Stuart Fork Gear Checklist
The Stuart Fork trail follows a river through shaded forest to Morris Meadows, then climbs to Emerald and Sapphire Lakes. Writers split the trip into a long first day and a short, harder second one, and carry bug protection, rope and rocks for hard-ground tents, and ways to keep food from deer and bears. The Forest Service sets the rules, and a free wilderness permit and campfire permit come from self-service kiosks.
What shapes your gear on Stuart Fork
- Permits and group size
- An overnight stay needs both a wilderness permit and a campfire permit, from outdoor kiosks at the Weaverville Ranger Station, Redding, Shasta Lake and several fire stations. The trail page lists no fee, caps groups at 10 and bans bikes and drones. A 2017 writer says no quota limits permits, so nothing needs reserving far ahead.
From Shasta-Trinity National Forest (USFS) and Backpackers Review
- Distances disagree
- The Forest Service lists 15 miles total. Hikers counted more. One logged 9.2 miles on day one to Morris Meadows and 4.4 miles to Sapphire Lake, another counted 8.6 miles to the meadow and 14 miles one way to Sapphire, and a third called the whole trip 12 miles each way.
From Shasta-Trinity National Forest (USFS), Backpackers Review, Inga's Adventures and Marcus Hellberg
- The way in
- The Forest Service puts the start at Bridge Camp Campground and says the trail passes Morris Meadows on its way to Emerald Lake, with the route hard to follow beyond. Writers describe a gravel last stretch passable for a regular car and a campground near the trailhead with a bathroom, but a 2017 writer says its sites are not reservable.
From Shasta-Trinity National Forest (USFS), Marcus Hellberg, Backpackers Review and Inga's Adventures
- Shade, heat and water
- The first miles run through forest, so one writer called the shade welcome on a hot day, and another notes the trail is more exposed above the meadow. Creeks cross the trail every few minutes at the start, and the river offers refills every few miles. Reports put the forest into the 90s by midday in summer.
From Marcus Hellberg, Inga's Adventures and Backpackers Review
- Snow and season
- In July 2017 many Trinity Alps passes were still snowy, and Caribou Lake was partly frozen. In June 2019 a hiker crossed snowfields below Sapphire Lake and found it mostly iced, while an August 2012 group had mid-80s heat at Emerald Lake.
From Backpackers Review, Marcus Hellberg and Ltbackpackers
- Emerald to Sapphire Lake
- Writers describe the route between the lakes in different ways. One needed about 45 extra minutes and some scrambling over granite rubble, another found a barely visible trail along the north shore with rock scrambling and brush, and a third says the path goes right across a shale slope. A 2019 hiker pushed through thick brush on the approach to Emerald Lake.
From Backpackers Review, Ltbackpackers, Inga's Adventures and Marcus Hellberg
What the agency requires on Stuart Fork
A wilderness permit and a campfire permit
Camping in the Trinity Alps Wilderness any time of year without a valid wilderness permit is prohibited. The Forest Service page says overnight visitors need both permits and lists the self-service kiosks. Groups are limited to 10 people.
From Six Rivers National Forest (USFS) and Shasta-Trinity National Forest (USFS)
Bear-proof food storage
The forest order requires a bear-proof canister in the Canyon Creek and Swift Creek drainages. In all other areas any bear-proof system that stops bears reaching the food must be used. A 2017 writer says a canister or a hang both work here.
From Six Rivers National Forest (USFS) and Backpackers Review
A fire plan
Wood fires are banned in three mapped Campfire Prohibition Areas. A hiker with a valid campfire permit may still run a portable stove with a shut-off valve where wood fires are banned.
Waste kept 200 feet away
Soap water may not be disposed of within 200 feet of any water source, and bodily waste may not be left within 200 feet of lakes, streams, springs, campsites or trails.
No gear left behind for a day
Storing or leaving equipment, personal property or supplies unattended for more than 24 hours is prohibited. Bicycles, wagons and carts are banned.
From Six Rivers National Forest (USFS) and Shasta-Trinity National Forest (USFS)
What hikers carry on Stuart Fork
A bear canister or a fabric bear bag
The forest order requires a canister only in the Canyon Creek and Swift Creek drainages, so hikers here choose. A 2017 writer lists a fabric bag and a canister as the two options and likes the canister as a seat, and a 2019 hiker called it heavy and inconvenient. A Sierra Club group left its food locked in a canister at the Morris Meadow base camp on the lake day.
From Six Rivers National Forest (USFS), Backpackers Review, Marcus Hellberg and Inga's Adventures
Permethrin-treated clothing and skin repellent
A 2017 writer says mosquitoes are common near the lakes, treats the clothes and tent, and adds repellent on bare skin. The same group found the bugs at Morris Meadows in full force at sunset.
