Table of contents

Trinity Alps Wilderness Backpacking Guide

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backpacker in the trinity alps high in the mountains with two glacial lakes in between the mountains
The Trinity Alps Wilderness is the largest wilderness area in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. – photo credit: dave collins (cleverhiker.com)

The Trinity Alps Wilderness, nestled between the Coastal Range and the Cascades, is located 50 miles west of Redding in Northwest California. This region is somewhat off the radar, as most choose to visit the famed southern neighbors in the Yosemite-Sequoia corridor. We’ve hiked both, and with a fraction of the visitors, the Trinity Alps offers equally stunning scenery. There are more than 600 miles of trails and over 525,000 acres of wilderness in the Alps, offering plenty of breathtaking opportunities for solitude. You can expect massive granite peaks, beautiful wildflower meadows, and tucked-away glacial lakes. The hiking can be intense, and your legs will feel the burn, but it will all be worth it to explore one of California’s lesser-known gems.

Quick Facts

  • Distance: varies, 20-50 miles depending on trip
  • Days Needed: 2-5 days
  • Elevation Gain/Loss: varies, 4,000-12,000 feet depending on the trip
  • Best Time to Travel: July-September
  • Permits: Yes, pick up permits from the self-service kiosk at the ranger station
  • Difficulty: Moderate-Very Strenuous, depending on your itinerary
backpacker in the trinity alps with hazy mountains in the background
The lesser-known Trinity Alps is the second-largest wilderness area in California. The 1984 California Wilderness Act nearly doubled its size. – photo credit: dave collins (cleverhiker.com)

Highlights

  • High alpine mountain scenery and lakes
  • Craggy granite peaks
  • Chilly but refreshing swimming
  • Beautiful wildflowers
  • Ample water sources
  • Ecosystem and wildlife diversity
  • Easy permit process
  • Good campsite opportunities

Lowlights

  • Seasonal bugs and snow (mosquitoes & ticks)
  • Busy on summer weekends
  • Hot summer temperatures
  • Steep ascents and descents (depending on itinerary)
  • Overgrown connecting trails
  • Can get hazy/smokey during fire season
  • Rattlesnakes and poison oak are present
campsite at the rock slab edge of a glacial lake in a basin in the trinity alps
Backpacking the Trinity Alps will bring up to 9000 ft glacial lakes. – photo credit: dave collins (cleverhiker.com)

Best Time to Travel

In general, July through September is the best time to backpack in the Trinity Alps. Snowpack is a key factor for trip planning in this area. Sometimes, heavy winter snowpack and early-season storms keep trails covered into July. On warmer years with light snowpack, June backcountry trips may be feasible. The same is true for autumn hiking in the Trinity Alps; early snowstorms can make this area inaccessible, and in other seasons, it’s accessible into October. It’s always a good idea to contact a local ranger station (Weaverville Ranger Station – 530-623-2121) to ask about snow levels, accessibility, and current conditions.

July and early August are usually great for wildflowers, but that’s also when mosquitoes are at their peak. For full protection, use a combination of permethrin on your clothing and a small amount of 30% DEET on exposed skin. Mid-August through September can also be a good time to visit this area because there will be fewer crowds and bugs.

Always pay close attention to the weather forecasts (we like NOAA’s point forecasts) and the National Interagency Fire Center for wildfire activity in the surrounding areas before your trip, and be prepared for changing conditions. Some areas might be closed for wildfire activity, plus smokey backpacking trips are hard on your lungs, and it’s a real bummer to have limited visibility of the panoramic views you worked hard to see.

backpacker perched on a rock overlooking the trinity alps in california
We were lucky to have great visibility on our visit to the Trinity Alps. – photo credit: dave collins (cleverhiker.com)

Difficulty

  • Total Distance: varies, 20-50 miles
  • Total Elevation Gain: varies, 4-12k (steep climbs and descents)
  • Overall Difficulty: Moderate to Very Strenuous

As always, difficulty ratings depend on your experience, physical fitness, pack weight, & weather conditions. There are many different trails to choose from in the Trinity Alps, but if you’re planning a multi-day trip into the high country, there’s no doubt you’ll encounter some strenuous ascents and descents along your route. For example, the climb from the Long Canyon Trailhead up to Summit Lake involves around 4,000 feet of elevation gain in the first 5 miles, which is no joke.

