Upper Salmon Lake Trail to Deer Lake
DESCRIPTION:
Shorter with less climbing to Deer Lake than from Packer Saddle Road. A pleasant, easy hike around shores of Upper Salmon Lake (stocked with rainbow and Brookie catchables in 2001). Trail skirts by the historic Salmon Lake Lodge with cabins and walled-tents camping area (reservations a year ahead, normally). Soon climbs by Horse Lake (Brookies stocked 1998). Connecting trail to Pacific Crest Trail branches off 0.2 mile before Deer Lake and climbs to 7420' Sierra Crest.
| Miles | Elevation Range | Options |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 6520’-7100’ | Hiking options to other trailheads (arrange transportation): Deer Lake Trail to Packersaddle Campground, Pacific Crest Trail south (no bikes) to Packer Saddle. Pacific Crest Trail north (no bikes) to Summit Lake (shallow) then drop east to Gold Lake, or farther north along the Pacific Crest Trail drop east down to Round Lake and Lakes Basin Campground, and even farther north via the Pacific Crest Trail drop north to Wades Lake and on down to Plumas Eureka State Park. Biking options: After topping the Crest cross the Pacific Crest Trail and follow Deer Lake OHV Road (#93.1) either south to Packer Saddle or north to Summit Lake with the option of dropping east down to Gold Lake. Or continue north to Oakland Pond. In order to avoid traveling on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), which does not permit any kind of bikes, but to travel farther north, bikes must drop west into Gold Valley and follow OHV roads and bike trails south toward Downieville or north to Hawley Lake and on to the A-Tree. Consult the individual locations before trying any of these.
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DIRECTIONS:
To Upper Salmon Lake Trail to Deer Lake
Top Gold Lake. Follow Salmon Lake Road to end of road and trailhead. Limited parking. No trail-users’ parking in guest parking for Lodge.
ACTIVITIES:
Hiking - Dayhikes (Rating: Good)
A great little trail when combined with the Deer Lake Trail and you have arranged a shuttle.
