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 Trout3 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 east shore, north of outlet crossing
      • Camping better up at Morris
  • Morris Lake (? acres) – ? miles
    • Camping on west shore near inlet
• 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