2018 Crooked Lakes Trail at Grouse Ridge CA

This was my grandson's second backpacking trip to this area.

Crooked Lakes Trail offers trail use for hikers, backpackers, equestrians, mountain cyclists, fishermen, seasonal hunters, and has excellent opportunities for outdoors activities for youngsters.

July 2018 update:  The weather was variable, warm, cold and windy, and rained most of one day.  Check for weather forecasts and go there prepared for unexpected changes that are common in this area.  On this trip there were no pesky flies at any of the many lakes we visited as were noted below.  Mosquitoes were there but not a high number. There were no more of the biting orange beetles mentioned in the article either, thank goodness. The trail to Milk Lake is more adequately marked than on our last trip, and for my 9 year old grandson's first backpacking trip, we camped there. Expect to see some kids as I do on every hike there, making a great family destination.
The forestry link is here.  

Distance: can be as little as one mile and can go for many miles over many days.
Difficulty:  Easy to difficult, according to your choice.  I would be comfortable taking an outdoorsy child who can hike at least 1/2 mile in and then out. They would enjoy the lakes. It really is not too steep for any length of time.  There were some tree falls to climb over or go around, and strollers are out of the question. We always meet people with kids here and it is an excellent place for backpacking with youngsters.
Weather: For forecasts click here.
Driving Directions:  Get onto Highway 20 West from Highway 80 west of Donner.  Turn right onto Bowman Lake Road, cross the South Fork Yuba River and keep going until you see the sign for Grouse Ridge.  Turn right on the forest road NF-17 which turns to a dirt and gravel road immediately.  When there are offshoots, just follow the road to the right.  It gets quite tricky just before you reach the parking.  There is a parking circle carved out on your right just before the original shaded parking area at the trailheads that will just extend your hike a little bit.  I drove my car successfully in.  The top parking is nice and shady.  
Note:  There are fees to pay at the trail head for using the backpackers campground facilities, but not if you backpack beyond it and camp near other lakes.  There are a countless number of sites throughout the area, but no restrooms beyond Carr-Feeley.  Fire permits are required, although there are currently fire restrictions, so check the Tahoe National Forest link provided at the end of this article before your trip.  Get your permit here: Fire permits

For a pocket map of the area, Right click on the image, Save image as....name it, and choose the location to keep it on your device.  Now you can print it as an 8 1/2" by 11" guide to take along. With all the lakes and trails at this location, it can come in handy.

This time, we arrived during a small heat wave! There were many day hikers and a few backpackers. Our camp site was along the west shore of Island Lake with good water access.  We didn't use our tent's rainfly, and sleeping bags weren't really necessary since the nights were very warm.

We discovered numerous sites along all but a few small unnamed lakes.

This campsite on the north side of the unnamed lake west of Island Lake has some nice flat tent sites nearby, is far enough from the lake, but clearly has a hazardous fire ring setup.  We chose a sunny site thinking it would be nice not to wait for morning dew to dry before packing up camp, but in this hot weather, shade like this might have been best.

There are trout and catfish in Island Lake and some surrounding lakes, although we didn't see anything large.  Only a few fish were observed feeding at sunset.

The local views of the lakes were satisfying at the end of our active days.  

There were some orange beetles (not ladybugs) voraciously biting our lower legs and feet, leaving itchy red bumps to remain for days.  Mosquitoes stayed until breezes kicked in, but the worst offenders were large black flies buzzing around our heads tapping our hair frequently, and I mean persistently.  Hikers we met reported them at other lakes they visited on this journey.  Breezes affected only the mosquito activities.

Our trip was enjoyable with weather perfect for swimming, fishing, and bonuses of viewing two eagles doing their own fishing.

FIRE RESTRICTIONS ARE IN EFFECT for Tahoe National Forest.  Get your permit here: Fire permits to use backpacker stoves and check any new restrictions.

For more tidbits of helpful information from previous trips in various weather conditions check out these posts:

Carr Feeley Trailhead and Backpackers Camp will give you more information about the area and another map of trails northwest of the Grouse Ridge. From there you use the Twin Lakes Trail or Round Lake Trail.
Crooked Lakes Trail Survivor Night describes an unexpected storm, hiking hazards and solutions. A true account with a happy ending.

Happy Trails!

July 2014

Sugar Pine Reservoir: Hikes, Fishing, Boating, Camping, Swimming...

Beautiful views, an easy drive, forested, and at higher elevation for a cooler temperature. Perfect for a family day on the water.  Equestrian trails too.

Located 15 miles northeast of Foresthill.

Perfect.  There are four main recreation areas around the lake, including the boat ramp, campgrounds, a picnic area, and a swimming beach.  There are numerous places to swim and hang out which you can get to by trail or boats, kayaks, and rafts.  I found two rope swings near each other. Most of the facilities are wheelchair accessible.  Boats are limited to ten miles per hour.

One entrance.  The trail beyond this is excellent ~ don't worry!  There are other places to park and get to the lake, too. 

One of the things I enjoyed was how quickly some places along the lakeside have a drop off so I could get submerged at once rather than wade in slowly and painfully! If you prefer the gradual, beach-like spots, they are all around the lake too.

The trail is shady, making your hike more pleasant, then you can choose some sunny spot to hang out if you prefer.  I had few bugs or mosquitos bother me.  At 3500 feet elevation, this makes a great escape from the valley heat!

