Free permits, no quota, 113,000 acres just north of Yosemite. While everyone else fights the lottery, you're already on trail.
The Sierra's best-kept permit secret. While everyone battles for Yosemite and Inyo quotas, Emigrant Wilderness hands out free permits with no reservations required. Just north of Yosemite, 113,000 acres of granite and cobalt lakes. On weekdays, you might not see another soul. The Crabtree loop visits 10+ named lakes, and the northern section around Buck Lakes and Emigrant Lake is genuinely stunning.
Start: Crabtree Trailhead (near Pinecrest)
End: Crabtree Trailhead
Water: Camp Lake (~2.5mi), Bear Lake (spur), Lily Lake, Piute Lake
From Crabtree Trailhead, the loop heads east counter-clockwise through open pine forest and across rolling granite terrain. Camp Lake arrives around mile 2.5 and makes an easy first rest stop with good water. Just past the Camp Lake junction, a 2-mile round trip spur to Bear Lake is worth the detour: the lake sits in a wide granite bowl and is the most dramatic scenery on this early stretch. Lily Lake follows before the trail climbs to Piute Lake, your camp for the night at mile 8 base (or mile 10 with the spur). Campsites are dispersed along the shore. Carry at least two liters out of camp: the sections between lakes can stretch 3 to 4 miles without reliable water.
Water: Piute Lake (start), Gem Lake, Grouse Lake
The trail continues east from Piute Lake before bending south around Gem Lake, the visual highlight of the loop. Gem sits in open granite with wide views and far fewer people than the Day 1 lakes. After Gem, the trail turns west and descends gradually toward Grouse Lake, completing the upper arc. Camp on the south shore of Grouse Lake for protected sites in the trees. Note: Upper Buck Lake and Emigrant Lake lie further east and are not reachable on this 20-mile loop. They deserve their own longer route and are well worth a return trip.
Water: Grouse Lake (carry out); limited on final descent
Head west from Grouse Lake back to the trailhead on the southern return leg. The trail is mostly downhill but rolls across exposed granite sections that heat up fast; an early start helps. Carry water out of Grouse Lake since reliable sources are limited on the descent. Horse traffic is common on this section.
Huckleberry Lake (larger loop extension, excellent fishing); Y Meadow Lake and Chewing Gum Lake (extend to 4-5 days); Granite Lake (off-trail from Bear Lake, more solitude); Letora Lake (remote, rarely visited)
Crabtree Road to trailhead is rough gravel - high clearance helpful but not required. No cell service in wilderness or on access road. Horse traffic on main trails. Campfires allowed below 9,000ft (check current fire restrictions). No bear canister requirement but recommended - hang food or use canister. Summit Ranger Station on Hwy 108 in Pinecrest for permits (self-serve if office closed). Hwy 108 closes in winter. Nearest town is Pinecrest/Strawberry on Hwy 108.
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