Katie Kommer hiked this route in 2020
The Emigrant Wilderness Loop is a 19.5-mile loop located in Stanislaus National Forest, California, that can be hiked in 1-3 days. The trail is dotted with lakes and streams, offering frequent water sources and campsites.
Region: Pacific West (Stanislaus National Forest, Northern California)
Length: 19.5 miles, 1-3 days
Physical Difficulty: Moderate
- Route is between 6,500 and 7,500 feet of elevation
- Short uphill and downhill sections, no long climbs
- A few rocky patches, but mostly dirt trail
Logistical Difficulty: Easy
- Loop starts and ends in a free, large parking lot with pit toilets
- Free, self-serve permits available at ranger stations
- Plentiful water, no resupplies needed
Season: April – October
Elevation (average): ~7,000 feet
Total Elevation Gain: 3,172 feet
Hiking the Emigrant Wilderness Loop Trail
The Emigrant Wilderness is the Yosemite backcountry’s underappreciated cousin. Large boulders, epic rock formations, pine trees as far as the eyes can see, and plentiful lakes make this loop a serene escape from California’s busy cities. It can easily be completed in a three-day weekend, including travel time.
This trip is wonderful for beginners, and was actually my first backpacking trip many blisters ago back in 2015. There aren’t any excruciatingly long climbs, and the weather is pleasant well past August. I recommend this trip for a leisurely escape into the wilderness, as opposed to a trip where mileage is the goal. There are many opportunities to extend the loop or go slightly off-trail to different lakes, so we were grateful for our easy itinerary. Also, in October we saw only a handful of other people on trail. So yes, we did go skinny-dipping.
The water is plentiful, although you do want to make sure you have multiple filtering options. A few of the lakes are a bit swampy, and you will want to wade out into the water to collect away from the mud. That being said, the water is plentiful and you’ll never have to carry more than two liters. There are opportunities to camp at every lake, with plenty of spots featuring man-made fire rings. However, fires aren’t always allowed. More on this later. The two times I’ve done this loop the crowds were extremely thin, so we never had to search for campsites. However, if you’re planning on hiking this on a summer weekend I recommend getting to camp in the early afternoon.
We took this loop clockwise, heading in the direction of Camp Lake on the first day. I enjoyed this route, but don’t see any reason why counterclockwise would be any less enjoyable. The elevation profile is comparable for both options. You can also take the short spur to Bear Lake, on the junction directly after Camp Lake.
I cannot recommend this trip enough for beginner backpackers. It’s the perfect amount of physical challenge mixed with stunning California beauty. After I camped next to one of these lakes back in 2015, I was completely hooked. I returned to do this loop again in 2020, and it felt just as special even after hundreds of backpacking miles under my belt.
When to Hike the Emigrant Wilderness Loop Trail
There are pros and cons to each month of the hiking season in Stanislaus National Forest. In late spring/early summer there will likely still be snow on the grow; however, the streams will be flowing with water (and who doesn’t love snowcapped views?). Though the weather will be extremely pleasant in the summer, bugs will be out in full force. The fall months are much cooler and provide less water, but there won’t be any bugs. It’s possible to hike this trail in the winter with traction, but be sure to check the national forest road conditions and be prepared for winter conditions. This trail is most crowded in the summer, as there are also many day hikes from the trailhead. We hiked the loop in early October and only encountered a handful of other hikers over three days.
Day One: Crabtree Trailhead to Camp Lake, 3 miles
Day Two: Camp Lake to Grouse Lake, 12.5 miles
Day Three: Grouse Lake to Crabtree Trailhead, 4 miles
Emigrant Wilderness Loop Terrain
This trail is well-blazed and mostly dirt. There are a few rocky sections, where the path is lined with small rocks across slabs of granite. The longest climb is less than a mile, and covers roughly 700 feet of elevation gain in that time. Be sure to bring sun protection despite the season, as there are long, exposed sections across granite before the trail ducks back into the forest.
How to Get to the Emigrant Wilderness Loop
Closest Major City: Modesto, California (three hours)
The Crabtree Trailhead is about three hours from California’s Bay Area. The nearest town is Pinecrest, a popular destination for both summer and winter tourists.
From Modesto, take the 120 toward Yosemite and merge onto the 108 toward Sonora. This takes you north of Yosemite National Park in Stanislaus National Forest. Off the 108, turn right onto Crabtree Road and 10 miles down the road is the parking lot and overnight campsite for this trailhead. Crabtree Road is not paved, but 2WD cars are just fine. Overnight parking is allowed, and pit toilets are available here.
Emigrant Wilderness Loop Logistics: Camping, Permits, Water, California National Forest Service
Camping and Permits: Permits are required from April 1 to Nov. 30 for any overnight travel in the Emigrant Wilderness. These are typically self-serve, free, and unlimited at any Stanislaus National Forest ranger station. However, because we went during the COVID pandemic, we filled out our permit online. Check here to see if you can apply for an online permit.
There are wonderful campsites at nearly every lake on this loop. Camping is allowed anywhere LNT guidelines are followed. This means camping at least 200 feet from water, 100 feet from established trails, and away from fragile terrain such as meadows. We spent one night on an exposed, rocky lakeside and were rewarded with stellar sunset views, but suffered chillier temperatures. The next night, we hid in a well-covered dirt site next to a smaller lake and woke up with zero condensation.
Water: Bring a trusty water filter, and backup filtration tablets. Most of the reliable water sources are lakes, which have a varying degree of swampy-ness. In the spring there will be more options to collect flowing water, but I would not hike this loop without a backup water filtration source. The longest stretch between lakes is ~4 miles, so two liters of carrying capacity is plenty.
Hiking in Stanislaus National Forest: If this past year taught us anything, it’s to do your research before you go. We planned this trip because fire closures canceled other plans, yet this national forest remained open. This page covers all necessary alerts for the area, and from there information about permits, closures, fire bans, etc., can be found.
Know Before You Go
Cell Reception: Don’t expect any. There’s none in the wilderness or Crabtree Road.
Trash Collection: No trash collection at the trailhead in the off-season. Waste MUST be packed out from November to May.
Stock: This area is heavy with horse activity. Drive carefully on Crabtree Road, and look out for horse poop on the trail.
Food storage: Bear canisters are not required in Stanislaus National Forest, but are highly recommended. There is bear activity in this wilderness. Read here for information on when visiting bear country.
Route finding: There are a lot of trails in the area, so be sure to carry a GPS map. This ~20-mile loop can quickly become 30 miles if you forget to start your loop back.
Emigrant Wilderness Loop Resources
Stanislaus National Forest Backcountry Permit
Stanislaus National Forest Updates
Stanislaus National Forest Bear Info
Katie is a freelance writer based in Salt Lake City, Utah. When she’s not guzzling instant coffee in the backcountry, you can find her down the ski slopes or using inappropriate language around children at the climbing gym. For ramblings, rants, and the occasional dose of inspirational musing follow her on Instagram or her blog Small Towns to Summits. Maybe someday soon she’ll start posting there again, you’ll just have to follow to find out.
