Last Friday a few of us went out to see how the back entrance trail to the High Lakes held up over the winter after the fires. If you are not familiar with this trail, look on the lower right part of the FOTHL OHV Camping Map (
http://www.friendsofthehighlakes.com/maps.shtml) and find the squiggly lines leaving the North Fork Feather River and heading straight up 3000 ft toward the High Lakes, about an hour from Chico.
You start at either the Rock Creek outflow side, or like we did, the Jackass Creek outflow side at about 2000 ft. elevation. We did the whole loop. You can see the trail and switchbacks behind us in this pic
First you cross this bridge over Jackass Creek.
Pretty sure it will hold us!
Then start the switchbacks. Several have to be made with a 3-point turn. Sometimes they get washed out. Not sure why they sent me first...
No its not a natural break. He is spotting.
Some snow
And at the top, more snow, like you would expect at 4800 ft ele.
The High Lakes in the background
Then you start down another set of 28 switchbacks down the power lines to Rock Creek
And you end up back at the North Fork.
If you have nerve, give it a try. These trails are there because they are needed to maintain the high voltage power lines. Some of the trail is underneath them. It is a great way to get into the High Lakes if you come from Hwy 70, or if you are just tired of the same old road in.
