Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Tarns, a chain of small glacially carved lakelets. Traverse high above Spearhead
Lake, and cross above Ruwau Lake's outlet on a stepping-stone path. Ignore the side
trail to Ruwau Lake and continue to the southern end of Long Lake, nestled beneath
Chocolate Peak, where high-altitude campsites may be found (10,753 feet). Enjoy
spectacular views southward to Mount Goode. It is a mere 2 miles to the trailhead
from here.
Ignore the side trails to Bull and Chocolate lakes and continue zigzagging down
the rocky trail toward the timberline. Ignore the trail to Mary Louise Lakes on your
right, and shortly thereafter, traverse a lovely meadow crossing the lake's outlet on a
small footbridge. Just past this junction, the Treasure Lakes Trail joins from the left
to continue its northern journey through lodgepole pines and fir trees. Admire north-
eastern views of towering Hurd Peak. Ascend briefly and then continue downhill,
exiting the wilderness on two small footbridges above the east side of South Lake
(9,768 feet).
P
ERMIT INFORMATION:
Permits that originate in the Sierra National Forest can be
reserved by mail only. Applications can be mailed to High Sierra Ranger District,
Attn: Wilderness Permits, P.O. Box 559, Prather, CA 93651. You can call (559)
855-5360 for questions, but you cannot reserve a permit over the phone. Year-round
office hours are 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. daily. You may download a wilderness-permit
application at
www.fs.fed.us/r5/sierra/passes/getwildpermit.shtml
.
Or you may
include the following in your written request: name; address; daytime phone num-
ber; number of people in the party; method of travel (foot); number of stock (if ap-
plicable); start and end dates; proposed camping areas for each night; entry and
exit trailheads (Lake Edison entry, Florence Lake exit); principal destination; money
order or check (made out to the U.S. Forest Service) for a nonrefundable $5-per-
person processing fee. No credit cards are accepted
.
You can pick up your permit at the High Sierra Ranger District, en route to
Edison and Florence lakes. The station can be found on Kaiser Pass Road (Forest
Service Road 80), off CA 168 coming from Prather.
About 60 percent of permits are reservable, the remainder are set aside for
walk-in permits. You can get a walk-in permit at the High Sierra Ranger District as
well.
