Ebbetts Pass to Raymond Meadow Hike

Trip Date: 8/16/2019

Distance: 10.0 Miles

Vertical Gain: 1200'

Group Size: 2

Hike Rating: Easy Moderate Hard Strenuous

See video of hike

GPX for this trip

Start Coordinates:	N 38 32.669, W 119 48.703	End Coordinates:	Same as Start Coordinates
Car Shuttle Req'd:	No	Parking Directions:	Take Highway 4 to the parking area right across the road from the Ebbetts Pass elevation sign and just east of the Stanislaus National Forest boundary sign. There is a dirt parking lot here able to accomodate 8 vehicles.
Hazards of Note:	Wilderness environment, trail finding and loose shale if attempting the Ebbetts Peak climb.	Crowd Factor:	Moderate. The first couple miles of the PCT from Highway 4 include some popular camping lakes and you will typically find people here. Past that you will probably only have contact with PCT through or section hikers.
General Notes: From the parking area head across highway 4 and head up a 4WD road which heads north toward Ebbetts Peak. There is a junction to the south just before the base of the peak which you should take, although continuing on straight will undoubtedly lead to the same place eventually. If you choose to summit the peak (highly recommended,) head up to the high point of the saddle between Ebbetts Peak and the rise to the west, and then head upward along one of many use trails heading up to the flag at the top. The views are well worth the effort to reach the top. Head back down and pick up the use trail which heads over the saddle, and then head back down on the north side toward Dorothy Lake until you find open enough area to head east toward Sherrold Lake. Stay to the north of this lake and then you will meet up with the Pacific Crest Trail just past the lake. Head left (to the north) and be sure to take a short junction to the right before you enter the Mokelumne Wilderness at the signed junction with (Upper) Kinney lake. The setting is gorgeous and you even have a view of Lower Kinner Lake from this location as well. Once you enter the Wilderness area you will be in the forest for about half a mile, and then the trail comes into a large open area on the east side of the Reynolds Mountain ridgeline as you continue north. Raymond Peak is also visible to the northeast. Depending on the time of year, there can be a multitude of flowers in sections along this way.

Heading out from the parking area at the listed coordinates. There is also an official PCT parking area about 1/2 mile to the east which has a larger area for cars and a bathroom facility as well.

Crossing Highway 4 from the parking area heading toward the 4WD road and the start of the journey.

The Ebbetts Pass historical landmark sign right at the start of the 4WD trail.

Looking up at the flag mounted at the top of Ebbetts Peak. This is a visible landmark from almost all of the first few miles of the journey north.

The use trail which heads up toward the saddle between Ebbetts Peak and the unnamed peak to the west. Find the best way up to the peak at the top of this saddle.

A nice look at the view back down the use trail on the way up to the first saddle. The mountains in the distance are in the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness area.

Interesting to find a lighted flagpole at the top of the peak. I wonder who does the maintenance of this flag and has set up solar lights for this to be lit at night.

The great view east from the top of Ebbetts Peak, with Kinney Reservoir in the foreground.

Near the peak we discovered an earthquake monitoring station firmly embedded into the rock.

Heading down from the peak toward Sherrold Lake, a look back at the peak reveals a much more intimidating view of the peak and the landmark flag atop it.

Not only is this sign take you to a nice overlook of Upper Kinney Lake, the trail it takes you down is a previous section of the PCT before it was rerouted west of the lake.

Not far off of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is Upper Kinney Lake, at a signed junction. The setting is amazing and you even get a glimpse of Lower Kinney Lake from this spot as well.

So far this is the shortest sign we have encountered in the Mokelumne Wilderness area.

Once out of the initial forested area, the rock formations along the Reynolds Peak ridge to your west are fascinating.

Entering Raymond Meadows and looking to the east, you get a great view of two OGUL peaks, Silver on the left and Highland on the right. Looks like a grand adventure for another day.

The trail past the forested section, for at least the next couple miles is out in the open and offers outstanding vistas of both they Reynolds ridgeline to the west and Raymond ridgeline to the north.

When originally looking into this area there was the thought of climbing Reynolds Peak, but after reading previous summit logs and then looking at this from up close, this one will remain on my 'not gonna even try that one' list.

To the north is Raymond Peak, and the small notch just to the left of it where we ate lunch last summer near the summit. We were on the other side of this two weeks ago at Raymond Lake.

On the way back there is a great view of Lower Kinney Lake just before exiting the wilderness area. You can also see Ebbetts Peak to the right, and Tryon Peak just past it, a popular climb for hikers in the area as well.

We found a sign with this interesting bit of history while walking on Highway 4 from where the PCT crosses the road on our way back to the car.

GPS Track of the full hike.