Alta Lake Trail #979

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Features Commonly Backpacked · Lake · Swimming · Views

The Alta Lake Trail is a great trail in the Sky Lakes Wilderness. It is more popular with equestrians (who help to keep it open) than with hikers but also offers more opportunities for solitude than the Seven Lakes Trail #981 and Frog Lake. The Alta Lake Trail #979 can be used to craft longer backpacking loops in the wilderness area. Lake Alta, near the end of the trail, is a worthy destination for an overnight or longer backpack; or for the quicker hikers, a great spot for lunch or a snack.

The Alta Lake Trail #979 starts at the Alta Lake Trailhead on Forest Road 3785 on the northwest side of the Sky Lakes Wilderness. From there it climbs gently to the southeast through open forest on the south slope of Gopher Ridge. About 3.5 miles from the trailhead, it reaches a junction with the newly reopened Middle Fork Trail #978. Through a strong partnership between the Siskiyou Mountain Club, REI, and the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, this trail was cleared of hundreds of downed trees and made passable again in 2016.

The Alta Lake Trail #979 continues south, passing a signed junction with the now impassable King Spruce Trail #990 (Per the Forest Service: This trail is impassable due to lack of maintenance...)

At 4.7 miles the trail passes Boulder Pond which holds water intermittently but can't be counted on as a year-round water source. After a little more uphill, the trail, crosses the outlet of beautiful Lake Alta (also called Alta Lake) and continues along the east shore of the lake to its southern end. Good camping areas are present both to the east and west of Lake Alta on high ground.

At the south end of the lake, the Alta Lake Trail #979 climbs just a bit more to end at a junction with two other trails: Seven Lakes Trail #981 and Devils Peak Trail #984.