From Backpackers Review
Extra cord and rocks for the tent at Sapphire Lake
The 2017 group could not drive stakes into the hard ground at Sapphire Lake, so they tied the tent down with lines and rocks. Camps there have almost no trees for shade or wind cover.
From Backpackers Review
Trekking poles, plus an ice ax or crampons for Caribou Lake
On the Sawtooth Ridge day hike, the 2017 group found poles very helpful, and said the snow on the north side of the ridge would call for an ice ax or crampons to go on down to Caribou Lake.
From Backpackers Review
Plenty of water for the exposed ridge
A 2017 group warns that there is no water once you start climbing the ridge above Caribou Lake. The trail up the ridge is exposed and hot in the afternoon, so they left early.
From Backpackers Review
A light day pack for base camp trips
A 2019 hiker left camp standing at Morris Meadow and climbed to both lakes with a light pack. A 2017 Sierra Club group did the same, carrying a mostly empty pack with a bladder, lunch, camera and towel, and getting an early start to beat the heat.
From Marcus Hellberg and Inga's Adventures
Fishing tackle or a small raft
A 2017 group paddled an inflatable raft on Emerald Lake and caught trout with spinners. A 2019 fly fisher at the lake inlet had no luck, so results vary.
From Backpackers Review and Marcus Hellberg
25 people can go on one permit. Split this list between them so nobody carries two stoves.
Plan a trip hereWhat hikers regret or leave behind on Stuart Fork
A sleeping pad you do not trust
A 2019 hiker's inflatable pad developed a leak on this trip, and he planned to try a foam pad instead.
From Marcus Hellberg
Leftover food and salty gear left out
A thunderstorm at Morris Meadow left a 2019 hiker with about 10 deer around the tent, eating food scraps left by earlier campers and licking the salt on his poles. The hiker had to shoo them away.
From Marcus Hellberg
Bug protection on the meadow at sunset
A photo caption from the 2017 group says the bugs were out in force when they visited the meadow as the sun went down. The same writer recommends treated clothing and spray.
From Backpackers Review
Racing for the best Emerald Lake campsites
Several hikers told the 2017 group that Sapphire Lake was prettier and less busy, so they moved up. The extra climb took about 45 minutes, and the hard ground and lack of shade came with it.
From Backpackers Review
Gear questions for Stuart Fork
Do you need a bear canister on the Stuart Fork trail?
Not by the forest order. A bear-proof canister is required only in the Canyon Creek and Swift Creek drainages, and elsewhere any bear-proof system works. Hikers on this trail still carry canisters, and a 2017 writer says a hang is also fine.
From Six Rivers National Forest (USFS), Backpackers Review and Inga's Adventures
How far is it from the Stuart Fork trailhead to Emerald Lake?
Writers count 12 to 14 miles one way. Day one to Morris Meadows was 9.2 miles in one report and 8.6 in another, and Morris Meadows to Emerald Lake was 4 to 5 miles. The Forest Service lists 15 miles for the whole trail.
From Backpackers Review, Inga's Adventures, Ltbackpackers, Marcus Hellberg and Shasta-Trinity National Forest (USFS)
Do you need a permit to camp on the Stuart Fork trail?
Yes. The Forest Service says overnight visitors need a wilderness permit and a campfire permit, both from self-service kiosks. A 2017 writer says neither has a quota and neither costs anything.
From Shasta-Trinity National Forest (USFS) and Backpackers Review
Are campfires allowed along the Stuart Fork trail?
They need a campfire permit, and wood fires are banned in three mapped Campfire Prohibition Areas. A hiker in June 2019 lit small fires at Morris Meadow. Check the order's map for your camp, and carry a stove either way.
From Six Rivers National Forest (USFS), Shasta-Trinity National Forest (USFS) and Marcus Hellberg
Is there water along the Stuart Fork trail?
Yes. The trail follows the river, with creek crossings every few minutes near the start and refills every few miles. The exposed climb up the Sawtooth Ridge has none.
From Marcus Hellberg and Backpackers Review
Sources
- Stuart Fork · Shasta-Trinity National Forest (USFS) · Agency
- Trinity Wilderness Area Restrictions · Six Rivers National Forest (USFS) · Agency
- Emerald and Sapphire Lakes, Trinity Alps Wilderness (25 mile trek) · Backpackers Review · Trip report
- Trinity Alps backpacking: Sapphire and Emerald Lakes · Marcus Hellberg, Marcus Hellberg · Blog
- Backpacking to Morris Meadow on the Stuart Fork Trail in the Trinity Alps · Inga's Adventures, Inga · Blog
- Emerald and Sapphire Lakes, Trinity Alps, Aug 2012 · Ltbackpackers · Trip report