Considering Robinson Creek trail to PCT to Virginia Lakes first week of Aug

[Keith Fultz]

My 19 year old grandson would like to hike with me this summer and only week he has available is the first week of August.      I was wondering about hiking out of Twin Lakes on the Robinson Creek trail to the PCT and out to Virginia Lakes.   Does any one have experience on this trail regarding, what creek crossings might be like,  fishing spots and great camp sites.    Thanks

[Bruce Tolley]

Keith:

It will be awesome!

I was day hiking out and back from Barney Lake last week.  The Forest Service is clearing the trail of downed trees.  The streams are running very high, but passable, and there is at least one place where there is a large avalanche debris field to go over or around.  It should all be back to normal by August.

I have seen folks fishing all up and down the Robinson Creek drainage.  There was another thread where two folks mentioned trips forthcoming in July out of Bridgeport.

The road to the Lundy Canyon TH is closed and reported by USFS as washed out.  The road to the Green Creek TH is flooded but I did see an OHV make it across the flood.  I was told by the Ranger that the road to the Buckeye TH suffered a lot of damage from folks driving on it when it was closed due to snow (probably to reach the hot springs) but I did not try to get to that TH.

The Rangers in the Bridgeport Ranger station are usually very helpful with offering information.

Be sure to stop for pizza at Rhinos, ice cream at Jolly Kone, and beer at Big Meadow Brewing Company, all in Bridgeport.

[jscott]

There’s also the Benson lake loop out of twin lakes near Bridgeport. I can’t recall any troublesome river crossings there. Mule and Burrow will probably have some compact snow but those passes are not steep. Or, you could stay lower and hike any number of options from Crown lake orfrom Peeler lake head down or up Kerrick meadows. Or, off trail an easy divide west of Peeler and wander down the next drainage, that’s also meadow like Kerrick.

https://backpackers-review.com/trip-reports/benson-lake-yosemite/

[Keith Fultz]

Thanks, that is encouraging.    Since you seem to know the area, I was also considering a much shorter trip from Virginia Lakes to Summit Lake to Gilman Lake, to East lake and West Lake and out Green Creek road.     What are you thoughts about creek crossings, fishing and roads to Trailheads.

 

Thanks

 

[Keith Fultz]

Heading on trail August 2.

I am trying to decide whether to go to Peeler Lake or to cut over to Robinson and Crown Lakes.   Does anyone have any thoughts regarding campsites and fishing potential.

 

Does any one have recent knowledge of any difficulties with roads or creek crossings in that area of Robinson Lakes, Benson Lake, Smedberg Lake, Summit Lake, Virginia Lakes?   thanks

 

[jscott]

I think Crown Lake is the more beautiful and less crowded of the two. If you cross over the (very small) creek right before hitting the obvious crown Lake campsite, you’ll find the easiest way into several more secluded campsites with far better views on the east side of the lake.

Peeler is best if you intend to follow Kerrick Meadows to Benson: an easy second day. From Crown lake, you enter the highest section of the whole trip, and perhaps the most spectacular. I love that day’s hiking over Mule and Burrow pass. every step brings more beauty into view.

Rodgers Lakes, near Smedberg, are better than this last in every way. Although Smedberg is wonderful too! Rodgers Lakes take a bit more hiking in if you come up from the east, but are well worth it. They’re earlier, closer, to Benson if you’re coming up from there. Also, the only good campsites are at the second, furthest of Rodgers lakes. But I’ve never seen another person there in the the three different years that I’ve come through. Plus, Smedberg campsites are rocky and sun exposed; Rodgers is shaded and flat and soft, with great views and excellent fishing. It’s another 45 minutes of hiking or so  from Smedberg, but at the end of a long day, that can seem like too much, as you know.

 

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