A short off trail section brings you to marble mountain s 6 880 foot summit and exquisite views south from 1 000 foot cliffs to the trinity alps and north to the dark hulk of black mountain.
Marble mountain backpacking loop.
We chose the marble mountain wilderness because it s roughly halfway between reno tahoe and portland oregon a 5 or 6 hour drive for everyone.
While her boyfriend dave sets up camp jen bounces around their campsite alongside lower sky high lake admiring the high overhanging cliffs glowing orange in the late afternoon light.
We took the sky high lakes trail hooked up.
This trail passes beneath the essence of the wilderness area marble mountain itself.
The marble mountain wilderness has been recognized for its wild values for generations.
Jen is a bubbly 27 year old australian girl backpacking for the first time in the marble mountain wilderness.
The ridge underneath black marble mountain is completely snowed over with dangerous crossings through cliffs and avalanche terrain.
Mountain tops wildflower laden meadows and an impressive 89 lakes are found in the marble mountains wilderness in northern california.
The marbles are definitely a wilderness area worth checking.
Best backpacking trails in marble mountain wilderness.
This is a great choice for a two or three day backpacking trip a loop through little marble valley through sky high lakes with a stop at shadow lake or day hikes to the ridges above the valley can be accomplished in three days with minimal effort.
Along the route described above you ll encounter metamorphic rock ultramafic serpentine and outcroppings of light colored limestone and black metamorphic rock together in a marbled pattern.
A side trip to the marble rim is worth the effort.
Photo of cliff lake copyrighted used by permission of deems burton.
It s a 65 mile loop that hits some spectacular areas of the marbles.
This area was originally designated as a primitive area in 1931 and is one of the original wilderness areas designated by the 1964 wilderness act.
The geology of the marble mountain wilderness is similarly striking so much so that it was named for its rocks and for the lustrous summit of marble mountain itself.
104 reviews directions.
Then did the summit lake and cliff lake loop the second day.
Wilderness permits are not required for trips into the marble mountain wilderness.
The pct crosses the wilderness and boulder peak the tallest in the park rises to an impressive 8299 feet.
A california campfire permit is required and are available at any.
The loop however heads south for another half mile towards another junction.
Turning left the trail climbs over the loop s high point 6 425 ft and then descends into the beautiful basin of the sky high lakes where ample camping can be found along the shores of and in the forests surrounding frying pan upper and lower sky high lakes.
This group met up for a three day backpacking trip on labor day weekend.
I ve decided to share a recent trip in the marble mtn wilderness.
