Hello all. This is the 2nd 5-day trip I did this season. In short, it was an awesome experience. We covered about 58 miles from Tuolumne Meadows to Twin Lakes. Here is the route on CalTopo. Day 1: 9 miles from the Glen Aulin TH to an unnamed meadow south of Elbow Hill Day 2: 13 miles to Matterhorn Canyon w/ a side trip to McCable Lakes Day 3: 11 miles to Benson Lake Day 4: 12 miles to Pby pakoR - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Thank you so much for all the ideas. We stayed on a wonderful granite slab below Burro before starting the Mule ascent. It was near Piute Creek with a breeze and wonderful views of Sawtooth and other peaks. Thanks- hope to do a full trip report soon. Resting my feet....by lilagray - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
There a pond below Crown Lake that has some camping with views in the rock ledges on the east side. The north side of Mule Pass also has some good camping with Views and lakelets. Hope you have/had a good trip.by lschaaf - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Quotemrcondron Once you get over Burro you will want to stay in the canyon where you will have the Sawtooth Ridge for a view. There should be water and there are some fantastic pitching spots. Once over Mule the views degrade. Drop down ad check out the slide on the way out but before over Mule. It's all very open so no worries doing a bit of cross country. Chick-on has some pictures posteby tomdisco - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Once you get over Burro you will want to stay in the canyon where you will have the Sawtooth Ridge for a view. There should be water and there are some fantastic pitching spots. Once over Mule the views degrade. Drop down ad check out the slide on the way out but before over Mule. It's all very open so no worries doing a bit of cross country. Chick-on has some pictures posted on Picasa I bby mrcondron - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Thank you for all the great replies. I have been "off-line" so just getting to them now. I think the side trips sound great but unfortunately we have work commitments that keep us limited to the five total days. Retirement can't come too soon... but I digress... It sounds like we have multiple options so we will see how the energy is once we crest Burro and if we want to continueby lilagray - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Ditto on much of what has been said but I'll put in another hearty plug for a side trip and possible camp spot at Rodgers Lake on south side of Volunteer Peak.by tomdisco - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
I've camped at both Crown Lake and below Burro Pass. Both are nice... the views of the Sawtooths are better near Burro Pass. But it's hard to throw a rock without hitting a nice campsite anywhere in the park.by AndrewF - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
I was badly bent after the weekend and besides I knew you would do a much better job. C-o is right about camping closer to the pass where you can see the whole canyon and the Sawtooth Ridge which is one of the best sights in the park. Go up Volunteer.by mrcondron - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
You can always do this: http://yosemitenews.info/forum/search.php?17,search=matterhorn+canyon,author=,page=1,match_type=ALL,match_dates=0,match_forum=ALL,match_threads=0 What I don't understand is why peeps like Old Dood don't respond. Has he simply lost his mind entirely? He has been in Slide Canyon a "few times" and camped in that area a "few" other times. We hikedby chick-on - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
We camped at Crown Lake...there is a lot of room there, on the Northeast side. There are also some nice open spots right past Mule Pass....great views, but make sure you can get water there. And Robinson Lakes is another option. Wonderful area. We have trip report on this one on our website...by balzaccom - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
We are heading up Matterhorn Canyon the first week of July and we are trying to decide where to stay on our 4th night...we are looking at somewhere between Burro Pass and Crown Lake. Does anyone want to chime in with their experience? Also if you have been in the area do you recommend staying in between Burro and Mule Pass or pushing over Mule to stay on the other side like the Crown lake area...by lilagray - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Several of us were in part of this area late last August. We went off trail down Slide Canyon and then up Camp Creek and over to Wilson Creek to descent to Matterhorn Canyon. If I recall correctly, Wilson Creek just below Benson Pass was dry. There might have been a tiny trickle there but just can't remember. We had already filled up at a tarn much higher up. Matterhorn Creek will be runninby tomdisco - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
hey all, quick/easy question: what's the mileage on the loop out of twin lakes - matterhorn canyon - Rodgers lake - Rancheria creek - back to twin lakes? I've been so inspired by posts on the subject area. thanks, mtcby mtc - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Quotechick-on Doh! Must have been on my head! You were standing on your head---but I agree with you about Matterhorn Canyon. It just gets better with every step you take up the Canyon.by balzaccom - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Quotechick-on Plan on really bad mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are only not bad in July if it's been a really big snow year and you stay mostly in the snow. Wifie and I have been doing northern yose every july for a bit now ... various variations on all kinds of great stuff up there. So many options. You've mentioned what is in every guidebook. It's what peeps do if they've done longer trip up derby tomdisco - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Well... last year... where we went... in late June and into July... the bugs weren't really too horrendous. And then in only some places. Been to Benson and Smedberg and Rodgers too many times where it was just pretty annoying with the little buggers. In July I take a 2 person tent when going with the wifie and we lounge in there during lunchtime and have dinner in there. Makes the tripby chick-on - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
