{"id":1083,"date":"2010-08-26T08:47:14","date_gmt":"2010-08-26T15:47:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/?p=1083"},"modified":"2025-04-05T06:34:51","modified_gmt":"2025-04-05T13:34:51","slug":"trinity-alps-backpacking-trails-caribou-lake-sawtooth-ridge-emerald-lake-morris-meadows","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/2010\/08\/26\/trinity-alps-backpacking-trails-caribou-lake-sawtooth-ridge-emerald-lake-morris-meadows\/","title":{"rendered":"Trinity Alps Backpacking: Caribou Lake, Sawtooth Ridge, Emerald Lake, Morris Meadows"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>I recently took a kick-ass backpacking trip to Caribou Lake, Sawtooth Ridge, Emerald Lake , and Morris Meadows, all top <a title=\"Trinity Alps backpacking and hiking trails\" href=\"http:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/category\/trinity-alps-hiking-backpacking-trails\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Trinity Alps trails<\/a> I haven&#8217;t trod in years. The journey traced one of the most difficult journeys in my guidebook <a title=\"100 Classic Hikes in Northern California John Soares\" href=\"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/hiking-guides\/100-classic-hikes-in-northern-california\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">100 Classic Hikes: Northern California<\/a> &#8212; Hike 48 to Caribou, Emerald, and Sapphire Lakes.<\/p>\n<p>And it was fantastic&#8230;<\/p>\n<h2>Enjoy the Journey&#8230; to the Big Flat Trailhead<\/h2>\n<p>My driving route took me from Stewart Mineral Springs west of I-5 and north of Weed along Forest Road 17 to Park&#8217;s Creek saddle, where I crossed the Trinity Divide and followed the road along the east fork Trinity River to Highway 3. If you haven&#8217;t driven paved Forest Road 17, just know that it tops out around 7000 feet and gives you wide-open vistas of the Eddys and other <a title=\"Trinity Divide Mountains hiking and backpacking trails\" href=\"http:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/category\/trinity-divide-mountains-hiking-and-backpacking-trails\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Trinity Divide Mountains<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The 19 miles from Highway 3 along Coffee Creek to the Big Flat Trailhead are mostly dirt, but there&#8217;s always the tumbling creek to watch, plus I was intrigued by all the trailheads I passed for other Trinity Alps destinations to explore, or in many cases re-explore, at a future date.<\/p>\n<p>(Note: go here for <a href=\"http:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/2015\/07\/13\/trinity-alps-wilderness-trail-conditions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">current conditions for most Trinity Alps Wilderness trails, including trailhead access<\/a>.)<\/p>\n<div class=\"color-block\">\n<h4>Camp for Free in California National Forests<\/h4>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-6295\" src=\"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/dispersed-camping-boondocking-camp-free-300.jpg\" alt=\"Camp for Free: Dispersed Camping &amp; Boondocking on America's Public Lands book cover. Free camping in the United States.\" width=\"250\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/dispersed-camping-boondocking-camp-free-300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/dispersed-camping-boondocking-camp-free-300-188x300.jpg 188w, https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/dispersed-camping-boondocking-camp-free-300-31x50.jpg 31w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 250px) 100vw, 250px\" \/><strong>California&#8217;s national forests and BLM lands have thousands of miles of dirt roads with lots of spots for dispersed camping (boondocking).<\/strong> My book provides all the info you need to get started (but is not a guide to specific sites):<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Researching the best locations<\/li>\n<li>Finding the best camping spots<\/li>\n<li>Backcountry safety and ethics<\/li>\n<li>What to take<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2CPMlbP\">Buy it on Amazon<\/a><br \/>\nBuy it on <a href=\"https:\/\/books2read.com\/u\/3RnavL\">Apple, Kobo, and Nook<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Big Flat to Snowslide Lake and Caribou Lake, Two Top Trinity Alps Lakes<\/h2>\n<p>It was late enough in the year that crossing the South Fork of the Salmon River was no problem. (Did it with my shoes on: kept my feet cool for the next hour).<\/p>\n<p>A steady climb at a moderate grade brought me to Brown&#8217;s Meadow, my lunch spot, and by late afternoon the Caribou Lakes basin appeared, and then my first night&#8217;s destination: Snowslide Lake.