24. Smith Lake to Wades Lake

Length:	13.8 miles round trip
Hiking time:	2 days
High point:	6,600 feet
Total elevation gain:	1,600 feet
Difficulty:	moderate
Season:	mid-June through October
Water:	available from numerous creeks and lakes; purify first
Maps:	USGS 7.5' Sierra City
Information:	Beckwourth Ranger District, Plumas National Forest

This hike takes you past the cascading waters of clear mountain streams as you travel through pine and fir forests. You'll also visit five of the Sierra's northernmost glacial lakes and enjoy fine alpine views of rocky ridges.

Turn onto Gray Eagle Lodge Road, which is on the west side of Gold Lake Road 11 miles north of Highway 49 and 5 miles southwest of Highway 89. Drive 0.6 mile, bear right at a fork, then go another 0.2 mile to the trailhead.

The path climbs gently north, first through open chaparral and then under forest shade. Just after crossing Smith Creek at 0.6 mile, bear left at a trail fork. As you continue to follow Smith Creek upstream, stay right at another trail junction.

Reach Smith Lake at 1 mile. This lake, with its two good campsites along the southern shore, makes a good destination for those getting a late afternoon start. Note that camping (except in campgrounds) is forbidden in the Lakes Basin except at this hike's five lakes.

The trail ascends west of Smith Lake and then gradually descends through a red fir forest to a trail fork at 3.7 miles. Turn left and head uphill, paralleling Little Jamison Creek. At 3.9 miles your ears will guide you to 40-foot-high Jamison Falls to the right of the trail.

Campsites abound on all sides of Grass Lake at 4.2 miles. Western serviceberry surrounds much of the lake, as do Jeffrey pine, lodgepole pine, and red fir. You'll have views of the rocky ridges to the north and west, and you can also search the lake's surface for ducks and beaver.

Large numbers of quaking aspen populate the moist area along the trail just south of Grass Lake as you climb to cross Little Jamison Creek at 5 miles. Hike under the shade of red fir, incense cedar, and Jeffrey pine, and go left at trail junctions at 5.4 miles and 6.2 miles.

Jamison Lake, at 6.4 miles, has two campsites, one near the northeast shore, the other near the northwest shore. Rock Lake, 0.2 mile farther, offers more picturesque surroundings. The rock-rimmed lake, much deeper than Jamison, allows much better swimming opportunities and also has several campsites at its south end. At both lakes you'll see rock striations and other evidence of the glaciers that carved the wide valley through these mountains and scooped out the lakes.

To reach Wades Lake, return to the trail fork 0.2 mile below Jamison Lake and turn left. For the first 0.5 mile, the path climbs west over a rocky ridge and can be a bit difficult to follow. Begin climbing south next to the lake's outlet stream at 0.7 mile, then reach Wades Lake 0.9 mile from the last trail fork. Rimmed by willow, mountain alder, lodgepole pine, and red fir, this lake offers the best mountain ridge views of all the lakes on this hike. You'll find two good campsites along the south shore.

Take the trail that begins by a sign giving Wades Lake's elevation and follow it downhill, initially through an open meadow. Bear right at a trail junction 0.25 mile from the lake, and then enjoy increasingly open views of Mount Elwell towering over Rock and Jamison Lakes to the east and Grass Lake and the distant mountains to the north and northeast. You'll reach a trail junction 0.9 mile from Wades Lake, which is the same one encountered at mile 5.4. Head left to return to the trailhead.