60. Four Lakes Loop

Length:	23.9 miles round trip
Hiking time:	3 to 4 days
High point:	7,500 feet
Total elevation gain:	5,700 feet
Difficulty:	moderate
Season:	early July through September
Water:	available from lakes and year-round streams; purify first
Maps:	USGS 7.5' Siligo Peak, USGS 7.5' Covington Mill, USFS Trinity Alps Wilderness
Information:	Weaverville Ranger District, Shasta-Trinity National Forest

Glacial cirques, high mountain passes, and panoramas of the Trinity Alps and other mountain ranges await you on this hike, as do clear streams and flower-ringed, subalpine lakes.

From Weaverville drive northeast on Highway 3 for 14 miles, then turn left onto a dirt road signed "Stoney Creek," which is 0.7 mile east of the bridge across Stuart Fork Creek. Follow this dirt road 6.2 miles to the spacious trailhead.

The trail begins its steady climb up Stoney Ridge through a mixed forest of ponderosa pine, incense cedar, Douglas fir, white fir, and sugar pine. The trees part occasionally to allow views of Trinity Lake and the mountains to the south as well as glimpses of Granite Peak and Red Mountain just to the north. At 2.5 miles you'll pass through a chaparral thicket and then, at 3.7 miles, bear left at a trail fork. At 4 miles you'll reach the first decent campsite, located under a western white pine in Red Mountain Meadows. Nearby Stoney Creek has water year-round.

Stonewall Pass, 4.8 miles from the trailhead, features a magnificent vista: To the south lie Trinity Lake, Shasta Bally, and the Sacramento Valley; to the north, you're treated to views of granitic Sawtooth Mountain and Thompson Peak and nearer metamorphic summits such as Siligo Peak and Seven Up Peak.

The trail then descends for 1 mile as it skirts the upper edges of Van Matre Meadows and then climbs another 1 mile to Little Stonewall Pass. Just below the pass, a sign points the way to Echo Lake, only 250 yards to the right off the main trail. This flower-ringed lake, surrounded by metamorphic, red-tinged mountains, offers open vistas of the western Trinity Alps. You can camp by the lake's south side or on the ridge to the west.

From Little Stonewall Pass, the main path descends steadily past western white pine, foxtail pine, and white fir for 0.7 mile to the edge of Lower Siligo Meadow. Cross the meadow and a year-round Deep Creek tributary, and pick up the trail on the other side.

Bear left at a trail fork 0.3 mile from the meadow, then climb through Upper Siligo Meadow's multihued display of lupine, yarrow, and other wildflowers to another trail fork 0.5 mile farther. Bear left again and climb the last few yards to 7,500-foot Deer Creek Pass, from which you'll see Siligo Peak towering high above Deer Lake.

After you catch your breath, begin the clockwise loop of the four lakes by heading downhill for 0.2 mile and turning left at the trail fork. The way then gently switchbacks uphill to another trail fork 1 mile from Deer Creek Pass. Turn left here and follow the trail 0.5 mile to the deep blue waters of Summit Lake, snugly situated under the protective shoulder of Peak 8059. Several good campsites lie near the west shore, and near the south shore you'll have open views of the Stuart Fork valley, Monument Peak, and forested mountains marching westward to the coast.

Back on the main trail, hike 0.2 mile to an impressive alpine view at a small saddle. If you wish, follow any of several faint trails along this 0.2-mile stretch up to the top of Siligo Peak, where you'll have a 360-degree view of far Northern California, including Mount Shasta and Lassen Peak.

From the saddle, walk 0.9 mile down a dozen switchbacks to the inviting waters of Diamond Lake, the crown jewel of the Four Lakes Loop. The lake rests on a shelf overlooking the Salt Creek and Stuart Fork valleys, but the most impressive sight is undoubtedly the jagged granite spires of Thompson Peak, Wedding Cake, Mount Hilton, and Sawtooth Mountain piercing the skyline to the west. A large western white pine near the lake's north edge guards the only decent campsite.

The trail then climbs 0.7 mile north to an open, grassy saddle with more stunning vistas and then drops via several switchbacks another 0.7 mile to Luella Lake. This lake offers views of Seven Up Peak, Deer Creek Canyon, and the mountains ranging east and north, but has no good campsites.

The path continues its descent 0.8 mile to a trail fork near Deer Creek, where you turn right. After a 0.2-mile walk, you'll see a trail on the left climbing 1.1 miles up to Seven Up Gap and then on to Granite, Horseshoe, and Ward Lakes (see Hike 59, Granite Lake and Seven Up Gap, and Hike 58, Horseshoe and Ward Lakes). The main trail ascends another 1.1 miles to Deer Lake. This deep, mountain-ringed lake lies at the base of Siligo Peak and offers meadow camping at its southeastern edge. To get back to Deer Creek Pass, follow the trail 0.3 mile uphill and then go left at the fork.