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.
Start: Crabtree Trailhead (near Pinecrest)
End: Crabtree Trailhead
Water: Camp Lake, Bear Lake (spur), Lily Lake
From the Crabtree Trailhead, head toward Camp Lake, about 2.5 miles in with a short spur to Bear Lake if you want to check it out. Continue past Camp Lake into more open granite terrain, climbing gradually to Lily Lake for your first camp. The trail is well-blazed and mostly dirt, with a few rocky, slab-lined sections that heat up fast, so bring sun protection even in the trees.
Water: Piute Lake, Gem Lake, Grouse Lake
The longest day of the loop. From Lily Lake, continue through open granite past Piute Lake and Gem Lake before descending to Grouse Lake, your camp for the night. Water is plentiful the entire way, though some of the lakes run swampy, so plan to wade out a bit to fill up clean. Horse traffic is common on this stretch, watch your footing around manure.
Water: Grouse Lake (carry out), limited reliable water on the descent
A short, mostly downhill finish back to the Crabtree Trailhead, with a few exposed granite sections before the trail ducks back into the trees. Watch for horse traffic on the final stretch.
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)
This loop has campsites at nearly every lake along the way, so the 3-day plan above is just one option. For a shorter first day, camp at Camp Lake (~2.5mi) or take the short spur to Bear Lake instead of pushing to Lily Lake. For a shorter second day, stop at Piute Lake instead of continuing to Grouse Lake. With this many lakes to choose from, the loop extends easily to 4 days: Camp or Bear Lake night one, Piute Lake night two, Grouse Lake night three, then out to the trailhead on day four. Crabtree Road to the trailhead is rough gravel, high clearance helpful but not required. No cell service in the wilderness or on the access road. Horse traffic is common on the main trails. Campfires allowed below 9,000ft (check current restrictions). No bear canister requirement but recommended, hang food or carry a canister. Self-serve permits available at the Summit Ranger Station on Hwy 108 in Pinecrest. Hwy 108 closes in winter.
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