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1097\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1097\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/2010\/08\/26\/trinity-alps-backpacking-trails-caribou-lake-sawtooth-ridge-emerald-lake-morris-meadows\/snowslide-lake-trinity-alps-01\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1097\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1097\" title=\"Snowslide Lake from the Caribou Lake Trail. A prime swimming lake! (Photo by John Soares)\" src=\"http:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/snowslide-lake-trinity-alps-01.jpg\" alt=\"Snowslide Lake from the Caribou Lake Trail. A prime swimming lake! (Photo by John Soares)\" width=\"500\" height=\"292\" srcset=\"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/snowslide-lake-trinity-alps-01.jpg 500w, https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/snowslide-lake-trinity-alps-01-490x286.jpg 490w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1097\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Snowslide Lake from the Caribou Lake Trail. A prime swimming lake! (Photo by John Soares)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>I took a dip just before sunset in the lakes surprisingly temperate waters and then set up at one of the several excellent campsites to watch the sun&#8217;s shadow rise up Caribou Mountain.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1098\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1098\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/2010\/08\/26\/trinity-alps-backpacking-trails-caribou-lake-sawtooth-ridge-emerald-lake-morris-meadows\/snowslide-lake-trinity-alps-02\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1098\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1098\" title=\"Caribou Mountain rises above Snowslide Lake. (Photo by John Soares)\" src=\"http:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/snowslide-lake-trinity-alps-02.jpg\" alt=\"Caribou Mountain rises above Snowslide Lake. (Photo by John Soares)\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/snowslide-lake-trinity-alps-02.jpg 500w, https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/snowslide-lake-trinity-alps-02-490x367.jpg 490w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1098\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Caribou Mountain rises above Snowslide Lake. (Photo by John Soares)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1100\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1100\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/2010\/08\/26\/trinity-alps-backpacking-trails-caribou-lake-sawtooth-ridge-emerald-lake-morris-meadows\/snowslide-lake-trinity-alps-04\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1100\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1100\" title=\"Steep Snowslide Lake shoreline at sunset. (Photo by John Soares)\" src=\"http:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/snowslide-lake-trinity-alps-04.jpg\" alt=\"Steep Snowslide Lake shoreline at sunset. (Photo by John Soares)\" width=\"500\" height=\"305\" srcset=\"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/snowslide-lake-trinity-alps-04.jpg 500w, https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/snowslide-lake-trinity-alps-04-490x298.jpg 490w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1100\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Steep Snowslide Lake shoreline at sunset. (Photo by John Soares)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Saw a dozen or so meteors, many of them Perseids, before I fell asleep.<\/p>\n<div class=\"color-block\">\n<h4>Explore the Wild and Rugged Trinity Alps With This New Map!<\/h4>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8865 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/trinity-alps-trail-map-hiking-250.jpg\" alt=\"Trinity Alps Trail Map for hikers and backpackers. Includes backcountry campsites and wilderness permit information.\" width=\"250\" height=\"371\" srcset=\"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/trinity-alps-trail-map-hiking-250.jpg 250w, https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/trinity-alps-trail-map-hiking-250-202x300.jpg 202w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 250px) 100vw, 250px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>The alpine lakes and jagged peaks of the Trinity Alps Wilderness rival the scenery of the High Sierra, without the crowds. This new highly detailed map is perfect for your next backpacking trip or day hike:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Canyon Creek Lakes, Caribou Lake, and all the main destinations<\/li>\n<li>Trails with more solitude in more remote parts of the wilderness<\/li>\n<li>Obtaining a wilderness permit<\/li>\n<li>Boundaries of recent wildfires<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Buy it online from: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mountaineers.org\/books\/books\/trinity-alps-wilderness-ca-no-1120sxl-green-trails-maps\">Green Trails Maps<\/a> | <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/4hOt1dT\"><strong>Amazon<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Often available at outdoor stores and bookstores<\/strong> (call first!)