Gardnerville, Nevada
Looking for the best backpacking in Gardnerville? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around Gardnerville. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.
Top Backpacking Spots in and near Gardnerville
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Arnold, California
Backpacking to Sword Lake
5.0Getting There Take 108 to Pinecrest Lake to pick up a free backcountry permit at the Summit Ranger Station. (If you reach Strawberry you've gone too far.) Continue past Beardsley Lake to Clark's Fork Road on the left. Cross two bridges and Forest Route 6N06 will take you to the trailhead (County ...Read more -
Soda Springs, California
Hike to the Peter Benson Hut
5.011.6 mi / 1800 ft gainDrive to the top of Donner Summit via the Old Hwy 40 and park at the Donner Summit PCT trailhead, just past the Sugar Bowl Academy Building. Begin hiking up-hill through a somewhat forested area for about 2 miles. Shortly after you pass the trail sign for the Mt. Judah Loop, you will come to a sm...Read more -
Pinecrest, California
Camp at Baker Campground
5.0/ 6224 ft gainBaker Campground is a first come, first serve campground. Each site is equipped with a fire ring, picnic table, and bear boxes. The cost for a single family site is $20 per night and a double family site is $40 per night. The campground provides bathrooms and potable water. The campground is typi...Read more -
Highway 108, California
Backpack to Blue Canyon Lake
5.03.6 mi / 1280 ft gainTrailhead Coordinates: 38º 19'08.46"N 119º39'49.26"W Elev 8897ftThe trail is kind of tricky to find. It is West of the PCT trailhead at Sonora Pass and it is not marked. You park along the side of Hwy 108 and scramble down an embankment where a creek flows at the bottom. Cross this creek and you ...Read more -
Pinecrest, California
Lower & Upper Relief Valleys and the East Flange Rock
21.6 mi / 3600 ft gainThe Lower and Upper Relief Valleys are beautiful alpine valleys cut by Relief Creek in the heart of the Emigrant Wilderness and are an excellent alternative to Yosemite National Park if you're looking for solitude and no crowds. The East Flange Rock juts prominently over Lower Relief and is an ea...Read more -
Pinecrest, California
Climb Granite Dome via Lower & Upper Lewis Lakes
25 mi / 5000 ft gainGranite Dome is the signature peak in the Emigrant Wilderness, with fantastic views north to the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness, east to the Hoover Wilderness (Sawtooth Ridge), and south to Yosemite including, on a clear day, Cathedral Peak and the Cathedral Range.There are several routes up Granite D...Read more -
Truckee, California
Backpack the Palisades Creek Trail
4.015 mi / 2200 ft gainAfter driving out to Kidd Lakes and parking at the trailhead, you take off through some easy forest hiking past Cascade Lakes and Long Lake. Pay attention to the cairns marking the trail as you traverse across a large granite section with Devils Peak to your West. The trail is easy to follow and ...Read more -
Mono County, California
Leavitt Lake in Stanislaus National Forest
4.07.44 mi / 1385 ft gainSituated on the eastern edge of Emigrant Wilderness, Leavitt Lake is a great introduction to backpacking in the Sierra Nevada. Leavitt Lake is located at the end of Forest Service Route 077 off of Highway 108. It is actually possible to drive to Leavitt Lake, but a high clearance vehicle is requi...Read more -
Loch Leven Lakes Trailhead, California
Loch Leven Lakes Trail
4.47.6 mi / 1480 ft gainThe trail is easy to follow for the first half mile until you get to some large slabs of granite. As you continue up the trail look for stacked rocks, these will give you a an easy route as you continue up the mountain. The trail then starts to switch back eventually leading to a small bridge. Af...Read more