Caribou Lakes and Sawtooth Ridge
The path is up and hot in mid season. Views of Thompson Peak and its
glaciers are breathtaking. The biggest lake in the Trinity Alps is popular.
If you are planning to go over the pass to Portuguese Camp on Stuart Fork,
know that it is called Suicide Ridge by some.
Cautions:
- Bring water from mid season on for first part of trail
- No wood, bring stove, except at hardest lake to get to
Points Along the Trail:
Distance: 0.0
Elevation: 5000'
Big Flat Campground. Descend trail 200 yards South to cross the South
Fork Salmon River. Take left fork up bank. On the flat above bank turn
west and pass trail to south going to Josephine Creek Lodge and Kidd Creek
Trail. Soon come to a trail register.
Views of Caribou Mt. (8525') in first mile.
Views also below of the imperceptible divide between the N. Fork Salmon
River and Coffee Creek. Can see Big Flat, Mt. Meadow Ranch and the trail
to Swift Creek slanting up ridge to Yellow Rose Mine.
Distance: 3.0
Elevation: 6280'
Caribou Meadow. Here the Old Caribou Peak Trail and the new trail intersect.
Old Caribou Peak Trail
Turn south on it to climb over Caribou Mt. (8118'). Not maintained, steeper,
rougher, but its the best way to Little Caribou Lake--solitude and wood
guaranteed--1000' up.
New Trail
Soon comes out on NW face of Caribou Mt.
Distance: 5 0
Elevation: 6800'
Brown's Meadows. Fair campsites and water 100 yds past meadow.
Distance: 7.0
Head southeast across steep open granite slope overlooking chasm. Thompson
Peak covers southwest horizon.
Distance: 7.5 to 9
Elevation: 6710'
Trail drops to ridge between Snowslide (6700') and Lower Caribou Lake
(6500').
Distance: 9.5
Junction Little S. Fork Salmon River Trail.
Distance: 10.0
Elevation: 6822
Caribou Lake (72 acres) the biggest in the Trinity Alps. There are many
good campsites in the rocks at the north and east ends. Big Caribou Lake
camps exposed to wind. South of Big Caribou Lake jagged top of Sawtooth
Ridge forms the south horizon. Trail climbs to crest from south end of
lake then drops.
Distance: 11
Elevation: 7550'
Caribou (Suicide) Pass. From around here look down 2200' in 0.75 miles
to Portuguese Camp in Stuart Fork Canyon and walk along ridge to see Sapphire
and Emerald Lakes.
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