This is a beautiful, but challenging, 15-mile loop in the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness in the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. This loop utilizes some less trafficked trails to get to and from the PCT. You may see and/or hear some cows grazing from these less trafficked trails. The loop starts at the Clark Fork Trailhead. Follow Clark Fork Trail and then Boulder Creek Trail (pack trail) east up to the PCT. The PCT portion of the loop has amazing views but no water. Leave the PCT on Paradise Valley Trail (pack trail) and then Disaster Creek Trail heading west down to the Disaster Creek Trailhead. The trail ends at Disaster Creek Trailhead and there is a short road walk back to Clark Fork Trailhead.
Resources:
You can stop at the Summit Ranger Station on CA Hwy 108 on your way to the trailhead to pick up a wilderness permit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/stanislaus/recarea/?recid=81651
For maps we used Wendy Lautner’s book: Day & Section Hikes Pacific Crest Trail: Northern California
October 4-5, 2014
