Carson Pass Cross Country Ski Trails

Near: Carson Pass
Trip type: Cross Country Ski
Distance: 3-4 miles to the lake and back
Elevation: 8,600 to 8,200 feet
Vegetation: Pine Forest
Last Visit: April 2018

As the 2017-2018 ski season is drawing to a close, we finally got up to the back-country ski trails around Carson Pass.   These trails aren't groomed, but are clearly marked and easy to follow.  They do descend a few hundred feet from the parking areas at the Carson Pass and Meiss Meadow Sno Parks, so in icy conditions they'll be a little challenging for novice skiers.  On warm days with soft, consolidated old snow, they should make for a great intro to back country skiing for novice skiers with a bit of experience on groomed trails.  They end at a satisfying vista of Round Top from across Woods Lake.  We didn't explore any farther than Woods Lake, but the Forest Service Flyer on the trails suggests there's another marked trail leading up towards Winnemucca Lake, which would make a great destination for more intermediate/advanced skiers looking for a longer trip out.

Update 2019: Yup, there is a marked trail from Woods Lake up to the boundary of the Mokelumne Wilderness and it's easy to navigate from there up an open, sparsely treed valley to Winnemucca Lake.

Rules and Regulations:

These trails are in the El Dorado National Forest, just outside the Mokelumne Wilderness.  No permits are required for day use (except parking).  Wilderness permits are required for overnight trips in the Mokelumne Wilderness (though there don't appear to be an daily entry quotas), and campfire permits are required for fires or use of campstoves.  Dogs are OK off leash under effective voice control.

Trailhead:

We started at the Carson Pass Sno Park directly below Carson Pass on Hwy 88 (direct access to the PCT running south and to the Wilderness Boundary Trail, but the more gentle, more novice-friendly Woods Lake Trail starts from the Meiss Meadow Sno Park, about a quarter-mile west on Hwy 88.  To get between these two trailheads and complete a loop you can cross north of Hwy 88 and follow a forest between them, or just navigate overland through the open forest south of Hwy 88.

November to May a Sno Park Pass is required to park at either trailhead.  In 2018 passes were $5.00 per day or $25.00 for a season.  These passes can be purchased online or at one of several local retailers.  They do need to be purchased ahead of time though, so don't forget!

Route:

CalTopo Map: https://caltopo.com/m/1RKQ
Note that the trace of the Wilderness Boundary Trail is very approximate.

Elevation Profile: Carson Pass to Woods Lake Road via the Wilderness Boundary Trail:

Elevation Profile Meiss Meadow to Woods Lake via the Woods Lake Trail:


There are two routes to Woods Lake, that you can put together in a loop.  The easiest descent is on the Woods Lake Trail from the Meiss Meadow, which follows a forest road down Woods Lake Road (marked by blue diamonds).   It's a gentle slope on a wide open road, but take note this section can be icy when temperature is below freezing.  If you're not fairly confident on you're skis, best to wait till theres fresh powder, or until you've got a nice warm day with soft melting snow to come down this trail. Woods Lake Road is paved but unplowed in the winter.  The road is nearly level and an easy ski to the lake.  It seems to me that just skiing up this road from Hwy88 would be a great intro ski tour, but I guess there's no good parking there.  On the way back if you're up for a steeper climb through the woods, follow the Wilderness Boundary Trail back up to Carson pass.  This trail is also marked by blue diamonds and leaves the Woods Lake Trail just north of a bridge over mid-sized creek.

Intermediate to advanced skiers can also continue on from Woods Lake up to Winnemucca Lake.  Near the outflow of Woods Lake on it's north side, a small wooden bridge crosses the lake.  (It is often buried in the winter, I'm sure).  Across that bridge, a marked trail leads steadily up a shallow wooded valley until the trail makers disappear around the boundary of the Mokelumne Wilderness.  It turns out that's fine, though, because just as you enter the wilderness, the trees thin out and you can easily navigate to the lake, sitting under the dramatic cliffs extending north of the summit or Round Top.  Winnemucca Lake is about 1.5 miles south of and 800 feet above Woods Lake. Skiers with confidence in their off-trail navigation skills may want to return to their car by skiing north past Elephants Back and picking up the route of the Pacific Crest Trail.  Only attempt this rout if you are confident in your navigation skills and carry a good map (or better pre-load topographical map onto a navigational app on your phone).

Round Top from the end of the blazes on the trail to Winnemucca Lake.  From this point making the lake is just a matter of skiing to the base of those cliffs to the left of the peak.