Marble Mountain Backpacking Loop

This trail passes beneath the essence of the wilderness area marble mountain itself.

Marble mountain backpacking loop.

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. The marble mountain wilderness has been recognized for its wild values for generations. A side trip to the marble rim is worth the effort. 104 reviews directions.

Best backpacking trails in marble mountain wilderness. The marble mountain wilderness is located in the klamath national forest in northern california. Wilderness permits are not required for trips into the marble mountain wilderness. I ve decided to share a recent trip in the marble mtn wilderness.

A california campfire permit is required and are available at any. It s a 65 mile loop that hits some spectacular areas of the marbles. Mountain tops wildflower laden meadows and an impressive 89 lakes are found in the marble mountains wilderness in northern california. 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. This group met up for a three day backpacking trip on labor day weekend. 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. 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.

Then did the summit lake and cliff lake loop the second day. 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. We took the sky high lakes trail hooked up. 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.

The ridge underneath black marble mountain is completely snowed over with dangerous crossings through cliffs and avalanche terrain. The marbles are definitely a wilderness area worth checking. 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. Lots of wildflowers and beautiful meadows.

The loop however heads south for another half mile towards another junction. 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.