White marble formations, high lakes, and trails so empty you'll go a full day without seeing another person. NorCal wilderness that almost nobody has heard of and almost nobody visits.
Deep NorCal wilderness that almost nobody visits. The Marble Mountains are named for the white marble that caps their ridges. A surreal sight in California. This trail climbs to the Sky High Lakes basin, with a fork partway up that lets you swing through Marble Valley and its bizarre white marble formations on the way. Some of the most remote and empty trails in the state. If your main complaint about the Sierra is other people, this is your answer.
Start: Lover's Camp Trailhead
End: Lover's Camp Trailhead
Water: Canyon Creek (first 3.9mi), Sky High Lakes at camp
Climb along Canyon Creek through conifer forest for about 3.9 miles to a fork (an early spur toward Red Rock Valley branches off near the start, skip it). Take the left fork, the more direct route to the Sky High Lakes basin, about 2 more miles and 600 feet up. Marble staircases and a couple of switchbacks lead into the basin. Camp at Frying Pan, Upper, or Lower Sky High Lake.
Water: Sky High Lakes at camp, Canyon Creek on the descent
Before heading out, consider the short side trip to Shadow Lake, about 4 miles round trip from camp, the highest of the lakes here, tucked into a rocky rim. Retrace your steps back down through Canyon Creek to the trailhead.
At the mile-3.9 fork, taking the right instead of the direct left adds a loop through Marble Valley: a meadow at the base of Marble Rim with an old Forest Service station, a Pacific Crest Trail junction, and a four-way junction with a short spur (<1mi one-way) up a nearby peak for views of the Rim and Black Marble Mountain. This variant is longer and gains more elevation than the direct route reflected in this route's stats. Shadow Lake, the highest lake in the basin, is about 4 miles round trip from Sky High Lakes camp, more exposed but the best of the bunch. The Marble Mountains also hold an undeveloped cave network; only experienced spelunkers should search them out, and check with the Forest Service first.
Remote trailhead: arrive with a full tank of gas and a spare tire, cell service is nonexistent. Nearest towns are Fort Jones or Etna. No potable water at the trailhead, and the hiker-lot vault toilet is sometimes locked pending pumping (the stock-lot toilet stays open). Snow can linger on the higher sections into June. Bears are present: hang your food even though canisters are not required. A current Forest Order bans open campfires in this wilderness even with a valid CA Campfire Permit, pressurized stoves only, kept 5+ feet from flammables, and caps group size at 15. Fire danger runs high in late summer, check current restrictions with Klamath National Forest before you go.
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