Spring is in the air and our backpacks sit loaded while I wait impatiently for the opportunity to hit the trail. At times like this I start look through photos of previous hikes and realized I hadn't blogged about our trip into the Trinity Alps last fall.
Canyon Creek August 2014 trip report:
Canyon Creek trailhead is reported to be the most used in the Trinity Alps due to it's easy access and stunning scenery. When we visited late in August we found the trail fairly empty which was probably due to the many wild fires in the area.
Access for Canyon Creek Trail is off of Highway 299, via Canyon Creek Road out of Junction City.
We arrived very late in the afternoon and almost left because of the thick smoke, but then decided to hike in a bit and spend the night, hoping that it would be clearer in the morning. We brought along our small dog Shadow, as the Trinity Alps are dog friendly.
Our destination for the night was McKay Camp, 2.5 miles from the trail head. It was easy hiking amongst the oaks, pines and dogwoods and we soon reached our destination.
McKay Camp is located on an island in the middle of Canyon Creek and while the creek was dry/underground while we were there, I think it would be a special spot to camp while the water was flowing, and especially in the late spring when the dogwoods are in bloom. There was something kind of magical about the spot and during the night our tent was surrounded by deer and other small creatures.
In the morning we hit the trail again, as the skies were clear, and began climbing on nicely graded switchbacks. Soon we were up in the canyon and had more expansive views.
We also found water in Canyon Creek!
Our destination for the day was the Upper Canyon Creek Lake, which is 8 miles from the trail head, or a short 5.5 mile hike from our campsite. First you come to Lower Canyon Creek Lake. A lovely jewel amidst the granite.
The day was young so we decided to leave camp and hike up to El Lake. In this photo you can see both Lower and Upper Canyon Creek Lakes.
It's only a handful of miles to Boulder Creek Lakes, but it took us what seemed like hours and hours to get there because soon after turning onto the Boulder Creeks Lakes Trail we lost our dog.
She often runs ahead, but in the past she had always come back within a minute or two. Not this time. We couldn't imagine her going ahead along the trail without us and we decided to sit tight and wait for her. No dog. No dog. No dog. We then thought maybe she got caught in the brambles and bushes along the trail and searched, mostly because it gave us something to do. Idiots! Of course she ran up the trail. Eventually someone hiking down the trail told us she was howling like crazy at Boulder Lake. Mark took off at a breakneck speed and I followed along more sedately, as this was actually a pretty steep trail that is labeled a scramble on the map.
before trails end.
Canyon Creek August 2014 trip report:
Canyon Creek trailhead is reported to be the most used in the Trinity Alps due to it's easy access and stunning scenery. When we visited late in August we found the trail fairly empty which was probably due to the many wild fires in the area.
Access for Canyon Creek Trail is off of Highway 299, via Canyon Creek Road out of Junction City.
We arrived very late in the afternoon and almost left because of the thick smoke, but then decided to hike in a bit and spend the night, hoping that it would be clearer in the morning. We brought along our small dog Shadow, as the Trinity Alps are dog friendly.
Our destination for the night was McKay Camp, 2.5 miles from the trail head. It was easy hiking amongst the oaks, pines and dogwoods and we soon reached our destination.
McKay Camp is located on an island in the middle of Canyon Creek and while the creek was dry/underground while we were there, I think it would be a special spot to camp while the water was flowing, and especially in the late spring when the dogwoods are in bloom. There was something kind of magical about the spot and during the night our tent was surrounded by deer and other small creatures.
In the morning we hit the trail again, as the skies were clear, and began climbing on nicely graded switchbacks. Soon we were up in the canyon and had more expansive views.
We also found water in Canyon Creek!
Our destination for the day was the Upper Canyon Creek Lake, which is 8 miles from the trail head, or a short 5.5 mile hike from our campsite. First you come to Lower Canyon Creek Lake. A lovely jewel amidst the granite.
You skirt along the left side of the lower lake following cairns up the granite slope.
It is a short, moderately steep climb to Upper Canyon Creek Lake.
There was one other group camping on the lake's southern shore so we skirted around and camped on it's east side.
Tempted by the inviting waters, we promptly went for a swim. It was sublime.
The day was young so we decided to leave camp and hike up to El Lake. In this photo you can see both Lower and Upper Canyon Creek Lakes.
There isn't an official trail, but it was pretty easy to find the way and there were a few cairns here and there to help.
El lake was shallow and not as spectacular as the Canyon Lakes, but we had it all to ourselves and had a picnic and an afternoon of swimming and sunning.
Later we traversed back down to our campsite and lazed around some more. This turned out to be a very relaxing day of just enjoying creation and each other.
I've got this thing about swimming in alpine lakes, so the next morning I went for a swim before packing up and heading down the trail to Boulder Lakes. It was quiet, peaceful, sort of dreamlike, although reality struck when I got out. I was cold! I warmed up pretty quick though with some coffee and a swaddle of down.
It's only a handful of miles to Boulder Creek Lakes, but it took us what seemed like hours and hours to get there because soon after turning onto the Boulder Creeks Lakes Trail we lost our dog.
She often runs ahead, but in the past she had always come back within a minute or two. Not this time. We couldn't imagine her going ahead along the trail without us and we decided to sit tight and wait for her. No dog. No dog. No dog. We then thought maybe she got caught in the brambles and bushes along the trail and searched, mostly because it gave us something to do. Idiots! Of course she ran up the trail. Eventually someone hiking down the trail told us she was howling like crazy at Boulder Lake. Mark took off at a breakneck speed and I followed along more sedately, as this was actually a pretty steep trail that is labeled a scramble on the map.
Some sections you just walk up the granite slope, other places you climb in and over big boulders. How or why our dog went on solo still baffles our minds.
Our camp at Boulder Creek Lake had some pretty sweet vistas.
The next morning had us heading down the trail back to our car with Little Miss Pea Brain on her leash.
There are 3 main waterfalls along Canyon Creek. On our way down the trail we did a bit of bushwhacking and visited the Lower Canyon Falls. It was pretty and we look forward to going back when the water is really roaring.
As it was we were able to find a nice place to go for one more dip,before trails end.
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