July 2018 updates Grouse Ridge, Donner Area

*If you double click on a photo you can view all of the photos enlarged.  At the bottom of this article I am including a map, an elevation profile from my Garmin GPS and a Wikiloc link.  Some of my hike to the lakes and ponds shown is off trail.

Sunset my first night there.

Distance: can be as little as one mile (to Milk Lake) 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 and strollers are out of the question.
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 that turns to a dirt and gravel road immediately The road had some work done on it so should be in good condition for a dirt road, accessible by car.  6 miles but worth it! July 2018 the road was in good condition, and I drove in my sedan.
You'll arrive at a fork that points to the right for camping with a well kept vault toilet in an actual structure or the fork to the left that leads to a parking area for the trailhead.  No running water is available.  You can hike a half mile to Downey or Milk Lake or just bring bottled water for camping.
Notes:  The area is being renovated so by the time you read this and get there the road will be in better condition.  The campground has picnic tables, fire pits, and some nice flat tent areas. Check on hunting season dates before you go.  (Deer hunting in the fall).
Weather: forecast here

Amusing.  Not much better than the road. July 2018 the trailhead sign is repaired.

 At the top of this 1/2 mile road, closed to vehicles,  is the Grouse Ridge Lookout.  It is a shady and pleasant climb to the fading structure.  The road is shown on the map below.

Although it is weathered and boarded up you can still climb the stairs and look inside the empty space that used to be manned by staff.  I braved the stairs for the spectacular views but the wind was pushing me off balance enough to scare me from venturing around to the other side.  It's pretty rickety and you go at your own risk.

The outhouse was hard to capture since it virtually hangs over air!  Doesn't that add a whole new meaning to "outhouse"?

If you didn't have to "go" before you got to this outhouse you would have to go once inside. And can you imagine having to go in a violent storm?  But you can appreciate the views!  I had to kneel down for photos because of jarring wind gusts.  It was frightening to be so close to nothing but air space to fall into and I doubt one would walk away from a mishap like that.  When do you ever hear me so unnerved by such wonders? There is a hand rail for good reason.  My son and I laughed about having to wear rappelling gear to use the restroom!

I am barely standing on another precipice in threatening wind gusts to get his view for you from under the lookout deck.  It's worth the hike.  Every direction is something different geologically.  Beautiful and fascinating.

 An ancient dead tree (nicknamed a widow maker) stands in stark contrast to sections of forest untouched by the ravages of fire.

But never park, camp, stand, or sit within the reaches of widow makers.  Some hiker came back tired and ready to go, I'm sure.  Their truck met up with a widow maker!  Beware.  This is the best cautionary evidence I've photographed yet! July 2018: the truck was removed.

The following photos were taken along the path heading east along Glacier Lake Trail.  Within a short distance there are lakes, ponds, meadows, pine forest, willows, and granite bowls and outcroppings.  I enjoyed plenty of shade and the trail is in good condition.  Off trail you bushwhack but get to see a variety of landscapes and enjoy a true wilderness experience. 

The size of a pencil eraser, one of countless flowers in bloom right now.

The cattle eyed me suspiciously and began calling to each other and clanging their bells!

 Not sure of possible bacteria, I did purify water from these sources.

From the Grouse Ridge Trailhead, you can also head northwest toward Crooked Lakes Trail on Round Lake Trail, or north toward Shotgun and other basin lakes.  The area is one of my favorites and worth a dusty, difficult drive.  The trails are actually pretty easy and in a short distance you can day hike or backpack camp. You'll encounter few if any groups, or occasional hikers even if you see quite a few vehicles parked at the trailheads into the area. Once I did happen back there when some travel company was taking tourists backpacking.  Weekenders will find more people than those who can go on weekdays. There are so many directions to go and so many places to hang out.
GPS link, click here.

You can print the map and it is a handy pocket size to keep with you on the trail.

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.

Peachy Hiker's Table of Contents
Thank you for stopping by and Happy Trails!

Road conditions updated 5-13-2014
Updated July 018: map note, trailhead sign, removal of truck, added weather link,and current road conditions.

2018 updates Grouse Lakes Basin Trails

Spectacular views and many alpine lakes for fishing, swimming, camping, backpacking, hiking, and photographing!  

* If you click on a photo you will be able to view all of the photos enlarged.

Distance and difficulty:  Crooked Lakes Trail is about 7 1/2 miles, out and back but our experiences have been more of a freestyle hike so we could visit as many lakes as possible, and our miles hiked varies. Other websites rate it strenuous, but without a big elevation change and no bushwhacking necessary, it seems more of a moderate hike, and that being for distance. Nothing requires you to go too far though and lakes are close enough to adjust it to your own fitness level. Allow at least 6 hours if you use only Crooked Lakes Trail and make your final destination Rock Lake before you turn around. 
Elevation:  6,285 ft-6,900 ft.
Weather forecast link
Driving Directions: 

• I-80 to Hwy 20 (Nevada City) Exit 161
• Hwy 20 3.8 mi
• Right on Bowman Rd 8.4 mi
• Right on dirt road NF 17 (Called-Lindsey Rd) 2.9 mi or right on earlier dirt road following sign "Carr Feeley TH" for 4 miles.

