PCT from Packer Lake Rd past Deer Lake
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 9.8 mi
- Elevation gain
- 1,467 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Moderate
- Elevation loss
- 1,467 ft
- Max elevation
- 7,376 ft
- TrailRank
- 34
- Min elevation
- 6,056 ft
- Trail type
- Loop
- Time
- 6 hours 35 minutes
- Coordinates
- 2039
- Uploaded
- September 12, 2022
- Recorded
- August 2022
near Bassetts, California (United States)
Viewed 139 times, downloaded 1 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
This is a recently re-routed section of the PCT between Packer Lake Road across from Packsaddle campground to the junction with the old PCT on top of the ridge past Deer Lake. Mostly open country with nice distance views including the Sierra Buttes, ridges and lakes. Lots of overlook points and the trail its self has pretty sections. Creeks and Lakes make up for little shade.
This section of the PCT does not appear correctly on any of my maps. There is sufficient signage which you have to pay attention to because there are a bunch of alternate trails. We took side trips to Grass Lake and Deer Lake which have signs at the junctions. The Grass Lake trail is not always distinct but that is not a problem because the lake is hard to miss. There are still some bases of cut off bushes in the trail and it is rocky in some places. So I rate this as moderate.
Grass and Deer Lakes are pretty and Deer is large enough for swimming and paddling. There is a dirt “4x4” road to the west side of Deer Lake which may require a suitable truck. The trail around Deer Lake got brushy where I turned around but it looked like it would be easy to continue to at least the access road.
Bikes and motorized vehicles are not welcome on the PCT, but critters are.
There is wide spot parking along Packer Lake Road just past the subtly marked trail crossing.. Packsaddle Campground located just before the trail crossing has bathrooms. Google knows how to find Packsaddle Campground because it hasn’t moved. No fees. The roads are paved the whole way.
This section of the PCT does not appear correctly on any of my maps. There is sufficient signage which you have to pay attention to because there are a bunch of alternate trails. We took side trips to Grass Lake and Deer Lake which have signs at the junctions. The Grass Lake trail is not always distinct but that is not a problem because the lake is hard to miss. There are still some bases of cut off bushes in the trail and it is rocky in some places. So I rate this as moderate.
Grass and Deer Lakes are pretty and Deer is large enough for swimming and paddling. There is a dirt “4x4” road to the west side of Deer Lake which may require a suitable truck. The trail around Deer Lake got brushy where I turned around but it looked like it would be easy to continue to at least the access road.
Bikes and motorized vehicles are not welcome on the PCT, but critters are.
There is wide spot parking along Packer Lake Road just past the subtly marked trail crossing.. Packsaddle Campground located just before the trail crossing has bathrooms. Google knows how to find Packsaddle Campground because it hasn’t moved. No fees. The roads are paved the whole way.
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