High Lakes

Total Miles
17.7

Elevation

2,021.11 ft

Duration

2 Hours

Technical Rating

6

Difficult

Best Time

Summer

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High Lakes 5

Trail Overview

Camp, fish and relax in remote seclusion after a day of challenging rock crawling. Despite damage from recent fires, this is a great place to spend a weekend exploring a gorgeous high plateau with numerous glaciercarved lakes. The trail is part of the High Lakes OHV Area, which is open to green-sticker vehicles. Staging begins at Waypoint 04. Please stay on designated routes and pack out your trash.

Photos of High Lakes

High Lakes
High Lakes
High Lakes

Difficulty

Difficult: Although much of this trail is moderate, one difficult spot before Waypoint 05 will stop most stock vehicles. We managed to get through with our stock 4-door Rubicon, but just barely. You'll find tight spots between trees with large tree roots. F.S. 608 to Morris Lake is extreme rock crawling.

History

This area, known as the Kimshew Mining District, has a long history starting with prospecting in the mid 1800s and continuing as late as 1980 with modern hydraulic mining. Source: Friends of the High Lakes, www.friendsofhighlakes.com.

Technical Rating

6

Status Reports

Collin Mallery
Oct 13, 2023
Dirt Bike
Open
Muddy/Wet

Access Description

From Chico, take Highway 32 north about 27 miles from Highway 99. Turn right on paved Humboldt Road just before mile marker 37. Continue another 5.3 miles on Humboldt to Skyway (Road) at Butte Meadows. This intersection is about 0.3 miles after Butte Meadows Campground. Follow Skyway 5.9 miles to large intersection for Humbug Summit Road on left.

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