Marble Mountain Backpacking Loop

Wilderness permits are not required for trips into the marble mountain wilderness.

Marble mountain backpacking loop.

Backtrack to the pct and hike south 1 4 miles to the shadow lake trail and the hike s most spectacular campsite perched at cliff s edge hundreds of feet above sky high lakes basin. Jen is a bubbly 27 year old australian girl backpacking for the first time in the marble mountain wilderness. A side trip to the marble rim is worth the effort. The ridge underneath black marble mountain is completely snowed over with dangerous crossings through cliffs and avalanche terrain.

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. 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. 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.

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. It s a 65 mile loop that hits some spectacular areas of the marbles. I ve decided to share a recent trip in the marble mtn wilderness. 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.

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. The loop however heads south for another half mile towards another junction. Mountain tops wildflower laden meadows and an impressive 89 lakes are found in the marble mountains wilderness in northern california. Lots of wildflowers and beautiful meadows.

A california campfire permit is required and are available at any. 104 reviews directions. Photo of cliff lake copyrighted used by permission of deems burton. The marble mountain wilderness is located in the klamath national forest in northern california.

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. The marbles are definitely a wilderness area worth checking. Then did the summit lake and cliff lake loop the second day. This trail passes beneath the essence of the wilderness area marble mountain itself.

We took the sky high lakes trail hooked up. Best backpacking trails in marble mountain wilderness.