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Caribou Lake to Sawtooth Ridge: Vista of the Heart of the Trinity Alps<\/h2>\n<p>Day 2. Tai chi, reading, and just gazing occupied me &#8217;til early afternoon. I then headed up to Caribou Lake and contemplated the route up to the Sawtooth Ridge&#8230;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1088\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1088\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/2010\/08\/26\/trinity-alps-backpacking-trails-caribou-lake-sawtooth-ridge-emerald-lake-morris-meadows\/caribou-lake-trinity-alps-suicide-ridge\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1088\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1088\" title=\"Snow covers the trail from Caribou Lake to Sawtooth Ridge and the beginning of the Suicide Ridge Trail. (Photo by John Soares)\" src=\"http:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/caribou-lake-trinity-alps-suicide-ridge.jpg\" alt=\"Snow covers the trail from Caribou Lake to Sawtooth Ridge and the beginning of the Suicide Ridge Trail. (Photo by John Soares)\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/caribou-lake-trinity-alps-suicide-ridge.jpg 500w, https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/caribou-lake-trinity-alps-suicide-ridge-490x367.jpg 490w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1088\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Snow covers the trail from Caribou Lake to Sawtooth Ridge and the beginning of the Suicide Ridge Trail. (Photo by John Soares)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>I headed to the far side of the lake and filled my water bottles at this pond&#8230;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1087\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1087\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/2010\/08\/26\/trinity-alps-backpacking-trails-caribou-lake-sawtooth-ridge-emerald-lake-morris-meadows\/caribou-lake-trinity-alps-pond\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1087\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1087\" title=\"Small pond above Caribou Lake, with the Sawtooth Ridge in the background. (Photo by John Soares)\" src=\"http:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/caribou-lake-trinity-alps-pond.jpg\" alt=\"Small pond above Caribou Lake, with the Sawtooth Ridge in the background. (Photo by John Soares)\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/caribou-lake-trinity-alps-pond.jpg 500w, https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/caribou-lake-trinity-alps-pond-490x367.jpg 490w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1087\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Small pond above Caribou Lake, with the Sawtooth Ridge in the background. (Photo by John Soares)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The steep and faint trail promptly disappeared under a huge snowbank. I tried to follow it, but eventually just pushed my way up cross-country, doing my best to keep the trail on my left. Once I reached Sawtooth Ridge (and the boundary line between Siskiyou County and Trinity County), I turned left and found the trail.<\/p>\n<p>And one of the best views anywhere&#8230;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1096\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1096\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/2010\/08\/26\/trinity-alps-backpacking-trails-caribou-lake-sawtooth-ridge-emerald-lake-morris-meadows\/sapphire-lake-trinity-alps-mirror-lake\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1096\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1096 size-full\" title=\"Stunning Trinity Alps vista: Sapphire Lake and the Sawtooth Ridge from the beginning of the Suicide Ridge Trail. Mirror Lake lies unseen in the cirque above Sapphire. Emerald Lake is just downstream from Sapphire. (Photo by John Soares)\" src=\"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/sapphire-lake-trinity-alps-mirror-lake.jpg\" alt=\"Stunning Trinity Alps vista: Sapphire Lake and the Sawtooth Ridge from the beginning of the Suicide Ridge Trail. Mirror Lake lies unseen in the cirque above Sapphire. Emerald Lake is just downstream from Sapphire. (Photo by John Soares)\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/sapphire-lake-trinity-alps-mirror-lake.jpg 500w, https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/sapphire-lake-trinity-alps-mirror-lake-490x367.jpg 490w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1096\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Stunning Trinity Alps vista: Sapphire Lake and the Sawtooth Ridge from the beginning of the Suicide Ridge Trail. Mirror Lake lies unseen in the cirque above Sapphire. Emerald Lake is just downstream from Sapphire.