Dale Matson
Route From Suunto Ambit Downloaded To Movescount
Nellie Lake is north of Huntington Lake and West of Kaiser
Peak in the Kaiser Wilderness Area. The access trailhead is out of the Billy
Creek Camping area on the northwest side of Huntington Lake. The hike is about
10 miles round trip with about 2,000’ of elevation gain outbound. After an
initial steep climb, the trail become a more gradual climb until the last mile
where it becomes steep until it crests and drops down to the lake. My total time out was about 5 hours.
Map At Trailhead
Cut Logs Indicate Trail Too
Blaze Mark
Snowpack Survey Location
I like this hike as a good ‘warm up’ for my hiking season. The
trail is well marked and deeply worn in some places. There are assurance
markers (blazes) on trees along the route. At this time of year, there is
generally more snow on the Nellie Lake trail than the Kaiser Peak trail because
it is less exposed. There are occasional snow patches above 8,000’ and a few
logs across the trails that have fallen over the winter.
Detour!
Stream Crossing
The pack trains have
not started and the cattle that free range have not been brought up from the
lower elevations yet. The mosquitos were few and the trail was not dusty. This
time of year there are seasonal streams before Nellie Lake for filtering water
to resupply. The trail crosses two of the streams and comes close to the other as it parallels the trail.
Interesting Rock Formation
Nellie Lake
I like to hike to a view or to water or both if possible. My
dog Susie made several trips with me to Nellie Lake and enjoys a cooling
swim there while I take a lunch break. My two 28 ounce water bottles were
adequate for this 60-degree day but I carry water purification tablets with me.
There are campsites near the lake but a wilderness permit is
required for overnight trips. I usually get my wilderness permits in Prather
but I believe there is a place near the junction of highway 168 and Kaiser Pass
Road. I have never fished the lake but have seen trout swimming near the shore.
Nellie Lake Panorama
My 20 Year Old Fanny Pack For Summer Day Hikes
There are other hikes that depart to the east from the
Nellie Lake trail. There is a hike that goes to Mary’s Meadow and a cutoff
trail further north that goes east to Kaiser Peak. Having taken this route to
Kaiser Peak and back (16 miles round trip) I would not recommend it unless it
was part of a loop hike.
because this is such a big snow year,I suspect as of my comment date, much of the Nellie Lake trail remains under snow. Much of the trail is shaded which makes the snow melt even later than other trails.
ReplyDeleteHas anyone gone up Nellie Lake train in 2018? How did the trail look? Was there snow?
ReplyDeleteHi Armen,
DeleteI was at Nellie Lake with my son today. Some snow at the high point before you drop down to the lake. No snow on the trail. Trail cleared of Winter deadfalls and debris. Much nicer than the 103 degree heat I came home to in Fresno.
I was at Twin Lakes off Kaiser Pass Rd. yesterday. Potter Pass is a part of that hike at 9,000'. There was some patchy snow on the trail. I plan on a hike to Nellie Lake this week and can let you know. The Nellie Lake Trail is shaded in many places. I would expect there to be spots yet where the snow covers the trail. Dale
ReplyDeleteHi, has anyone been up to the lake recently? What is the campsite situation like, and are there any fish in the lake? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteYes, https://midsierramusing.blogspot.com/2020/06/nellie-lake-2020.html. Yes, there are fish in the lake and no one was using the campsites when I was there.
ReplyDelete