- Music Creek Trailhead
- 4 hours driving time via Salmon River Rd
- 7 miles round trip hiking distance
- 2 hours hiking time
- ~7100 feet elevation lake
Follow Clear Creek National recreation Trail through the heart of Siskiyou Wilderness for 22 miles. Swim at isolated Wilderness Falls, fish, and explore the Siskiyou Wilderness in any direction. Consider starting at the top of the trail near Youngs Valley, and heading downstream going in a southwest descent toward the Klamath River.
Bear Lakes are a moderate 3.15 miles to Bear Lake from the Elbow Springs Trailhead in Siskiyou Wilderness. The primary lake lies at an elevation of 4,850 feet with a small pond above it, while the harder-to-reach Lower Bear Lake is a steep cross-country scramble drop to 4,300 feet. The Bear Lake Trail doesn’t appear to have a number or official name, but is located off the Kelsey Creek National Recreation Trail #4204 near Clear Creek on Highway 96 in Northern California.
Bear Lakes – Zach’s Adventures Article
Bear Lakes – Oregonnator Blog Post
Alpine & Smith Lakes – Trinity Alps Wilderness
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
Caribou Basin 3-5 nights
Crossing South Fork Salmon River at start of Caribou Lakes Trail (fill up on water)
Crossing South Fork Salmon River at start of Caribou Lakes Trail (fill up on water)
View of the South Fork Salmon River drainage from Caribou Lakes Trail
View of the Caribou Basin from Caribou Lakes Trail
Descending into Snowslide Lake on Caribou Lake Trail
Snowslide and Lower Caribou Lake from Caribou Lakes Trail (smoke from wildfire)
Snowslide Lake
Snowslide Lake and headwall
Snowslide Lake
Camping at Snowslide Lake
Camping at Snowslide Lake
View of Lower Caribou Lake from trail to Upper Caribou Lake
View of Lower and Middle Caribou Lakes from trail to Upper Caribou Lake
Trail to Upper Caribou Lake
Trail to Upper Caribou Lake
Trail to Upper Caribou Lake
Pond near Upper Caribou Lake
Upper Caribou Lake looking toward Caribou Scramble
Upper Caribou Lake
Upper Caribou Lake
Campsite at Upper Caribou Lake
Trail around Upper Caribou Lake
Upper Caribou Lake looking toward outlet
Upper Caribou Lake looking toward outlet
Meadows near trail to Caribou Scramble
Upper Caribou Lake sunset
Camping at Upper Caribou Lake
Lower Caribou Lake
Lower Caribou Lake
Granite slab on Lower Caribou Lake
Lower Caribou Lake
Sunset hammock on Lower Caribou Lake
Sunset hammock on Lower Caribou Lake
Hiking out of Caribou Basin
Hiking out of Caribou Basin looking toward Cesear Peak
Hiking out of Caribou Basin
Brown’s Meadows Creek
Brown’s Meadows
Camping at Brown’s Meadows
Brown’s Meadows
Campsite at Brown’s Meadows
Hiking out on the New Caribou Trail looking toward Coffee Creek drainage