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1094\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1094\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/2010\/08\/26\/trinity-alps-backpacking-trails-caribou-lake-sawtooth-ridge-emerald-lake-morris-meadows\/morris-meadows-trinity-alps-mountains\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1094\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1094 size-full\" title=\"Colorful metamorphic rocks are common in the Trinity Alps. These border the Deer Creek drainage that empties into Stuart's Fork of the Trinity River. (Photo by John Soares)\" src=\"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/morris-meadows-trinity-alps-mountains.jpg\" alt=\"Colorful metamorphic rocks are common in the Trinity Alps. These border the Deer Creek drainage that empties into Stuart's Fork of the Trinity River. (Photo by John Soares)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" srcset=\"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/morris-meadows-trinity-alps-mountains.jpg 500w, https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/morris-meadows-trinity-alps-mountains-490x275.jpg 490w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1094\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Colorful metamorphic rocks are common in the Trinity Alps. These border the Deer Creek drainage that empties into Stuart&#8217;s Fork of the Trinity River.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1086\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1086\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/2010\/08\/26\/trinity-alps-backpacking-trails-caribou-lake-sawtooth-ridge-emerald-lake-morris-meadows\/caribou-lake-trinity-alps\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1086\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1086\" title=\"Caribou Lake from Sawtooth Ridge -- the largest lake in the Trinity Alps. (Photo by John Soares)\" src=\"http:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/caribou-lake-trinity-alps.jpg\" alt=\"Caribou Lake from Sawtooth Ridge -- the largest lake in the Trinity Alps. (Photo by John Soares)\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/caribou-lake-trinity-alps.jpg 500w, https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/caribou-lake-trinity-alps-490x367.jpg 490w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1086\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Caribou Lake from Sawtooth Ridge &#8212; the largest lake in the Trinity Alps. (Photo by John Soares)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Sawtooth Ridge to Stuart Fork via the Suicide Trail<\/h2>\n<p>I was then faced with the 2200-foot descent of one of the steepest, nastiest paths anywhere &#8212; the Suicide Trail&#8230;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1102\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1102\" style=\"width: 400px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/2010\/08\/26\/trinity-alps-backpacking-trails-caribou-lake-sawtooth-ridge-emerald-lake-morris-meadows\/suicide-ridge-trail-trinity-alps\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1102\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1102\" title=\"Beginning of the Suicide Ridge Trail. It's a knee-jamming 2200 feet from the Sawtooth Ridge down to Portuguese Camp and Stuart's Fork. (Photo by John Soares)\" src=\"http:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/suicide-ridge-trail-trinity-alps.jpg\" alt=\"Beginning of the Suicide Ridge Trail. It's a knee-jamming 2200 feet from the Sawtooth Ridge down to Portuguese Camp and Stuart's Fork. (Photo by John Soares)\" width=\"400\" height=\"533\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1102\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Beginning of the Suicide Trail. It&#8217;s a knee-jamming 2200 feet from the Sawtooth Ridge down to Portuguese Camp and Stuart&#8217;s Fork. (Photo by John Soares)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Beautiful views, but hard on the knees and very brushy at the bottom.<\/p>\n<p>Reached the Stuart Fork Trail at Portuguese Camp at sunset. Went downhill toward Morris Meadows trying to find a campsite, but they were all taken. I eventually turned around, headed back upstream, and finally found a stunning campsite when it was nearly absolute dark.<\/p>\n<h2>Emerald Lake via Stuart Fork Trail<\/h2>\n<p>Day Three. Visited Emerald Lake, a place I&#8217;ve been many times but not since the 1990s. I thought about heading to Sapphire Lake and on to Mirror Lake, but my left knee hurt a bit from the strain of the previous day and I still had many miles to hike.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1089\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1089\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/2010\/08\/26\/trinity-alps-backpacking-trails-caribou-lake-sawtooth-ridge-emerald-lake-morris-meadows\/emerald-lake-trinity-alps\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1089\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1089\" title=\"Emerald Lake, crown jewel of the Trinity Alps. Sapphire Lake and Mirror Lake lie further up Stuart's Fork. (Photo by John Soares)\" src=\"http:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/emerald-lake-trinity-alps.jpg\" alt=\"Emerald Lake, crown jewel of the Trinity Alps. Sapphire Lake and Mirror Lake lie further up Stuart's Fork. (Photo by John Soares)\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/emerald-lake-trinity-alps.jpg 