Emigrant Lake to Woods Lake Hike
	Trip Date:  07/22/2022 Distance: 9.5 Miles Vertical Gain: 2000' Group Size: 4 Hike Rating:  Easy   Moderate    Hard   Strenuous	GPX for this trip
	Start Coordinates:   N 38 42.188, W 120 03.929     End Coordinates:   N 38 41.503, W 120 00.570 Car Shuttle Req'd:   Yes Parking Directions:   For Emigrant Lake Parking - Take Highway 88 to the parking area just at the west end of Caples Lake (past Kirkwood,) near the Caples Lake dam. There is a large paved parking area here as well as restrooms. For Woods Lake Parking - Take Highway 88 to the Woods Lake Road just east of Caples Lake. Head down the paved road to the parking area for Woods Lake, and there is a fee to park in this location. The trailhead for this hike is just to the south from the parking spots.   Hazards of Note:   Steep incline on the heading up above Lake Winnemucca with some Class III rock hopping.  Route finding is required in this section. Crowd Factor:   High followed by Minimal followed by High.  The Emigrant Lake Trail is one of the more popular trails in the entire Mokelumne Wilderness and is known for wonderful displays of wildflowers in the summer. Once you make the climb above the lake there will be nobody on the trail between Emigrant Lake and the trail you will pick up past 4th of July Peak. Back on two of the main trails in the Carson Pass Management Area there will be lots of fellow hikers and backpackers. General Notes: From the parking area you will start along the trail and follow the edge of Caples Lake for almost two miles. About 3/4 of the way along this section is a marker for the Emigrant Trail, which heads off to the right and up the mountain. Continue straight at this point toward Emigrant Lake. Once you reach the end of the Caples Lake the trail will being to climb significantly, heading up a forested path over granite until you reach the lake. The setting for the lake is spectacular, with mountains surrounding you on three sides with steep dropoffs down to the lake. Melissa Coray peak is directly to the south with the man-made structure at the top, with Covered Wagon Peak on the right and Peak 9795 on the left. From this point you should be able to navigate east up the rocky ridge on the eastern side of Emigrant Lake, following cairns and use trails all the way to the top of this section. When you reach this point you will have great view of Caples Lake to the Northeast and Round Top mountain and the Sisters just before it. Head almost due south from this section, aiming for the western side of the pointed 4th of July Peak almost directly to your south. There are many ways to go from here, but do not drop down too low or you will find yourself in a boulder scramble situation. There are actually painted blazes along most of this section of trail. Look for these orange markers along the way. The journey to the top of 4th of July Peak is well worth the effort, with amazing vistas toward Deadwood Peak due south and Summit City Canyon just in front of it. Drop down 4th of July Peak on the east side where you will meet up with the trail coming up from 4th of July Lake and then head to the left on this trail which will go past Round Top Lake first, then down to Lake Winnemucca. Before the actual lake you will find the trail down to Woods Lake on the left. Follow this 2 1/2 miles down to the Woods Lake parking area and the end of the hike.
	Early along Caples Lake on the Emigrant Lake trail, be ready for possibly many trees down in the early season.
	Regardless of impedements you might find along the trail the wildflower displays are typically amazing.
	This day's trek sported a pretty significant Columbine display along numerous sections of the trail.
	It also sported a number of down trees which were quickly dispatched after we reported the locations to the forest service.
	Nice Lily displays along the way, especially by the water crossings..
	The beauty of Emigrant Lake never disappoints.
	From the east side of Emigrant Lake find one of the use trails up the side of the slope and aim for this notch above you.
	We were lucky enough to find multiple patches of Caseopia Heather flowers along this route above the lake.
	Reaching the top of the climb and looking to the southeast offers a view of the next leg of the trail heading toward 4th of July peak The Sisters in the background.
	A look to the north will offer a fantastic view of Caples Lake and the area below the trail.
	Near the top of 4th of July Peak you can see the trail we will pick up below coming up from 4th of July Lake far below.
	Views to the south reach all the way to Silver and Highland Peaks in the Carson-Iceberg wilderness and beyond.
	Coming down from 4th of July Peak you should be able to follow one of many use trails back to the 4th of July Lake trail.
	Just before Lake Winnemucca you will have to cross the lake outlet stream by means of a double log crossing. This view shows the 10K Round Top peak in the background.
	One of the more iconic views of Round Top Peak is seen from along the trail down to Woods Lake from Lake Winnemucca.
	GPS Track of the full hike, starting at the bottom and heading up behind Winnemucca.