Dale Matson
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The trailhead elevation is about 8,200’. The distance to
Hobler Lake is about 4.5 miles. The elevation gain round trip is about 1,200’
and Hobler Lake is about 9,000’. The trailhead is about 2 hours from Fresno. Take
Highway 168 to Dinkey Creek Road to McKinley Grove Road to the left at the sign
to Courtright. Stop on McKinley Grove Road at the McKinley Grove of giant
sequoias and take a look at another Fresno County jewel. The Grant Grove is also in Fresno County. http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5344073.pdf
This hike is a hike to water and reminds me somewhat of the
Nellie Lake hike above Huntington Lake. Nellie Lake has about the same numbers
with a tad more climb. Both have trails that run through the woods and both
have views blocked by trees. My recommendation would be to stop at the overlook
above Courtright for a view, which is better in the afternoon on your return.
Here you will see the river drainage of the LeConte Divide in front of you.
There is a seasonal creek which flows along a portion of the trail making drinking
water available if purified.
Cross the dam (carefully because it is a long way down) and
follow the signs to the Maxon trailhead parking area. The Sign for the trail is
at the top of the parking lot. The trail immediately starts heading down and
soon joins with the Dusy Ershim off highway vehicle (OHV) trail. The trail to
Hobler Lake and points beyond cuts off to the right in less than a mile. The
trail still runs somewhat parallel to the Dusy Ershim trail for awhile and you
may hear the loud sound of a vehicle straining to climb a big slab of granite
called appropriately “Chicken Rock”.
Later you will come to a big sign that says “John Muir
Wilderness”. On your left is a short use trail that will take you to
Chamberlain’s camp with a dilapidated log cabin built by the forest service. As
you continue toward Hobler Lake, the trail begins to climb in earnest until it
flattens out above the signed junction cutoff trail to the lake. The trail
itself continues beyond the lake on the west side. I hiked for a time but never
found a view.
The Bigfoot Research Organization has a “documented
sighting” in the Hobler Lake area at dusk and overnight. http://www.bfro.net/gdb/show_report.asp?id=17458
I have nothing to add to the report
but then again, I was there during daylight hours.
Flowering Dogwood In The Sequoias
Dinkey Creek
Maxson Dome
Turn Right Here
Another Turn Indicator
Seasonal Creek Along Route
Occasional Trail Assurance Marker
Cattlemen's Cabin (corrected)
Follow Sign
Hobler Lake
Jeep on a section of Dusy Ershim Trail (corrected)
View Crossing The Dam
Viewing Area On Road Above Dam
This is a trip report for 2016 where I began on the same Maxson Trail and went all the way to Hell For Sure Pass.
The cabin is called Chamberlains Camp, and was a long time cattleman camp. It was built by them, not the Forest Service. It has an old road that connects with Voyager Rock Campground, just keep walking past the cabin and you will find yourself on it. It hasn't been maintained for vehicles in many years.
ReplyDeleteThe picture of the Jeep on granite isn't Chicken Rock. Chicken Rock is about another mile back, right after Voyager Rock Campground. The granite in your picture isn't named.
mountainguyed67,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the corrections. Have you driven the Dusy-Ershim Trail? I suspect you are a jeeper.
Go to my Youtube channel and you will find 4 Wheeling and backpacking videos (mostly 4 Wheeling). I've been into Tehipite Valley, Crown Lake, Devils Punchbowl, he'll For Sure Pass, mosquito Pass, and many other places, been backpacking since 1979. Also been 4 Wheeling since the same time as a passenger, and driving my own rig since 1987. I don't have a Jeep, it's an international. I've driven it through Dusy Ershim 5-6 times, several shorter trips too. I've also been helping the Backcountry Horsemen at Chamberlains Camp the last couple years, built the toilet two years ago, more improvements last year. I got a video of the hitching post install too.
ReplyDeleteStory about the Chamberlains Camp toilet install.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.bchcalifornia.org/docs/NewsFall2013.pdf
As of today's date (June 27), the road to Courtright Reservoir remains closed. PGE maintains the road and they do not plow it. The snow has to melt off. During the winter, they use a snow cat to get there. The latest report (June 26) states it will be open soon.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/sierra/home/?cid=stelprdb5399344
The road to Courtright Reservoir was open today and noted on the website yesterday.
ReplyDeleteHere is this years version of Courtright Reservoir.
ReplyDeletehttp://midsierramusing.blogspot.com/2017/06/courtright-reservoir-june-2017.html
According to the U.S. Forest Service road report, Courtright Road is open as of today May 25th 2018.
ReplyDelete