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Sword Lake in the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness is a favorite destination for Sierra Nevada backpackers. You can day hike the trail, or you can backpack in and camp.
Sword Lake in the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness
I love the Calipidder blog. Rebecca Sowards-Emmerd, the woman who writes it, paints vivid descriptions with her words, and she backs it all up with dozens of beautiful photos.
The Top 100 Day Hikes and Backpacking Trips in Northern California
The all-color fourth edition features the best trails:
Northern Sierra Nevada
Lassen and Mount Shasta areas
Trinity Alps and Marble Mountains
Redwood Coast
Wine Country and Bay Area
Includes trailhead directions and detailed maps and trail descriptions
I had originally planned to spend the afternoon exploring the area and possibly heading down to Spicer Reservoir to fish, but my plans were quickly squashed when I sighted our private ‘beach’. On the shore of Sword Lake, just below our campsite, there was the most wonderful little spot where the granite sloped gently into the water, providing a perfect place to lounge around and have easy access to the water. Just next to this ramp was a nice cliff with enough height to allow for some fun jumping into the deep cool water.
Rebecca has a link to bunch of other Sword Lake photos in her post.
Camp for Free in California National Forests
California’s national forests and BLM lands have thousands of miles of dirt roads with lots of spots for dispersed camping (boondocking). My book provides all the info you need to get started (but is not a guide to specific sites):
Thanks for profiling Calipidder, John! I love her blog, too! She really keeps it up and gets out there more than most of us, and it’s always a pleasure when she shares her adventures so we can vicariously join in wherever they take her!
Aw thanks guys! I’m out the door for another adventure – the second best thing to getting out there is coming back and reliving it through photos and blogging!
Oh! This is so amazing. I never been to Sword Lake but you made it sound so great. I am jealous of you swimming in the lake. I hope one I can go camp and visit the place one time and experience the wonders of the lake.
Awesome awesome pictures. Will have to add Sword Lake to our list of places to visit. We visited Lake Louise near Banff many years ago and that was a beautiful place as well.
Went to sword lake this summer my 3rd time in 20 years &I still as beautifull
As ever! Getting old in my age but always worth the hike, sorry to say will
Be my last!
God Bless Sword Lake!
Mark Guajardo
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The all-color fourth edition features the best trails:
California’s national forests and BLM lands have thousands of miles of dirt roads with lots of spots for dispersed camping (boondocking). My book provides all the info you need to get started (but is not a guide to specific sites):
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%22%20transform%3D%22translate(.6%20.6)%20scale(1.17188)%22%20fill-opacity%3D%22.5%22%3E%3Cellipse%20fill%3D%22%23316256%22%20cx%3D%22235%22%20cy%3D%2248%22%20rx%3D%2256%22%20ry%3D%2268%22%2F%3E%3Cellipse%20fill%3D%22%23e1dee4%22%20rx%3D%221%22%20ry%3D%221%22%20transform%3D%22matrix(134.62378%2069.95549%20-12.91898%2024.86156%20200.9%20146)%22%2F%3E%3Cellipse%20fill%3D%22%23805d23%22%20rx%3D%221%22%20ry%3D%221%22%20transform%3D%22rotate(-6.1%201021.4%20-51.4)%20scale(31.10221%2093.66742)%22%2F%3E%3Cellipse%20fill%3D%22%23dedbe1%22%20cx%3D%22104%22%20cy%3D%225%22%20rx%3D%2272%22%20ry%3D%2223%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fg%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E "Give the Gift of Hiking and Camping Books This Year!")
%27%20fill-opacity%3D%27.5%27%3E%3Cellipse%20fill%3D%22%238176ba%22%20fill-opacity%3D%22.5%22%20rx%3D%221%22%20ry%3D%221%22%20transform%3D%22rotate(13.2%20-414.8%20782.7)%20scale(93.55893%2053.76433)%22%2F%3E%3Cellipse%20fill-opacity%3D%22.5%22%20rx%3D%221%22%20ry%3D%221%22%20transform%3D%22rotate(99.1%2080.9%2081.3)%20scale(36.45639%20298.82813)%22%2F%3E%3Cellipse%20fill-opacity%3D%22.5%22%20rx%3D%221%22%20ry%3D%221%22%20transform%3D%22matrix(-76.83851%20-288.78036%2035.11414%20-9.34315%2038.3%20198.6)%22%2F%3E%3Cellipse%20fill%3D%22%23211075%22%20fill-opacity%3D%22.5%22%20rx%3D%221%22%20ry%3D%221%22%20transform%3D%22matrix(-1.268%20-33.02117%2098.59235%20-3.78589%20120.8%2054.5)%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fg%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E "10 Night Sky Observation Tips for Backpackers and Boondockers")
Thanks for profiling Calipidder, John! I love her blog, too! She really keeps it up and gets out there more than most of us, and it’s always a pleasure when she shares her adventures so we can vicariously join in wherever they take her!
I really appreciate her pics. She has great flower shots of her trip to Sword Lake.
Aw thanks guys! I’m out the door for another adventure – the second best thing to getting out there is coming back and reliving it through photos and blogging!
Have fun Rebecca. We look forward to your next post.
Don’t forget to charge your camera battery!
Thanks for the intro! I just commented on her beer snob post and followed her. Look forward to reading her more.
Eric, I’m glad I could introduce you to Calipidder!
I just checked out your blog and I like it a lot. I left a comment and put you in my feed reader.
Oh! This is so amazing. I never been to Sword Lake but you made it sound so great. I am jealous of you swimming in the lake. I hope one I can go camp and visit the place one time and experience the wonders of the lake.
I love those photos. The outdoors has so much beauty to offer if we just stop and look around.
Awesome awesome pictures. Will have to add Sword Lake to our list of places to visit. We visited Lake Louise near Banff many years ago and that was a beautiful place as well.
Went to sword lake this summer my 3rd time in 20 years &I still as beautifull
As ever! Getting old in my age but always worth the hike, sorry to say will
Be my last!
God Bless Sword Lake!
Mark Guajardo
I’m glad you made it one more time, Mark!