This is significantly deeper than other similarly sized lakes in the area. The lakes are not large by Trinity Alps standards but the upper lake’s depth of 34 feet is impressive. Tucked away in a high, hidden cirque at the foot of a triple divide peak, the lakes are at once remote yet quickly accessible from the trailhead. These facilities make the Carter Meadow area a convenient, albeit extremely scenic place to enjoy some solitude and great hiking.Ĭonstituting the headwaters of the South Fork of the Scott River, the South Fork Lakes, though small, are fantastically scenic. There is also a horse oriented campground with a corral a short walk away from the Carter Meadow campground. If making the drive from Mount Shasta (or elsewhere!) and back in the same day is unappealing, then it is possible to do all three trails in a single weekend with easy, scenic camping right by the trailhead. In between the two trailheads is the Carter Meadows campground. Though longer than the other two trails combined, the Gulch Lakes Loop is not difficult and makes for a great full day of hiking. Located just a very short drive away, the Gulch Lakes Loop is one of the best hikes in the Trinity Alps, complete with two excellent lakes and canyons with some beautiful meadows and great long-distance views sprinkled in for good measure. In contrast, though Hidden Lake is impressive, it has an open, homey and accessible feel to it, though it is still quite scenic as well. Rocky and vertical, the secluded basin is spectacular. The former is a pair of small but fantastic lakes in a hidden lake basin. The first two trails, the South Fork Lakes Trail and the Hidden Lake Trail depart from a single trailhead and are both fairly short hikes. Though all three trails lead to lakes, it is surprising how different they are. The great exception to this is the Carter Meadows area, which is the beginning to three great hikes. Consequently, most of the trailheads only provide access to one area. The trails here typically run parallel to creeks as they climb up to lakes that lie at the head of their drainage. While not as grand as the high, alpine region that lies at the granite heart of the Trinity Alps, this section of the Scott Mountains is loaded with fantastic scenery. This mountain range actually begins by Mount Shasta and extends westward, the western section falling into the large wilderness area that encompasses the Trinity Alps. Most of the trails in the area climb up drainages in the Scott Mountains, which forms the northeast breastwork of the Trinity Alps Wilderness. It is an easy, scenic drive over to Callahan and then just a few minutes from the small town to the numerous trailheads in the area. With trailheads just a little over an hour from Mount Shasta City, this area is still well within a reasonable orbit for dayhikes from town. The northeast corner of the Trinity Alps is often overlooked when it comes to hikes in the Mount Shasta area.
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