Rocky Basin Lakes is an approximate 12.5 miles trek into the Golden Trout Wilderness from Horseshoe Meadow. The trail makes great gains and losses in elevation creating a good test for backpackers endurance and readiness for longer trips.
The trip treks over a pass, touches the Pacific Crest Trail, makes its way through large meadows, and climbs up to the lakes. It may be a long overnight trip for some, but if you can spare another day it would make a worthwhile two-night/three-day adventure!
The trail begins at Horseshoe Meadow nearly 10,000 feet in elevation. Hike west 0.3 miles to the first trail junction. Continue going west along the northern portion of Horseshoe Meadow for another 3.4 miles. This is a nice “warm up” stretch before the trail starts gaining significant elevation.
Once across two stream crossings, the trail begins the steep climb up to Cottonwood Pass (11,160 feet). Depending on when your trip is there may be horses or packtrains going up and down the trail. Make sure to step off the trial on the downhill side to let them pass.
Once at the top and you have enjoyed the views at Cottonwood Pass, take the trail heading downhill towards Big Whitney Meadow. The beginning portion can be steep. You’ll be trekking down along Stokes Stringer Creek, which headwaters include Chicken Spring Lake. Once down in Stokes Stringer Meadow the trail is not as steep while it continues to go downhill.
Big Whitney Meadow has an “island” in the middle of it. On the east side of the island a small unmaintained trail continues north and up to Siberian Pass. Continue west along the trail for another 0.7 miles. The trail will join up with another main trail junction. Again, continue west as the trail going north also treks up to Siberian Pass.
Shortly after the last trail junction another one begins going west and up the hillside. Take this trail as it will begin climbing in elevation and going west of Big Whitney Meadow for approximately 2.6 miles. If you make a mistake, the trail will bend south along the western edge of Big Whitney Meadow and treks down Golden Trout Creek.
After hiking up and down hill towards Barigan Stringer Creek, another trail junction occurs near the creek. Take a right (north) following the creek uphill towards Rocky Basin Lakes. The trail mostly follows the creek uphill for another 1.7 miles. You’ll come to a creek crossing and continue on until a trail junction. Stay to the left for another 2.6 miles into Rocky Basin Lakes. The trail will end at the most western lake. The other lakes are close by, but you will have to cross-country to them on your own.
Rocky Basin Lakes backpack first half 1972
Rocky Basin Lakes backpack second half
On July 22-24, 1972 myself, Larry O'Leary and Mark Twohey took a 26 mile round trip backpack to the Rocky Basin Lakes in the Golden Trout Wilderness.
We drove from San Diego to the end of Cottonwood road (1.5 miles past old sawmill site) on Friday afternoon and hiked in 2 miles to a stream at the head of Horseshoe Meadows (old cabin) for night.
Saturday we continued over Cottonwood Pass to Rocky Basin Lakes. Water at various spots on trail from the pass to Stokes Stringer (Campsites can be found along creek above where water disappears). We continued on across Big Whitney Meadow (water at Golden Trout Creek)(also supposed to be a spring and nice camp on the Siberian Pass Trail).
There was a campsite at Rocky Basin Lakes trail junction just past Siberian Trail Junction (Tourist Pasture & water?). New trail to Rocky Basin Lakes is good and follows much of same route as old trail. Dry until junction with Little Whitney Meadow Trail. Dry from this junction to the lakes.
The new trail comes in between upper two lakes. Follow trail to right on west side of 2nd lake down to lower western most lake which has best campsites and water. Beautiful area. Old trail can be followed down from lakes to where it hits new trail (an easier way out but would be hard to follow in).
