AUGUST SPECIAL TRAIL RIDE
John Muir Wilderness
5 Days
August 3-7, 2008
Rock Creek to Mammoth
$895
Day 1: Rock Creek Pack Station to Mono Creek (9 miles)
Leaving Rock Creek Pack Station (10,000 ft.), our route follows the Mono Pass Trail which
ascends Mt. Starr to Mono Pass (12,000 ft.).
During the first part of this section one has a panoramic view of Little Lakes Valley,
an area with more than twenty lakes framed by towering mountains including Mt. Morgan(13,748),
Bear Creek Spire(13,705), Mt. Dade and Mt. Abbott. The Mono Pass trail is one of the oldest
routes through the Sierra and was used by Native Americans many years before the first man came
through which was the California Geological Survey in the early 1860’s. During this climb to Mono
Pass, the trail goes through meadows with scattered limber pine and wild flowers, crosses a few
small creeks and then climbs above timberline. At all times there is an unrestricted view of the
overwhelming landscape.
After crossing the pass…. a barren landscape…the route starts an easy descent going by Summit Lake;
immediately afterwards, Pioneer Basin, Hopkins Basin and the northern Sierra range comes into view.
The trail proceeds down past Trail Lake to Gold Creek where we enter the heavier timber and headwaters
of Mono Creek alongside which we travel through a long valley with green meadows, wild flowers, stretches
of lodge-pole pine, aspen thickets continually broken by small feeder creeks coming from tributary
watersheds. The sounds of the Clarke nutcracker break the silence of the wilderness.
We make camp near the confluence of one of the many streams cascading into Mono Creek. Majestic Mono
Rock towers over the canyon to the south.
There are a series of meadows and camping areas from Fourth Recess to Hopkins Meadow. This area was
once the center of the Native American summer trading camps.
Day 2: Third Recess and Mono Creek to Silver Pass Meadow (10 miles)
Traveling west to the John Muir Trail, ride through several life zones with groves of lodge pole pine
giving way to the Jeffrey and Juniper Pine Forest. The trail parallels Mono Creek cascading to the
side of the route. There are a wide variety of flowers, shrubs and trees as we descend to the large
White Fir forest and tall aspens of First Recess.
A short jaunt over a ridge and the Mono Creek Trail meets the John Muir Trail (Pacific Crest Trail).
Going up the North Fork of Mono Creek there are spectacular stands of larkspur, white columbine and
tiger lily as we enter Pocket Meadow. The trail zigzags up beneath the tumbling falls coming from
Silver Pass Lake.
Camp is in a sheltered meadow with a winding creek that abruptly ends at the granite cliffs overlooking
Pocket Meadow. The panoramic views of the mountains to the south make this a favorite camp of those
familiar with the John Muir Trail.
Day 3: Silver Pass Meadow to Cascade Valley (11 miles)
The trail follows the North Fork of Mono Creek through meadows as we climb to Silver Pass Lake. The
trail skirts the eastside of the lake with a gradual ascent to the pass. The views to the south
towards Bear Ridge, Volcanic Nob, Selden Pass and Seven Gables is one of the most beautiful panoramas
in the Sierra.
To the north, the wide expanse of Fish Creek, the North Fork of the San Joaquin River, the Minarets
and southern border of the Yosemite are in view once we reach to the top of Silver Pass (10,900ft).
The trail switchbacks down a wide granite and sub-alpine meadow bowl with five lakes in view. We
descend to Upper Fish Creek through a forest of Hemlocks, Firs and lodge pole pine past small brooks
and lush meadows.
The last two miles follows close to Fish Creek…many waterfalls and beautiful pools as we go down canyon
through several meadows. Cascade Valley is an area of vast lush meadows. The name comes from being
able to hear Minnow and Purple Creeks cascading into the valley to join Fish Creek.
Day 4: Layover in Cascade Valley
Fish Creek is a wonderful place to spend the day fishing or exploring Cascade Valley. The large pools
are excellent for fishing. Iva Belle Hot Springs is a two hour ride down canyon at the head of Fish
Valley. This is a beautiful ride alongside of Fish Creek through fields of aspens, wild flowers and
large Junipers and Firs.
The Minnow Creek Trail climbs up the west side of the canyon and after an hour the wide expansive
Jackson Meadow comes into view. After riding through this beautiful meadow with numerous streams and
islands of trees and sandbars…we have a choice of heading to Grassy or Olive Lake.
Olive Lake is an hour ride through meadows beneath the slick granite cliffs below Peter Pande Lake.
Excellent fishing for rainbow and plenty of lakes up canyon to explore. Grassy Lake is a thirty minute
ride from Jackson Meadow and is one of the jewels of the Sierra with a beautiful meadow to the south with
the permanent snow fields of the Silver Divide framed in the background.
Day 5: Cascade Valley to Mammoth (10 miles)
We switchback up 1500 ft. to Purple Lake to rejoin the John Muir Trail. The trail follows the ridge
that overlooks Fish Creek and the San Joaquin River. Spectacular views back of the Silver Divide, Jackson
Meadow and northwest of the North Fork of the San Joaquin River. The trail breaks west through small
meadows in a Hemlock Forest as we climb to Duck Lake.
We have lunch before rejoining the trail that follows up and around Duck Lake to Duck Pass (11,000).
The trail to the roadhead descends 1800 ft. past many lakes with Mammoth Mountain and the wide expanses of
the volcanic region of the eastern sierra in view to the north.
A van meets us to take us back to the pack station. Generally we arrive at Rock Creek around 5 PM.
CLICK HERE TO MAKE A RESERVATION
Click here for more information and a map detailing where we are in California with area maps as well.
Call us TODAY at 760-872-8331 for a quick reponse to your questions.
You can email us, also.
Rock Creek Pack Station provides all of its trips as a permitee of the Inyo National Forest.
All Trail Rides and Packing Schools are subject to an 8% regulatory reservation fee, plus 2% USFS fee.
NOTICE: Persons of any race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion or with any handicapping condition are welcome to use and enjoy all facilities, programs and services of USDA (Forest Service).
Discrimination in any form is strictly against agency policy and should be reported to Secretary of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. 20520
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Last Updated: April 18, 2008
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