A high country of granite, water, and quiet
The Mokelumne Wilderness covers more than 105,000 acres along the Sierra Nevada crest, straddling the Eldorado, Stanislaus, and Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forests. Carson Pass forms its principal gateway from the east.
From the Mokelumne to the Carson
The land tilts west from the Sierra crest, sending water down the Mokelumne and the Carson rivers. Granite peaks above ten thousand feet give way to glacial basins, then to red fir and lodgepole pine, then to manzanita and oak as elevation drops toward the foothills.
Alpine Lakes
Round Top, Winnemucca, Fourth of July — small glacial lakes scattered through cirques near the crest, most reached on day-hikes from Carson Pass.
Sierra Flora
From wet meadows in early summer to alpine cushion plants above timberline. Carson Pass holds one of the richest displays of summer wildflowers in the Sierra.
Trail Network
Roughly 200 miles of maintained trail, including a stretch of the Pacific Crest Trail. Most loops are between four and twelve miles; the high country is open from late June through October.
Current Trail Conditions
Principal trailheads
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Carson Pass — Highway 88 summit; the busiest gateway, with permits and parking.
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Woods Lake — popular start for Round Top and Winnemucca Lake loops.
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Blue Lakes — quieter southern access into the Mokelumne high country.
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Salt Springs — west-side approach following the Mokelumne River.
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Mosquito Lake — Highway 4 access from the Stanislaus side.