Saxonia from Packsaddle loop
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 3.75 mi
- Elevation gain
- 568 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Moderate
- Elevation loss
- 568 ft
- Max elevation
- 6,550 ft
- TrailRank
- 30
- Min elevation
- 6,107 ft
- Trail type
- Loop
- Time
- 5 hours 15 minutes
- Coordinates
- 791
- Uploaded
- August 21, 2021
- Recorded
- July 2021
near Bassetts, California (United States)
Viewed 30 times, downloaded 0 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
Pretty lakes and scenery requiring a little extra effort due to rocks and brush. Starting out as a confusion of trails as you leave the campground the real one is easy to pick up and is good quality most of the way to Saxonia lake. The final eighth mile is scrambling over a jumble of large rocks while avoiding bushy patches. The trip around Saxonia lake was mostly easy cross country with some rocks and brush to thread through. The rocks at Saxonia Lake are why I rate it as a moderate hike. We used a dirt road and a recently rerouted section of the PCT on the return trip.
Saxonia Lake is large and deep enough for swimming with a rocky shore providing easy access. I think it wouldn’t be too hard to go cross country to Mud lake and the unnamed pond downstream of Saxonia Lake. Mud lake is aptly named when the water is low and it is surrounded by a ring of dirt. Dugan Pond had a swampy shore on the side we visited.
There is parking along the road just past Packsaddle camp ground. I think the campground charges for parking and / or needs reservations.
Too many of our group got tired early and didn’t want to hike to the Tamarac Lakes so we drove to nearby Mills Peak Lookout and the ice cream section of Bassett Station which closes at 6pm. Mills Peak Lookout is accessed via unmarked dirt roads suitable for pickups and SUVs, GPS advised.
Saxonia Lake is large and deep enough for swimming with a rocky shore providing easy access. I think it wouldn’t be too hard to go cross country to Mud lake and the unnamed pond downstream of Saxonia Lake. Mud lake is aptly named when the water is low and it is surrounded by a ring of dirt. Dugan Pond had a swampy shore on the side we visited.
There is parking along the road just past Packsaddle camp ground. I think the campground charges for parking and / or needs reservations.
Too many of our group got tired early and didn’t want to hike to the Tamarac Lakes so we drove to nearby Mills Peak Lookout and the ice cream section of Bassett Station which closes at 6pm. Mills Peak Lookout is accessed via unmarked dirt roads suitable for pickups and SUVs, GPS advised.
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