Don’t expect to come off the couch and enjoy hiking the Trinity Alps. We highly recommend training before your trek. Put a weighted backpack on and do some day hikes. Get your body ready; daily air squats and lunges will help build leg strength before your trek. Know your limitations, brush up on your skills with CleverHiker’s video tutorials, and dial in your lightweight gear. Doing so will make for a safe and enjoyable adventure.

camper in the trinity alps drinking coffee in the morning overlooking an alpine lake and its surrounding mountains
The Trinity Alps Wilderness is marked by rugged granite peaks and dotted with alpine lakes. Makes for a memorable morning coffee. – photo credit: dave collins (cleverhiker.com)

Permits

Wilderness permits are required for overnight trips in the Trinity Alps Wilderness. Campfire permits are required for the operation of backpacking stoves as well. Both of these permits are issued at no cost to the visitor and can be picked up at ranger station kiosks before your trek. For more info check out the USDA Forest Service website. There can be fire restrictions and associated road closures in place in the summer, so be sure to look at the Shasta-Trinity Alp Forest Service page for information on this.

backpacker in an open meadow in the trinity alps
Creek drainages will bring you down to 2000 ft in the Trinity Alps. – photo credit: dave collins (cleverhiker.com)

Solitude

Many of the trails throughout the Trinity Alps offer moderate solitude, depending on the time of year you’re hiking. You won’t be alone in the most popular areas, and summer weekends can be busy, but there are usually lots of camping opportunities as well. You’ll probably have neighbors in the Trinity Alps, but you can also find solitude if you get off popular trails.

columbian lily in a meadow in the trinity alps
Freckled Columbia Lilies are one of the many wildflowers that you might pass while backpacking in the Trinity Alps. They love growing in avalanche slide paths. – photo credit: dave collins (cleverhiker.com)

Getting There

The Trinity Alps Wilderness lies about 50 miles west of Redding, California. If you’re coming from the north, it may make sense to head west on Highway 3 through Yreka if you’re accessing the north portion of the Alps. If approaching from the south, you’ll most likely be heading west on Highway 299 toward Weaverville. Once your itinerary is set, get specific directions to your trailhead (links provided in the itinerary section below) and ensure you have an appropriate vehicle for road conditions.

sunset over the trinity alps with an alpine lake reflecting the trees
Unlike some backpacking areas where you want to arrive early for a choice camp spot, we had abundant and beautiful options. – photo credit: dave collins (cleverhiker.com)

Possible Trips & Trailheads

With a paved road encircling the Trinity Alps Wilderness, there are over 50 trailheads that wind their way into the interior of the Alps. Make sure your vehicle is moderately burly (a crossover SUV should do just fine), as some of the dirt roads to the trailheads can be rocky and rutted out. Below are some of our suggested multi-day backpacking trips in the Trinity Alps.

High Trinity Alps Traverse

  • Beginning Trailhead: Big Flat
  • Ending Trailhead: Long Canyon (two-car shuttle required)
  • Miles: about 37
  • Days Needed: 3-6

Quick Summary: Although we generally prefer loop hikes, this comprehensive trip takes you through some of the very best the Trinity Alps has to offer, including the Caribou Basin, Emerald & Sapphire Lakes, and most of the Four Lakes Loop. There are also some spectacular side trips to consider along the way. You’ll need to bring two cars or arrange a shuttle to complete this hike.

Caribou Lakes Basin

  • Trailhead: Big Flat
  • Miles: 20-25 miles
  • Days Needed: 2-4

Quick Summary: If you want to enjoy some of the best parts of the High Trinity Alps, but don’t have the time or don’t want to deal with a car shuttle, this out-and-back trip may be a good fit. Start off with an ascent from Big Flat trailhead to the Caribou Lakes Basin, which is a stunning place to wander among alpine lakes. You can climb to the top of Caribou Mountain and scramble to the top of Sawtooth Ridge for epic views over the Trinity Alps. Those with extra time and energy can make the steep descent down Sawtooth Ridge to visit Emerald and Sapphire Lakes.

Four Lakes Loop

Quick Summary: The beautiful Four Lakes Loop is 5.2 miles, but you’ll have to hike out and back to get to the loop. The two most popular trailheads for this hike are Long Canyon and Stony Ridge. The Long Canyon trailhead provides the shortest route to the loop (6 miles one way) but requires a steep climb (about 4,000 feet). The Stoney Ridge route has an easier climb (about 3,000 feet) and is a bit more scenic, but the hike in is longer (8.2 miles one way). Either entrance you choose, the Four Lakes Loop will bring you around beautiful granite peaks and stunning alpine lakes, with the opportunity to scramble to the top of Siligo Peak, a worthy side trip.

