Elevation Gain: 4,600+ ft

Total Distance: 16.6 miles

This trail reopened this past April after having been closed for almost 2 years due to the El Dorado fire. There were very few hikers on the trail and the parking lot wasn’t even half full when I returned. Day use and overnight permits are now mandatory and can be obtained for free online at www.sgwa.org/wilderness-permits/

Trailhead temps at 5 AM were around 45°F, so wear layers and be prepared to shed them as temps eventually climb into the low 80’s. Much of the upper trail is unshaded owing to the wildfire that cleared many of the trees. After about 3 miles the trail levels off into Manzanita Flats, a stark, almost surrealistic landscape of burned out manzanita skeletons among beautiful wildflowers. The footpath is covered in ash in many locations (at the end of the hike I literally had to scrub the ashes off my feet). At about mile 6.5 you’ll arrive at Limber Pine Springs where the stream is still flowing, so bring your water filtration system and fill up as needed.