Update 11-2012  The roads have snow and trucks are going up, but cars may have problems.  Also, be aware it is hunting season. 

Advisories: The gate is always locked and used only by personnel, so you pack your gear in. We found large cat tracks near our tent on one autumn trip.  Keep your food secure.  Permits are not required.  Let someone know your plans and the time of expected return. We paid at the trailhead to use the hike-in campground.

Notes: 

*** Update July, 2012: 

My grandson and I just got back from Carr-Feeley Campground as our basecamp for the Crooked Lakes Trail, and what a shock! Unlike the solitude I am accustomed to in that area, the parking lot was FULL. There were two large groups of backpackers, fishermen, dayhikers, and outdoors enthusiasts! Along the lakes and trails were a practical stream of people and some well-behaved dogs.
The campground wasn't being used except for us and a family at the other end. They were expecting to use the road you see on maps that goes to the Feeley Lake Dam. They brought kayaks for fishing but had not planned on having to carry them and all of their car camping gear back in. 

• Take food, water, and first aid.  I also suggest taking a warm layer as weather is unpredictable and we've used those layers unexpectedly!  Survivor Night on Crooked Lakes Trail   explains my cautionery note!

• The area is pretty level and the trails normally are in good shape, after a rough storm being the exception. A GPS is helpful on this hike to clarify your planned hike since there are numerous unnamed lakes and ponds that might confuse a newcomer.

• So that you can do some research, the lakes we go by include Carr, Feeley, Island, Long, Round, and Milk Lakes, and then you can go south to Sanford Lake or just beyond Milk lake you can go west to Downey Lake. We have taken Glacier Lake Trail heading northeast of Milk Lake and with a couple of creek crossings you can get to Glacier Lake.  I'll include a map at the bottom of the page.  

• Another option is to head north after Milk Lake and visit Lake 3, Middle and Shotgun Lakes to another junction heading west with a side trip south (on trail) to Penner, then back north then rejoin  the previous trail. Head west and then south hitting Rock and Lower Rock Lakes.  Return the way you came in.  That tour would be best left for backpacking!  

• We did hike north of the end of Crooked Lakes Trail to Culbertson Lake and the trail turned uphill on scree and was not at all worth the trouble. The view was nothing to shout about and the hike was an ankle twister.

• Remember that this is a popular deer hunting area so check your dates when planning your hike if that makes you uncomfortable.  Otherwise be advised to wear reflector materials to avoid any accidents!

These were taken in the fall and our campsite was at the backpackers camp near the Carr Trailhead.  There is a bathroom back in a ways.  As you can see, our tent was completely hidden from the trail but was close to it!  We were also near enough to the lake for water, but did indeed find large cat tracks the next morning so take your pepper spray and bear canister!

I want you to see what the trail is generally like.  It is visible and below are posted photos of the type of signs you can expect to see guiding your way.  You may go over some boulders now and then or rocky sections but they double as great places to hang out for sunning and swimming.

Actually new signs were placed in 2012.

When we allowed 3 hours to hike there it was just not meant to be.  Plan a whole day or use the backpackers camps for a base camp and choose different trails and lakes for each day you stay!  With all of those lakes and views, we stopped often for photos and a few splashes in inviting lakes.  We have enjoyed this area in every season, although in winter there are no road plows (we hiked in), and you can't get too far past the backpackers campground at Carr TH without snowshoes.  Below I loaded photos to show you the pleasures and the hazards of hiking up there in the winter!
This is one of my favorite places to hike or backpack.  Happy Trails!

Print this and keep it in your pocket for reference!

Look closely and see the under melt that can cause hikers to collapse the snow and get stuck, potentially hurt or drowned.  Nothing is really holding the snow together, so enjoy but take snow precautions and an ice ax.

These snowlines are hazards too.  People have been known to walk along the top, not realizing that nothing stable is under them. 

The lakes are gorgeous during winter but earlier this was a total snow blanket.  Another cautionary note about using proper equipment and having the skills for this kind of environment.

This is to show how deep the snow was, and impassable by vehicle.

Wildflowers even in snow!  Wonderful!

Peachy Hikers Table of Contents

Hikes By Locations

and other articles about this area:

• Carr Lake Under Snow
• Crooked Lakes Trail (Survivor Night)
• Grouse Lakes Basin Trails near Lake Tahoe
• Grouse Ridge Campground and Trail Head 11-2012   This is a car campgroud recently improved.  There isn't running water, but there is a vault toilet, and sites accessible by car.  There is a lookout tower ytou can also hike to from here, and access to Round Lake Trail, Glacier Lake Trail, and trails that connect to Spaulding Lake Trail and the Pioneer Trail.

No GPS tracks are posted here but the trails are marked as photographed above and just a map like I posted and a compass will serve you well. 

Happy Trails

Updated 11-2012
Updated July 2018: Added advisories about wildlife, rearranged advisories.  Crossed out outdated road conditions. Included a weather forecast link.