3 night stay this weekend

[dennx]

Well we ended up re-routing our hike. We'll go to Strawberry Junction (Day 1), then to the Peak and onto Tamarack (Day 2), then Round Valley (Day 3). Little Round is full all weekend.

We'll hike out of Tamarack on Day 2 and go up to Long Valley and do a loop down to Hidden Valley and back up to Round Valley for the night.

Is Hidden Lake a real lake?

Dennis

[dennx]

OK, so it is a Lake, but protected by a fence.

[Hikin_Jim]

You know, if I had an extra night in the wilderness like you guys do, I'd be tempted to spend that third night down in the Laws or Caramba areas. There's some really nice swimming down in the Caramba area. If you go there, going around to the left (as you descend) of the falls about 50' above the creek bed is a good way to get to the lower pool.

You're route would look something like this. You'll want to zoom in and scroll around of course. If you're interested, I could walk you through it.

Either way, I think you're in for a good hike in what is perhaps the #1 nicest hiking area in Southern California*.

HJ

*Followed closely if not equaled by the fabulous San Gorgonio Wilderness.

[dennx]

That sounds like a good idea. I had no idea there was a fall to hike to! Would be nice to cool off with high temps. But we'll need to get a Fed permit to camp at Laws Camp, correct?

[Hikin_Jim]

That sounds like a good idea. I had no idea there was a fall to hike to! Would be nice to cool off with high temps. But we'll need to get a Fed permit to camp at Laws Camp, correct?

Yes, you will need to get a USFS (Federal) permit.

HJ

[dennx]

No problem. Thanks for the suggestion.

How exactly do you get to the falls?

[Hikin_Jim]

No problem. Thanks for the suggestion.

How exactly do you get to the falls?

Getting from the Round Vly area to Caramba is pretty straightforward. Start wherever your site is (I'm using imaginary point "A" to represent a campsite here), head to the water faucet in Round Valley ("B"), turn left as though you were going to get on the tram. When you get to the Y shaped junction ("C"), bear right and join the trail ("D") going up and over the divide ("E"). From the divide, drop down to the junction of the Willow Creek and Laws trails ("F"), then turn left and head down to the junction with the Caramba Trail ("G"). Turn left again, cross the creek, and head down the Caramba Trail towards point "H" and then to Caramba Camp ("I"). The trail is a little indistinct between Laws and Caramba Camps. Keep your eyes open. One of the attractions to me of the Caramba area is the fact that it sees far fewer visitors than other parts of the SJ Wilderness.

When you get to the Caramba Camp area ("A"), follow the direction of the creek, but stay at about the level of the flat area. You'll see the open flat area when you get there; it will be fairly obvious. From the flat area proceed to approx. point "B". You'll then go up and over a bit of a rocky area at the eastern end of the flat area, drop into a steep gully "C", and then drop down to the base of the falls ("D"). Note that there is no trail in the vicinity of points "B", "C", and "D". That gully is pretty darn steep and loose. I didn't find it inordinately difficult, but do watch your step. There are three pools, the largest of which is at the base of the largest falls (approximately "D").

If you like, you can start at point "A" and walk down the creek to the top of the falls. You'll see an old wooden sign nailed to a tree that says something about "impassible falls ahead." I was able to down climb the left side of the falls, but it was definitely a bit tricky, and I'm 6' tall. A person of lesser stature would find the climb quite a bit different. By the way, the middle pool would be difficult to get out of if you somehow got into it. Be careful around the middle pool.

The trail down to Caramba is pretty exposed (sunny). If you were to camp there and then head out in the morning, you could beat the heat.

Hope that's clear,

HJ

[dennx]

It makes sense, I'll take it with me to the falls to make sure I get there OK.

Thanks!

Dennis

[Hikin_Jim]

It makes sense, I'll take it with me to the falls to make sure I get there OK.

Thanks!

Dennis

You're welcome. Post some pics after you get back.

HJ

[Florian]

dennx, i wonder if i saw you guys on Sunday? I did tram to peak and back. Going up above Wellmans i passed a group stopped along the trail coming down. Then i saw the same group climbing out of RV with packs towards Wellmans as i was headed down. Was that you guys by any chance? I was hiking alone, wearing a brown shirt, orange daypack and look like my avatar.

-Florian