Where to?

Favorite areas in Lassen, Trinity Alps, Siskiyou? Weekend type trips of less than 40 miles. Thanks.

Lots of small lakes, good seclusion if you go offtrail, easy access, fairly low usage (no permit required other than fire), close enough.

Of course you know the Trinities, Russian Wilderness to the north. Yolla Bolly/Middle Eel Wilderness….

I assume you are already quite aware of…
Grizzly, Caribou, and Four Lakes Loop. I know you have been in Canyon Creek and up Stuart Fork.

Rush Creek Lakes is very nice. I have been there twice on summer weekends and seen no one else. To make a decently long hike of it, use the East Weaver Creek Trail.

Swift Creek is full of horse packers, but I really like the scenery from Mumford Meadow up to Horseshoe Lake at the right time of year.

North of Stoddard Lake, is a flat area covered by meadows, brooks and dense stands of conifers. I want to go back on the short trail in to Stoddard Cabin, and make a loop up to Doe and Granite Lake. Loop hike choices without crossing major drainages, yay!

If the idea of climbing over 4000 feet in the first four miles does not intimidate you, take the Granite Peak Trail ( Stony Ridge Trail is really messed up from logging ). You can be on a 8000 foot peak after walking just 4 miles. The rest of the hike stays at altitude. Perched beside me atop Stonewall Pass during a torrential thunder storm, an experienced hiker gasped that it was the "most beautiful view" he had ever witnessed. Deer Creek pass and the connect to Four Lakes Loop is nine miles in. From Deer Creek Pass, take the loop, or bypass Diamond and Luella Lakes and head up to Mumford Basin via Blacks Basin. Granite Peak trail head to the top of Mumford Basin is about 14 miles with 7900 feet of elevation gain and 4400 elevation loss.

Edit: Parts of this out and back trip have excellent chances of solitude.

Eric, you are the second person to recommend that route to me. I'll have to do it now. Thanks Chris, good ideas there too.

Eric – I like small stream fishing, and the Trinities.

Hint, hint.