Carson Pass, Alpine County

Key Reasons to Go: Go south toward Lake Winnemucca to see one of the best wildflower displays in the area; this is also prime territory to observe Clark's Nutcracker in action. Go north and see a very different landscape with options to go higher for volcanic formations and alpine vegetation, or drop down into the drainage area for the forests, meadows, and lakes and a possible hike to Echo Summit on Hwy 50. Side trips will lead you to Red Lake Peak or Little Round Top, and both side trips are worth a day for each one alone.

Best Time to Go: You start at 8,574 feet, so May through August for flowers, into September and October for seasonal changes, like the aspensRead about aspens
on their own page... that line the road from Silver Lake to Caples Lake. And as the weather changes, maybe some snow to dust the peaks as September fades into October; the photo below shows a first snow of October.

UTM 11 240164E 4286838N (NAD27) | Check this Google map

Round Top with a first October snow.

Carson Pass is a very popular place. Very popular! And like all popular places there are dozens of reasons to go. It's easy to get to, the trails are obvious, the scenery stunning, and there is a convergence of desert and alpine vegetation you will not find in many other places.

Frog Lake is a beautiful destination all by itself. Just a short, easy walk of less than a mile, it is also probably going to be sort of busy on any weekend during July and August. No camping is allowed, but day hikers by the score, sometimes arriving in groups that exceed the requested maximum of 10 people. Because the impact is so great, it might be prudent to visit during the week (still no guarantee of solitude!) or maybe visit one of the other nearby spots such as Thunder MountainClick to see my page
about this hike... or Shealor LakesClick to see my page.... Both are nice hikes, pretty easy (kid friendly), and offer good rewards; with Thunder Mountain you get excellent views and alpine plants, and with Shealor Lakes you get to visit a lake or two, with some nice mountain views on the way in and out.

Carson Pass Wildflowers are Spectacular!

John C. FrémontClick to read his story... and guide Kit CarsonClick for the PBS story... crossed this pass in winter of 1844Click to see the historic info.... They climbed to the top of Red Lake Peak (10,063 feet), looked to the north and "discovered" what is now known as Lake Tahoe. You can recreate the experience by driving up Hwy 88 and making your way up Red Lake Peak just north of the pass. You might try camping around Caples LakeGo to the
Eldorado Nat'l Forest
info page on campsites... (good luck!) or down on the east side in Hope Valley. You can easily just go for the day and enjoy the beautiful scenery and amazing variety of wildflowers found here. Hiking north could put you crossing over the saddle and heading down into the drainage to jump over the headwaters of the Truckee River on your way to visit Meiss Lake, Round Lake, or Dardanelles Lake. Make sure you have plenty of mosquito repellent for that side-trip!

There are two main parking areas, each with a $5 day-use fee; be sure to have some small bills. Park in the north lot to go up the exposed hillside and over the saddle, or park in the main lot at the actual pass for a walk in to visit Frog Lake and Lake Winnemucca.

What's that Obelisk in the Main Parking Lot?

Be sure to stop and read the plaque on the obelisk monument dedicated to Snowshoe Thompson. His story is something!

A Note about Care of the Area

As you might expect, this area may be too popular and weekends can be busy! Visitors arrive in throngs and some hiking clubs actually arrive by the bus load! Groups are supposed to be limited to 10 but there is no regulation that mentions distance between groups; as a result you may find yourself walking along in a fairly steady stream of other hikers. One of the unhappy consequences of a stream of visitors is that many are not familiar with the fragility of the environment. While not as fragile as a desert area, Carson Pass provides an amazing mix of plants and a volcanic soil that provides a water storage system and a green, luxurious garden between Frog Lake and Winnemucca.

High-Elevation Life Zones are Very Fragile!

With opportunities to start at 8500' and go up to 10,000' or more, you will find plenty of plants that may be new to you as you enter sub alpine or alpine zones. Please step carefully and respect the soil as much as the vegetation. The adage is, "Take only photos, leave only footprints," but there are times when even footprints are destructive. It is very important that every visitor follow these important guidelines:

• Stay on the trails in tender or wet areas. There are plenty of places to stand aside for others to pass, so please avoid stepping into the vegetation to deal with traffic. The ground is going to be wet (even mushy) and some flowers need exactly that. When you want a closer look, try to step from rock to rock as you walk.

• Do not step into the flower display to have your picture taken! You can find plenty of places where the flowers make a nice background without your leaving the trail. The plants here are not going to rebound from being flattened! Take care so that the display can be enjoyed by others.

• Resist the temptation to pick a bouquet! Picked flowers won't last 20 minutes in your hand. Kids love to pick flowers and hand them to mom or dad. This is a good time for a lesson in Nature. Please ask that they just look at the flowers.

• Dogs may be fun in your backyard but they don't add much to the experience of other hikers. They chase away wildlife and act either to protect you or to befriend every stranger, some of whom may not want to make friends with your dog! If you really need to take your dog to Carson Pass, be sure the dog stays on a leash. And really, maybe you could find another destination if dog exercise is a priority.

Which Way to Head?

It can be a toss of the coin. North will take you up and over a saddle where you can either start your descent on a valley trail leading to Echo Summit, or you can opt for going up to left and heading off for a ridge with volcanic fields and brilliant lichens, or you can go to your right and maybe summit Red Lake Peak. Either of these choices will put you into alpine plant territory and give you nice views out to Lake Tahoe, the Great Basin, south to the Minarets of Yosemite, or west to Caples and Silver Lakes.

Another option? Enjoy a look around, then continue east for a few miles and drop down into Hope Valley. If you stop at one of the pull-outs to look eastward you can see Red Lake below. If you're there in late August or early September, look over the rock wall at the most downhill end of the second pull-out and see if you find California fuchsia, still called Zauschneria by many though that name was retired years ago! It doesn't show up in many placesIt can also be found along the road from Hwy 50 to Wrights Lake and it is killer red, and a little hard to really capture in a photo.

Continue down into the valley, past the turn to Red Lake and onward toward Hope Valley and the Carson River. This is a rewarding drive in Autumn as you find one of the good local displays of fall color here on on to either Markleeville or take Hwy 89 northward to pass Grass Lake and head for the junction of Hwy 50 in Meyers.

Stay at the Pass for a Hike: Parking at the information station at the pass ($5 for day use) and traveling south will be an easier trail that takes you to Frog and Winnemucca lakes, then you decide to maybe go up Elephants Back or continue past Winnemucca for a look. Caution: deciding to drop down to Fourth of July Lake may have you regretting that elevation loss when it's time to come back!

Pick a direction and see what you think: Carson Pass North | Carson Pass South

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