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An excellent scenic, challenging, and rewarding trail with meadows, forests, open areas, and beautiful lakes at the top!


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Map Key

7.7

Miles

12.4

KM

Point to Point

10,160' 3,097 m

High

6,758' 2,060 m

Low

3,647' 1,112 m

Up

245' 75 m

Down

10%

Avg Grade (5°)

37%

Max Grade (20°)

Dogs No Dogs

Features Birding · Commonly Backpacked · Lake · River/Creek · Spring · Swimming · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

With abundant wildlife, keep proper food storage in mind if you're spending the night.

Description

This is an excellent, moderately strenuous trail, packed with abundant beauty and scenery! You can start at the designated trailhead, or at one behind the Wuksachi Lodge and join up with the Twin Lakes Trail about 1.5 miles in.

Continue your way through the super scenic Cahoon Meadow about 3.1 miles up, which makes for a nice first night's campsite if you've gotten a late start. There is abundant wildlife due to plenty of water in and near the meadow.

Resuming the trail, you'll start to climb - at some places strenuously - until you reach the Twin Lakes area after another 4-4.5 miles, crossing streams and tackling switchbacks along the way. What a reward! Amazing scenery, well-spaced out campsites, an out-of-the-way pit toilet (enjoy the view!) and bear boxes are all present as needed. This is a truly amazing and unforgettable place!

Take care if you go alone. You may not see anyone else for the entirety of your hike so be prepared.

Flora & Fauna

Dense forest areas can be found throughout, but there are wide-open and sunny areas as well. Plentiful wildflowers, greenery, and of course tons of different types of trees can all be observed. Cahoon Meadow was FULL of deer overnight. Our group saw a black bear on far side of meadow, as well as just off the main trail.

Contacts

Shared By:

Brian Strack

Trail Ratings

  4.3 from 12 votes

#4

in Lodgepole

#7004

Overall
  4.3 from 12 votes
5 Star
33%
4 Star
67%
3 Star
0%
2 Star
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1 Star
0%
Trail Rankings

#4

in Lodgepole

#531

in California

#7,004

Overall
28 Views Last Month
5,675 Since Jul 5, 2016
Difficult Difficult

0%
0%
8%
8%
83%
0%

Photos

Twin Lakes
Nov 3, 2019 near Three R…, CA
The lake is still just as the sun climbs over the mountain in the background.
Mar 21, 2017 near Three R…, CA
Ascent on Twin Lakes Trail
Nov 3, 2019 near Three R…, CA
Nice campsites abound near Twin Lakes.
Mar 21, 2017 near Three R…, CA
Cahoon Meadow looks mighty fine from high on the Twin Lakes Trail.
Mar 21, 2017 near Three R…, CA
Dense forest at the beginning of the trail right past the meadow.
Jun 15, 2016 near Three R…, CA

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Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Dec 29, 2023
Punna Lim
entered from Wusachi trail and hiked to Lodgepole
Sep 14, 2023
Starr Leary
Aug 26, 2023
Marc Corona
May 1, 2021
Sam Reid
First 4 miles are relatively clear of snow, tolerable to Twin Lakes. Trail for the ascent to Sillman Pass was difficult to follow from snow coverage 16.5mi — 7h 00m
Aug 13, 2020
Henry Goldstone
Start early to beat summer heat. Big Lake is great for a quick swim. — 6h 45m
Aug 31, 2019
Sadullah Karimi
14mi
Nov 24, 2018
Tilman Giese
Oct 11, 2018
Dustin Kunze
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