Caribou Lakes and Sawtooth Ridge

The path is up and hot in mid season. Views of Thompson Peak and its glaciers are breathtaking. The biggest lake in the Trinity Alps is popular. If you are planning to go over the pass to Portuguese Camp on Stuart Fork, know that it is called Suicide Ridge by some.

Cautions:

• Bring water from mid season on for first part of trail
• No wood, bring stove, except at hardest lake to get to

Points Along the Trail:

Distance: 0.0
Elevation: 5000'
Big Flat Campground. Descend trail 200 yards South to cross the South Fork Salmon River. Take left fork up bank. On the flat above bank turn west and pass trail to south going to Josephine Creek Lodge and Kidd Creek Trail. Soon come to a trail register.

Views of Caribou Mt. (8525') in first mile.

Views also below of the imperceptible divide between the N. Fork Salmon River and Coffee Creek. Can see Big Flat, Mt. Meadow Ranch and the trail to Swift Creek slanting up ridge to Yellow Rose Mine.

Distance: 3.0
Elevation: 6280'
Caribou Meadow. Here the Old Caribou Peak Trail and the new trail intersect.

Old Caribou Peak Trail

Turn south on it to climb over Caribou Mt. (8118'). Not maintained, steeper, rougher, but its the best way to Little Caribou Lake--solitude and wood guaranteed--1000' up.

New Trail

Soon comes out on NW face of Caribou Mt.

Distance: 5 0
Elevation: 6800'
Brown's Meadows. Fair campsites and water 100 yds past meadow.

Distance: 7.0
Head southeast across steep open granite slope overlooking chasm. Thompson Peak covers southwest horizon.

Distance: 7.5 to 9
Elevation: 6710'
Trail drops to ridge between Snowslide (6700') and Lower Caribou Lake (6500').

Distance: 9.5
Junction Little S. Fork Salmon River Trail.

Distance: 10.0
Elevation: 6822
Caribou Lake (72 acres) the biggest in the Trinity Alps. There are many good campsites in the rocks at the north and east ends. Big Caribou Lake camps exposed to wind. South of Big Caribou Lake jagged top of Sawtooth Ridge forms the south horizon. Trail climbs to crest from south end of lake then drops.

Distance: 11
Elevation: 7550'
Caribou (Suicide) Pass. From around here look down 2200' in 0.75 miles to Portuguese Camp in Stuart Fork Canyon and walk along ridge to see Sapphire and Emerald Lakes.

[Home | Our Catalog | Killer Deals]
[Sites and Links | Northern California Outdoor Guide and Gallery | Who is NMS]
[Outdoor Gear Users Corner | Sign up on our E-Mail List]

Northern Mountain Supply
125 West Fifth Street, Eureka, CA 95501
800-878-3583, fx 707.445.0781
mtn@northernmountain.com