stuart Fork Trailhead to Alpine Lake = 17.4 miles roundtrip
- Alpine Lake to Smith Lake = 4 miles roundtrip
- Smith Lake to Morris Lake = ? miles roundtrip
- Season: Mid July – Late September
- Recommended Route: Stuart Fork Trailhead to?
- Difficult Trail – Steep Climb
- Stuart Fork Trailhead
- Highway 3, Stuart Fork Arm of Trinity Lake
- 3.5 miles to Stuart Fork Trailhead
- Bridge Campground nearby
- Cross Stuart Fork @ 5 miles in from Stuart Fork Trailhead – Dangerous in high water or after rain
- 2,600 foot climb from Oak Flat to Alpine Lake over 2.5 miles = 4 hours
- Last 2 miles are steep and exposed
- Water at 1.75 miles from Oak Flat where trail meets outlet
- Alpine Lake (14 acres) – Brook Trout
- 3 campsites at lower end of Alpine Lake
- Fishing is better in Stuart Fork than Alpine Lake
- Trail to Smith & Morris Lakes – 2 miles
- Easier to day-hike due to steep terrain and bushwhacking
- 1/2 day for 2 miles with backpacking bag
- Trinity Alps Photo Blog – Smith and Morris Lakes
- Avoid during lightening storm
- Smith Lake @ 6,950 feet (24 acres) – Rainbow and Brook Trout
- Camping on eat shore, north of outlet crossing
- Camping better up at Morris
- Camping on eat shore, north of outlet crossing
- Morris Lake (? acres) – ? miles
- Camping on west shore near inlet
- Easier to day-hike due to steep terrain and bushwhacking
- There is an alternative route to Smith & Morris from Canyon Creek Trail or Morris Meadows
Graph of Climb from Oak Flat to Alpine Lake – from Jan’s Jaunts Blog
Graph of Climb from Alpine Lake to Smith Lake- from Jan’s Jaunts Blog
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