You've already got answers above. I would say that I don't remember the crossings of Matterhorn Creek much at all, so they certainly weren't anything to worry about--mainly just getting your ankles wet. Skeeters? It all depends on the weather...but Kerrick Canyon can be pretty fierce~! Happily, you don't have to camp there. This is a great trip, and the hardest part is probably the firsby balzaccom - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Plan on really bad mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are only not bad in July if it's been a really big snow year and you stay mostly in the snow. Wifie and I have been doing northern yose every july for a bit now ... various variations on all kinds of great stuff up there. So many options. You've mentioned what is in every guidebook. It's what peeps do if they've done longer trip up der. Most go viaby chick-on - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Looking for trip advice for doing a loop through the northern Yosemite area. Current plan is loop in and out of Twin Lakes through Crown Lake, Matterhorn Canyon, Benson Lake and Rancheria Creek, etc. over 5 to 6 days. - Timing - first week of July. Any big crossings or snow covered passes that may be problematic at this time? Is this area really buggy early season? - Clockwise or Countercloby elicali - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Here's a link to our photos of part of that trip---we started at Twin Lakes and did the loop through Kerrick Canyon, Benson Lake, and Matterhorn Canyon. Lovely stuff. https://picasaweb.google.com/balzaccom/BackpackingInTheSierraNevadaTwinLakesToBensonLakeAndMatterhornCanyon# Kerrick Canyon:by balzaccom - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Kinda late getting around to this. You have already seen at least one report of this trip from a fellow hiker but here's my version. On August 23rd five of us departed Twin Lakes in Humboldt-Toiyabe Nat'l Forest on the Robinson Creek Trail for an intended 7-day, 6-night trip looping back to Twin Lakes. The Rim Fire was in play but reports were only a few thousand acres. That, of course, changby tomdisco - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Since we only had a couple of days, we wanted to do a hike that delivered some great scenery, and lovely places to camp, in a relatively short time and space. And we were going to start hiking on Saturday morning, so we were a little worried about getting a permit. Ten Lakes Basin answered the call. Happily, it was not only M's birthday weekend, but it was also a free entrance dayby balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quoteplawrence They're more gentle and timid than even Yosemite black bears. Come on now, when was the last time anyone's food was raided by Bigfoot in Yosemite? . Well I did not want to spook people too much. But here is conclusive proof that Bigfoot not only passed by Matterhorn Canyon (see Spiller Canyon trip picts) but that he/she wears the same size shoes as Shaq. I felt strby Catalonian Burro - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Bonus! Some photosynthies! East of Mule Pass The Slide of Slide Canyon Between Spiller and Matterhorn Canyon Spiller Canyon and Whorl Mtn. If you zoom in enough in this one, you can see a red splotch which is Burro and/or 'Disco; they were on the other side of the creek, straight below the highest apparent point on the grey peaks north of Virginia: Spiller and Whorl from near tarby basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I'll try to add some "color" to this report.. It was a very fun trip, with many jokes. Lots revolving around potty trowels and cold water "shrinkage" and bear can envy. There were times I almost spit out my food laughing - and I'm very protective of my food! Oh yeah, enjoying food was a source of fun too... I'd just sit there with my usual goodies, content and watch the Burby JustKeepWalking - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Around 9:00pm on August 21, my wife (JustKeepWalking) and I drove through Pinecrest and Strawberry. The full moon had just risen and was dark orange, and ash was raining on our car. By the time we stopped near Dardanelles, we were past the worst of the Rim Fire's smoke and slept well, unaware that a day later we'd be passing backpackers heading away from our destination claiming that Stubblefieby basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Made a set of faux toes... hope you enjoy... A few from it: Mr. JimDisco after Mule Pass: Enjoying Lower Matterhorn Canyon: My buddie Z Perret in Spilla Canyon: Bunch more ear: https://picasaweb.google.com/yosemite.chick.on/SlideSpillaby chick-on - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Lower Matterhorn Canyon at dusk-ish: at dawn-ish: More later... Tanks JimDisco. We had a blastsby chick-on - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Bear Activity Summary: This week bears caused three incidents in Yosemite Valley Campgrounds. All three incidents occurred because either food or attractants were left out after campers went to sleep. Always store all food and scented items in a latched bear locker. Bears continue to be active in Yosemite’s backcountry. Many visitors have reported seeing a bear rolling bear canisters away fby eeek - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion