Stoddard Lake - Trinity Alps, CA

Overview
This hike is one of the shortest trails available to provide a fantastic introduction to the Trinity Alps wilderness. It checks many boxes of what this area has to offer: granite cliffs, peaks, alpine lakes, and old-growth forests. Stoddard Lake is the second largest lake in the alps and the primary destination, but there are opportunities to delve further and reach smaller alpine lakes--each unique, beautiful, and mostly surrounded by granite cliffs and pine/fir trees.

Warning
Familiarize yourself with the road to the trailhead because there are several off-shoot forest roads that can be easily mistook for the main road. The road is gravel and can be rocky. SUV or high-clearance is recommended, though 4WD is not necessary.
Depending of the time of year and seasonal snowfall, there may be snow on the trail or roads.

History
Some maps will label the site of Stoddard Cabin at the fork where the Stoddard trail bears South. This was the site of the home of a family who once ranched in the area. The cabin is long since gone, but the name lives on in Stoddard Lake.

Hike
The trail begins with some elevation gain through the forest, and soon offers views of surrounding peaks in the area. You will find some meadows, which the trail once passed through but now wraps around. There is a fork in the trail with a sign indicating Stoddard Lake to the South and Doe Lake to the East. Doe Lake is roughly 3 miles and 1500 ft AEG from this point. Stoddard Lake is about a mile from this point. You can hike all the way around Stoddard Lake, and reach McDonald Lake a small distance South of Stoddard. Enjoy the world-class views and return the way you came.

Water Sources
Stoddard Lake has water year-round.

Camping
There are a few campsites around the lake with fire pits and some seating.

Check out the Official Route and Triplog.

Leave No Trace and +Add a Triplog after your hike to support this local community.

2018-09-23 lojones5