 For your inner tarzan! 

 Rope swings were popular this weekend.

 Fishing for warm and cold water species is good.  The boat ramp (with a large parking and restroom)is located on the southeast side of the lake.  I parked on the southwest side where there is also ample parking, no restroom, that is located along Sugar Pine Road before it becomes Iowa Hill Road.

 Several campgrounds are walking distance from the lake, as well as day use parking with the advantages of picnic tables and bathrooms.  Manzanita Day Use Area fills up on hot days.  There are also biking and horseback riding trails available, and OHV areas are open in Tahoe National Forest.

 Family and group sized spots were available when I drove through Shirttail Campground on Saturday, but I would always recommend trying for reservations.

 As I left, I made the decision to follow the "primitive road", Iowa Hill Road to Colfax, rather than retrace my longer drive up through Foresthill.  The views were a pleasure, if you don't mind driving along a mountainside with steep canyon walls descending father down than the eye could see along one side!

Before long I entered the fee area (laughably) since behind this sign is a wide turnout without so much as a garbage can!  However, there are some excellent recreation sites and campgrounds in Tahoe National Forest.

   For campgrounds and fees, click here.

 Hairpin turns on this "primitive" route too.  As you can see, the term means narrower, and curvy, but not dirt or for four wheelers.  The pavement was well maintained.

 As you reach the North Fork of the American River, there are day use spaces (fees apply) and a campground available near the river.  Not far back up the hill from here is the parking for another favorite hike called Windy Point Trail.

On my way to town, I couldn't resist stopping in a non-fee area to pick blackberries.  They are delights, each and every one!  More flavorful than any you find in stores or fruit stands!

Activities

• BIKING
• BOATING
• CAMPING
• FISHING
• HIKING
• HORSEBACK RIDING
• PICNICKING
• WATER SPORTS
• WILDLIFE VIEWING

Almost everything here fits into "Easy" ratings, although the day use beach and near the boat ramp are best with small children.

To find your way, a map is provided here.

 Happy Trails!  See Trails By Locations for more ideas!

Sierra Big Trees and Grouse Falls Overlook

Short hikes suitable for families with rewarding views,

in El Dorado National Forest and Tahoe National Forests!

Sierra Big Trees has an Interpretive Loop (not boring as it sounds!) and fantastic picnic areas. 

 

There are restrooms at the Big Trees Trailhead, and looming above are magnificent giants!

 

 

The path is well maintained, lush green, cool and inviting.  It's short enough to be fun for even littler kids. 

 

 

Those are my hiking poles propped against this tree to offer a size comparison to this ancient fallen tree. 

 

 

I wished my camera could show you the whole tree.  This grove is protected from logging, and thankfully, so that we can see firsthand what a camera cannot do justice to.

 

 

Grand blooms lined the trail as well, lending to the sacred Garden of Eden atmosphere.

 

 

 

For the avid hikers, there is a longer route, and for others, a shorter and easier route.

 

 

Snow flowers stood tall and in full color near the end of the loop I took. 

I didn't take GPS as both trails are easy to follow.  Elevation change is negligible.

 

 

There are ample picnic areas equipped with grills and picnic tables.  They are well spaced too, ensuring that feeling of getting away from it all.

 

Sierra Big Trees Driving Map

 

Grouse Falls Overlook

in Tahoe National Forest

The down side is that to get to Grouse Falls Trailhead, you drive about 5 miles of winding dirt road. 

 

Once there, parking is ample, but the only restroom is the woods.  The trail is well maintained, wide and mostly shady.  Current Conditions link.

After a good stretch, it would be fun to grab lunch and drinks to share out on the viewing deck.  The exception is hot afternoons because the deck isn't shaded and gets the western exposure.

 

I take things like this pine cone for granted, having grown up in the woods, but really!  The size is a marvel of nature!  My feet aren't so small and the pine cone is close to two of my foot lengths.

There is a dilemma on this short hike.  The shade is dreamy on a hot afternoon.  There is a water runoff I could hear but not see through all the plants growing in the gully.  It cooled the air, pleasantly gurgling. It also unfortunately made me, the hiker, fair game to skeeters, the ravenous ones.  Now for some freaky reason, they rarely bite me, but they still buzz around my face, into my eyes, nose and mouth, and generally disturb my zen-ness in the woods.  Take your remedies for this.  I wished I had a fly swatter!

 



 

And when you arrive at the garden like feature of decking, the view across the canyon is the Grouse Falls which cascade 504 feet in two drops called "tiered horsetails".  My point and shoot wasn't prepared for this shot.

There are two other nearby falls you can visit:  South Branch Grouse Creek Falls and Peavine Creek Falls.  I went on to visit the Sierra Big Trees and up to French Meadows instead.

 

Driving Directions:

From I-80, take the Foresthill exit on to Foresthill Road and drive 16.7 miles and turn right onto Mosquito Ridge Road. Follow Mosquito Ridge Road 19.25 miles to a left turn onto Peavine Road (Road 33). Drive to the end of this winding graveled road to the Grouse Falls Turnoff. At the end of this short spur is a parking area where the trail begins. 

The map above shows from Highway 50, but if you enlarge it by clicking on it you will see how to come from 80 or 50. 

HAPPY TRAILS!!!

More hikes reviewed by Peachy Hiker

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Photos of Wildflowers and Critters