Hike to Emerald Lake and Sky Meadow

Last Updated Aug. 2005
The text was written by Gloria Brill.

• July 25, 2005 Beautiful day again in the High Sierras - clear deep blue sky - no clouds of any kind. Temperature ranged from 65 degrees in the shade to 75 deg. in the sun with a lovely Sierra breeze blowing. We began our hike at Cold Water Campground (9050') wending our way along the sometimes difficult to navigate trail close to Cold Water Creek which is one of my favorite creeks (yes, I guess every creek is one of my favorites). It is a beautiful mtn. creek bordered with lush green grasses and some wildflowers but not as many flowers as in former years due to the late season this year. Anyway, the trail is a bit treacherous in parts as one is climbing and the trail gets worn away during higher water times but we persevered and made it without any falls. When reaching a "plateau" the creek is slower moving, shallow, and so very clear. We then scrambled among some boulders and rocks for a picture taking spot with the mtns. in the background. From there we skirted around Emerald Lake (which has never been one of my favorites - water is a deep green) to its inlet where there were quite a few flowers in a little meadow. From here the trail continues another mile UPWARD along the cascades of Cold Water Creek to an area called Sky Meadows. This part of the trail is quite steep - we only attempt it during our last week here after we have built up some leg muscles and ability to breathe in the high altitude. There is a lovely waterfall along the way. Sky Meadows is considered an Alpine area (9700') and usually the meadow is full of wild flowers but not this year as the snow melted too late in the season. Only saw some small yellow buttercup type flowers. We always walk to the end of the meadow and then clamber up the rocky slope to find the "perfect" picnic spot at the base of the great Blue Crag. A creek was flowing below our picnic rock so the only sound we heard up there was the gentle flow of the creek. No one else was up there - we had the whole Sky Meadow area to ourselves! A marmot did appear but he was skittish. Then we had the two mile hike back to the car - going DOWN a steep trail is harder for me than going up but we both made it safely. Even though you take the same trail, the views are different going in the other direction. When leaving the campground, we saw our first bear! Now we have a couple of bear pictures to add to our collection. It is so funny as people gather from all directions with their cameras - like we never saw a bear before. The bears know food is found in the campgrounds.

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