500w, https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/emerald-lake-trinity-alps-490x367.jpg 490w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1089\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Emerald Lake, crown jewel of the Trinity Alps. Sapphire Lake and Mirror Lake lie further up Stuart&#8217;s Fork. (Photo by John Soares)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Morris Meadows on the Stuart Fork Trail<\/h2>\n<p>Downhill roll to Morris Meadows &#8212; <a href=\"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/2018\/07\/25\/trinity-alps-wildflowers-ken-decamp\/\">flowers<\/a>, vistas, big trees&#8230; and a view up Bear Gulch toward <a href=\"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/2018\/05\/24\/smith-lake-trinity-alps-alpine-lake\/\">Smith Lake, Morris Lake, and Sawtooth Mountain<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1095\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1095\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/2010\/08\/26\/trinity-alps-backpacking-trails-caribou-lake-sawtooth-ridge-emerald-lake-morris-meadows\/morris-meadows-trinity-alps-smith-lake\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1095\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1095\" title=\"Morris Meadows. Smith Lake lies behind that granite ridge. (Photo by John Soares)\" src=\"http:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/morris-meadows-trinity-alps-smith-lake.jpg\" alt=\"Morris Meadows. Smith Lake lies behind that granite ridge. (Photo by John Soares)\" width=\"500\" height=\"331\" srcset=\"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/morris-meadows-trinity-alps-smith-lake.jpg 500w, https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/morris-meadows-trinity-alps-smith-lake-490x324.jpg 490w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1095\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Morris Meadows. Smith Lake lies behind that granite ridge. (Photo by John Soares)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1090\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1090\" style=\"width: 400px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/2010\/08\/26\/trinity-alps-backpacking-trails-caribou-lake-sawtooth-ridge-emerald-lake-morris-meadows\/jeffrey-pine-morris-meadows-trinity-alps\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1090\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1090\" title=\"Monster Jeffrey pine along the edge of Morris Meadows. (Photo by John Soares)\" src=\"http:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/jeffrey-pine-morris-meadows-trinity-alps.jpg\" alt=\"Monster Jeffrey pine along the edge of Morris Meadows. (Photo by John Soares)\" width=\"400\" height=\"533\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1090\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Monster Jeffrey pine along the edge of Morris Meadows. (Photo by John Soares)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1091\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1091\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/2010\/08\/26\/trinity-alps-backpacking-trails-caribou-lake-sawtooth-ridge-emerald-lake-morris-meadows\/john-soares-morris-meadows-trinity-alps\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1091\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1091\" title=\"Obligatory arm's-length photo of me at Morris Meadows. (Photo by John Soares)\" src=\"http:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/john-soares-morris-meadows-trinity-alps.jpg\" alt=\"Obligatory arm's-length photo of me at Morris Meadows. (Photo by John Soares)\" width=\"500\" height=\"357\" srcset=\"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/john-soares-morris-meadows-trinity-alps.jpg 500w, https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/john-soares-morris-meadows-trinity-alps-490x349.jpg 490w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1091\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Obligatory arm&#8217;s-length photo of me at Morris Meadows. (Photo by John Soares)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Deer Creek Trail to the Tri-Forest Trail<\/h2>\n<p>Climbed up the Deer Creek Trail from Morris Meadows and ran into 40-50 trees across the trail, some of &#8217;em biggin&#8217;s. Found the Tri-Forest Trail a hundred yards or so beyond Willow Creek. (If you&#8217;re doing this, look close for the trail. It&#8217;s easy to miss.) Slept under a fir tree.<\/p>\n<h2>Tri-Forest Trail Back to Big Flat Trailhead<\/h2>\n<p>The Tri-Forest Trail is nearly totally obscured for the first 150 feet. I did find it, and I managed to stay on it the whole 2-mile, 2000-foot climb to the gap near Tri-Forest Peak. I absorbed the views and chatted with three other backpackers (also from the Mount Shasta area), and then I descended back to the trailhead at Big Flat.