Near: Weaverville
Distance: 28 miles
Elevation: 2,800 to 5,900 feet
Vegetation: Pine Forest
Last Visit: May 2019
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| Cascades on the Stuart Fork Creek just below Emerald Lake, with Sawtooth Ridge in the background |
Sapphire Lake (and on the way, Emerald Lake) is one of the more popular destinations in the Trinity Alps. The lakes are lovely, they're surrounded by dramatic peaks and ridges, and the trail runs near several cascades and small waterfalls near the lakes. Along with the slightly more popular Canyon Creek Lakes route, this is one of the lowest-elevation hikes of true alpine character in the state, which means it melts out early and makes a good Memorial Day and early June destination even after a big snow year like 2019. While theoretically doable as a very long day hike, the lakes are best reached on an overnight, or as 3-day backpack as we took it, camping at Morris Meadows about halfway to the lakes. While I enjoyed Emerald and Sapphire Lakes as much or maybe more than the Canyon Creek Lakes themselves, views and waterfalls are more abundant in the first half the Canyon Creek Lakes hike, so make that one your first choice for a valley hike in the Trinity Alps.
