Marble Mountains: Sky High Lakes, Marble Rim, Pacific Crest Trail, Paradise Lake

 June 26-28-2020
~36 miles

 The Marble Mountains Wilderness is one of the best wildernesses in Northern California. I decided to complete one of the most popular routes in the wilderness to Sky High Lakes and add some side trips as well. The Pacific Crest Trail travels through the wilderness for 32 miles and I decided to complete a portion of it in the wilderness.



The map of my route is below. I started from the Lovers Camp Trailhead which has good paved road access. I climbed up to the PCT on the Red Rock Creek Trail, then took the PCT to a trail junction where I did a loop down do Big Elk Lake and returned to the PCT on the Marble Rim Trail. Then I continued northbound on the PCT and set up camp well above Big Rock Camp and did a trail run north past Paradise Lake and a little past the junction to Bear Lake and returned to my campsite at Big Rock Camp. The final day I went southbound on the PCT and then down into the Sky High Lakes Basin and then descended back to Lovers Camp Trailhead.

I arrived at the trailhead just before dark after a long drive from Oregon. The parking lot was almost full.

I planned to hike in a mile or so to a campsite listed on the map near the  Red Rock Creek Trail junction, but someone was already camping there so I crossed the creek and hiked up the trail until I found a flat spot to camp in the forest.

The next morning I continued the climb up the Red Rock Creek Trail. The trail began to leave the forest at beautiful meadows and I could start to see out of the valley.

There were many flowers.

I passed a trail junction to Little Elk Lake and headed toward the PCT.

The clouds were scenic.

Looking back

Near the PCT I came to a shallow pond that had a campsite nearby.

I reached the PCT and enjoyed some nice views.

I could see a snowy mountain in the distance.

I saw a cairn beside the trail and a faint path. I decided to go explore and it was a great decision. The small trail brought me to a ridge above Shadow Lake and then a great view overlooking Sky High Lakes.

Shadow Lake

Sky High Lakes

It was an easy scramble to the top of the ridge which was a very steep cliff looking down on Lower Sky High Lake. I could see people swimming down below.

The view looking the opposite direction from the ridge.

I descended to Shadow Lake. I had just been on top of the cliff to the right.

There was a single tent at the lake.

Shadow Lake

I found another trail heading back to the PCT. There was a great view of Marble Mountain.

I left the PCT and took a trail to Big Elk Lake through a fire burned area. The trail was overgrown in places but generally easy to follow.

There were a few others enjoying Big Elk Lake when I arrived.

Big Elk Lake

Then I climb back up on the Marble Rim Trail.

There was a great view from the rim.

I returned to the PCT and continued northbound.

The PCT descended to Marble Valley.

There was a closed cabin and a campsite nearby.

I climbed back up through the forest.

Then the trail went by some rocky cliffs as it went around Black Marble Mountain.

There was still a little snow beside the trail.

Black Marble Mountain

Black Marble Mountain

There was a great view at Big Rock Camp, but I didn't really see any great campsites.

I decided to hike up and see what I would find.

I found a fairly level spot with a nice view of Black Marble Mountain, but it wasn't that sheltered from the wind.

After setting up camp, I prepared for a trail run on the PCT. I went down to the stream and got some water and then began the run.

I quickly came to a junction and stayed on the PCT and descended toward Paradise Lake.

There were some distant views.

As I ran by Paradise Lake, someone's large dog aggressively started barking and running at me. As I turned to look at it I almost ran into a tree but fortunately dog didn't attack me and I didn't hit the tree.

Paradise Lake

It was a steep mainly forested climb until the trail came around a ridge. Then the rocks seemed to become more orange.

I passed a trail junction for Bear Lake and decided to keep going on the PCT a little farther.

I stopped at a high point with a great view.

I turned around and started running back to my campsite.

Back at Paradise Lake

I made it back to the campsite. I think the run was a little over nine miles total.

I decided to explore some of the ridge near my campsite.

I hiked up to a nice viewpoint of Black Marble Mountain and cooked some food.

It was an awesome view!

The evening light began to shine on Black Marble Mountain.

I went down the ridge a little closer to Black Marble Mountain.

There was a good sunset.

Just after I thought the evening light had left, it came back for a panorama.

Surprisingly it wasn't that windy at night and I slept well. I awoke to the sun shining on Black Marble Mountain.

Sunrise

I returned to the PCT and continued the return southbound.

I found a cave. There are apparently many caves in the Marble Mountains.

I went back in the forest to Marble Valley.

A short distance off the trail I found a nice view.

I climbed back up on the PCT and then took the trail down into the Sky High Lakes basin.

Sky High Lakes

Frying Pan Lake

Upper Sky High Lake

There were many people camped around the lakes. Probably earlier in the weekend, someone estimated there were 50-100 people camped here.

I stopped for a quick swim in the refreshing water. I could see up to the cliff I had been on the day before.

As I began my return to the trailhead, I looked back across a beautiful meadow.

I passed the small Gate Lake.

There was some really beautiful forest hiking on the descent.

Some of the trees are quite large.

I passed the wilderness boundary and soon was back at the trailhead.

Overall, this was a great adventure. I had nearly perfect weather and few issues with bugs. I had never been to the Marbles Mountains and I was quite impressed.  The scenery was spectacular and I really liked how much of it was so green, the lakes, flowers, and mountain views. I hope to return to the Marbles for other adventures and sections of the PCT in the future.