Stuart Fork to Emerald and Sapphire Lakes

  • Trailhead: Stuart Fork (aka Bridge Camp)
  • Miles: 30, out-and-back trail
  • Days Needed: 2-4

Quick Summary: This route has a more gradual ascent than most trails in the Trinity Alps, making it a popular choice. You’ll wander alongside the Stuart Fork River as you gradually climb through beautiful meadows and ascend into a world of granite peaks and alpine lakes. Head out in late spring and early summer for a spectacular wildflower show.

backpacker in the trinity alps walking toward a craggy granite ridge on a sunny day
granite crags and California sunshine in the Trinity Alps. – photo credit: dave collins (cleverhiker.com)

Maps & Guidebooks

  • Hiking California’s Trinity Alps Wilderness – A comprehensive guidebook for a bunch of excellent hikes in the Trinity Alps.
  • Best Backpacking Trips in California and Nevada – A great book for stunning backpacking trips around CA and NV. The High Trinity Alps Traverse is covered in this book with detailed and useful information.
  • We use Caltopo to research, plan trips, and print maps for the Trinity Alps. It takes a little time to learn the tool, but Caltop is an excellent resource for backpackers.
  • We use Gaia GPS for navigation in the Trinity Alps. We always bring printed topo maps and a good compass, but Gaia is a great tool in the field.
  • Basic USDA Forest Service Information – Trinity Alps Wilderness
backpacker in the trinity alps along a scree field leading to an alpine lake
Cascading water and alpine lakes find their place in the granite Mountains of the Trinity Alps. – photo credit: dave collins (cleverhiker.com)

Water

Water is plentiful in the Trinity Alps and is easily accessible from streams and lakes. Carry enough water to get from one source to the next and a lightweight water purifier. The water is clear enough throughout the Alps that we prefer the SteriPEN Ultra as our water purification method. However, depending on trip locations and water sources, we also like the Sawyer Squeeze and Aquamira Drops as other great purification methods.

alpine lake in the snow spotted trinity alps
Snowmelt makes for very chilly lunch swims. – photo credit: dave collins (cleverhiker.com)

Navigation

The main trails in popular areas are well-defined and easy to follow in the Trinity Alps. However, this isn’t an area where you should expect all side trails to be well-marked and maintained. Some old trails are faint, and signage may be hard to follow or non-existent (Gaia GPS will help with less popular routes or off-trail routes). Connecting trails can be overgrown and brushy in places along the Alps. As always when backpacking, make sure to carry a physical map, a good compass, and know how to use them.

trinity alps mountains and alpine lake
Snow can linger well into the summer months in the Trinity Alps. – photo credit: dave collins (cleverhiker.com)

Bears & Food Storage

There are technically no specific food storage requirements for the Trinity Alps. However, bears are common in this area, and we highly recommend taking food storage seriously. Mice and chipmunks are also a common annoyance, and they’ll chew through expensive gear to get into your food supply if it isn’t stored properly.

For trips in the Trinity Alps, we recommend using an Ursack for food storage. Bear canisters are also a good choice as a foolproof food storage method, but they’re a bit heavier and bulkier than Ursacks.

backpacker looking out on a view of the trinity alps in california
The vertical relief of the Trinity Alps is remarkable. – photo credit: dave collins (cleverhiker.com)

Bugs

Mosquitoes are seasonally present in the Trinity Alps, so they might not be too bad depending on what time of year you travel. That said, we always prepare for bugs because they can quickly ruin an otherwise glorious hike. Use a combination of permethrin on your clothing and a small amount of DEET on exposed skin for full protection.

backpacker in his camp site in the trinity alps wilderness
Lightweight gear was essential to make trekking in this area easier on the knees. – photo credit: dave collins (cleverhiker.com)

Gear List

Check out some of our current favorite gear below. If you want to see additional options, our curated gear guides are the result of extensive research and hands-on testing from our team of outdoor experts.

BACKPACK

TENT

SLEEPING PAD

CAMP KITCHEN

WATER & FILTRATION

FOOTWEAR & TRACTION

NAVIGATION

FIRST-AID & TOOLS

MISCELLANEOUS