Back to index Arnot Peak Loop Hike

Trip Date:  8/3-8/4/2023

Distance: 17.5 Miles

Vertical Gain: 2000'

Group Size: 6


Hike Rating:  Easy   Moderate   Hard   Strenuous		 Day 1 Ebbetts Pass Hike  Day 2 Ebbetts Pass Hike
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Bull Lake Loop Elevation Profile
 Bull Lake Loop Elevation Profile
Start Coordinates:   N 38 29.781, W 119 47.779     End Coordinates:   Same as Start Coordinates
Car Shuttle Req'd:   No
Parking Directions:   Take Highway 4 Highland Lakes Road. Head south for approximately 5 miles along a road that is unpaved but usually accessible by regular 2 wheel drive vehicles. When you get to the first Highland Lake find parking for the trailhead on your left at the Upper Gardner Trailhead.
Hazards of Note:   Wilderness environment, trail can be hard to follow through Paradise Valley
Crowd Factor:   Limited.  Along the Lower Gardner Meadow trail there will be limited contact with others. Along the PCT heading south you will likely run into section and full PCT hikers. Contact with anyone through Paradise Valley would be a surprise, but meeting others along the Disaster Creek trail, especially when you get to Lower Gardner Meadow is likely.
General Notes:
From the trailhead you will travel almost due east for a little over a mile and a half until you reach a junction with the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT.) From there head north on the PCT for almost 3 miles, passing by the shallow Asa Lake and then heading up and over the ridgeline where Noble Lake lies just past. Before reaching the lake, take the signed junction for the Bull Canyon trail and head up 3/4 of a mile to the ridgeline overlooking the valley where the lake is hidden below in the midst of thick trees. Past this the trail is difficult to follow in many locations, and route finding in the section is a must. Additionally, the junction to the lake, about a mile and a half down this trail is not easy to find and a cross-country journey may be necessary to reach the lake.
Bull Lake is a hidden gem in this wilderness area, and is a worthy destination for an overnight stay. From the lake head back east to pick up the Bull Canyon trail, and then head south-southeast until you reach the junction of the Wolf Creek Trail. Head west on this trail for almost 4 miles until you reach the junction with the PCT that you turned at earlier in the hike. Continue straight onto the Lower Gardner Meadow Trail for the last mile and a half until you reach the parking area and the end of the hike.


Starting off at the Highland Lakes trailhead.. Trailhead Parking

Four of our group (and one dog) at the start, raring to go. Some of the group

First part of the trail cuts right through Upper Gardner Meadow, for about a mile until meeting the PCT. Upper Gardner Meadow

Just before reaching the PCT we reached the edge of Upper Gardner Meadow. Closing in on the PCT

Reaching the PCT, we will now spend the next 7 miles heading south along the popular trail.
 Climbing the PCT

Hiking along the eastern side of Mt. Arnot and its ridgeline. Paralleling Mt. Arnot

More pretty spectacular views of Mt. Arnot from along the PCT in this section. Spectacular Views

Good spot for a break along the way south. Taking a break

After about 4 miles of the PCT the views south open up to show the first hint of Stanislaus Peak and beyond. Looking south toward Sonora Pass 

Continuing the climb up the trail as we head south on the PCT. PCT south

View south toward Stanislaus and Sonora Peaks. Peaks to the south

Our campsite set up just a little bit sorth of the junction to the Paradise Valley trail. Camp

The trip up over the crest and down into Paradise Valley started with a difficult traverse of a large sloped snow field. Snow Field

The journey into and through Paradise Valley was amazing and it had a true sense of remoteness to it. Paradise

Our group carefully making it's way through the valley along often hard to find trail. Through the valley

At the far west end of the valley were a series of waterfalls that were quite soothing to hike along. Waterfalls

Taking a quick break at the junction of the Paradise Valley Trail with the Disaster Creek Trail. At the Junction

This section of the Disaster Creek trail heading north was tame but lush with vegetation everywhere. Disaster Creek

Our first look at the flower-filled Lower Gardner Meadow Lower Gardner Meadow

Another look at Lower Gardner Meadow, the area just south of our full loop connection point. More Lower Gardner

Making our way back to the final junction just about a mile from the end of the hike. Through the valley

One last look at the beauty of the area before finishing up with final stretch back to our vehicles. One last look

Group shot of our crew for this Carson-Iceberg Wilderness adventure. The group

GPS Track of the full hike. GPS Track of Hike

Day 1. GPS Track of Hike

Day 2. GPS Track of Hike