<\/p>\n<h2>Highlights of the Journey<\/h2>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">Meteors<br \/>\nSwimming in Snowslide Lake and Emerald Lake<br \/>\nSunset at Snowslide Lake<br \/>\nThe views of Sawtooth Peak, Caesar&#8217;s Peak, Thompson Peak, Sawtooth Ridge&#8230;<br \/>\nThe bear that crossed the trail 40 feet in front of me, but didn&#8217;t see me<br \/>\nThe stare-down I had with a rattlesnake on the Stuart Fork Trail in Morris Meadows (he won)<br \/>\nFeeling the strength of my 50-year-old legs<br \/>\nEating cashews<\/p>\n<h2>My Posts on the Trinity Alps Hiking Trails<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/2021\/01\/28\/bear-attack-trinity-alps-california\/\">Surviving a Bear Attack in Northern California\u2019s Trinity Alps<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/2014\/06\/26\/canyon-creek-lakes-trinity-alps-boulder-creek\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Canyon Creek Lakes and Boulder Creek Lakes in the Trinity Alps<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/2012\/08\/12\/hiking-big-bear-lake-trinity-alps\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Hiking Big Bear Lake in the Trinity Alps<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/2010\/08\/26\/trinity-alps-backpacking-trails-caribou-lake-sawtooth-ridge-emerald-lake-morris-meadows\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">My Trinity Alps Backpacking Trip &#8212; Caribou Lake, Sawtooth Ridge, Emerald Lake, Morris Meadows<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/2018\/05\/24\/smith-lake-trinity-alps-alpine-lake\/\">Smith Lake via Alpine Lake: Trinity Alps Cross-Country Challenge<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/26\/trinity-alps-pacific-crest-trail-section-hiking\/\">Trinity Alps Pacific Crest Trail Section Hiking: Complete Guide<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/2018\/07\/25\/trinity-alps-wildflowers-ken-decamp\/\">Trinity Alps Wildflowers with Author Ken DeCamp: Interview<\/a><\/p>\n<h2>My Hiking Guidebooks Cover Trinity Alps Trails<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7406\" src=\"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/spring-backpacking-northern-california-books-1000.jpg\" alt=\"Spring backpacking in Northern California: two hiking books with dozens of trails for backpackers.\" width=\"1000\" height=\"650\" srcset=\"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/spring-backpacking-northern-california-books-1000.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/spring-backpacking-northern-california-books-1000-480x312.jpg 480w, https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/spring-backpacking-northern-california-books-1000-300x195.jpg 300w, https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/spring-backpacking-northern-california-books-1000-768x499.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/hiking-guides\/100-classic-hikes-in-northern-california\/\">100 Classic Hikes: Northern California<\/a><\/em>, fourth edition, covers these trails as overnight or longer backpacking trips:<\/p>\n<ol start=\"47\">\n<li>Big Bear Lake<\/li>\n<li>Caribou, Emerald, and Sapphire Lakes<\/li>\n<li>Horseshoe and Ward Lakes<\/li>\n<li>Granite Lake and Seven Up Gap<\/li>\n<li>Four Lakes Loop<\/li>\n<li>Canyon Creek Lakes and Boulder Creek Lakes<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>My recent book <a href=\"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/day-hiking-mount-shasta-lassen-trinity-alps-trails\/\"><em>Day Hiking: Mount Shasta, Lassen &amp; Trinity Alps Regions<\/em><\/a> has the following 11 destinations, and all of them can be short backpacking trips:<\/p>\n<ol start=\"67\">\n<li>Canyon Creek Lakes<\/li>\n<li>Long Canyon to Deer Creek Pass<\/li>\n<li>Granite Lake<\/li>\n<li>Parker Meadow and Mumford Meadow<\/li>\n<li>Boulder Lakes<\/li>\n<li>Big Bear Lake<\/li>\n<li>PCT Southwest From Scott Mountain Summit<\/li>\n<li>East Boulder and Upper Boulder Lakes<\/li>\n<li>Fox Creek Lake<\/li>\n<li>Hidden Lake<\/li>\n<li>South Fork Lakes<\/li>\n<li>Trail Gulch and Long Gulch Lakes<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Your Take<\/span><br \/>\n<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Have you done all or parts of this trip? What were your experiences?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I recently took a kick-ass backpacking trip to Caribou Lake, Sawtooth Ridge, Emerald Lake , and Morris Meadows, all top Trinity Alps trails I haven&#8217;t trod in years. The journey traced one of the most difficult journeys in my guidebook 100 Classic Hikes: Northern California &#8212; Hike 48 to Caribou, Emerald, and Sapphire Lakes. And [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1087,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[258,46],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1083","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-klamath-national-forest","category-trinity-alps-hiking-backpacking-trails","entry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Trinity Alps Backpacking: Caribou Lake, Sawtooth Ridge, Emerald Lake, Morris Meadows - Northern California Hiking Trails<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"My kick-ass 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