Honeymoon Lake

Pine Creek and French Canyon

Welcome to another addition of “Where is Jay taking us this time!”

This trip is a good introductioninto the Sierras. The first 3 miles sees 3k feet of climbing. After that, the trail empties into a sub-alpine bowl with lakes that is relatively flat compared to the first three miles. Camp will be at Upper Pine Lake or Honeymoon Lake the first night; thenoff the next day into French Canyon where we will find an alpine lakes to stay next to. Day three will find us returning to Honeymoon Lake and out the fourth day.

Here’s a pack list: Download A Backpacking List for the Sierras

Aire and I visited this area eleven years ago; Aire and Kerry did this in 2022 so it will be nice to see how things have changed. Photo Gallery Here

The trail head at Pine Creek Canyon sits at 7,400 feet. For the first mile or so there is a jungle-like feeling with Juniper, Jeffrey Pine, Aspen, Birch, Red Fir shading our path following a small creek. The trail then merges with an old mining road and emerges out into a more open area with a view of the mine (Pine Creek Tungsten Mine). For the next mile, the trail climbs about 1700 feet until a nonfunctional and unused mine (Brownstone Mine), which lies about 2 miles into our trek and intersect Pine Lake at about 3 Miles. From there it is about 3 miles and 500 feet of elevation to Honeymoon Lake. There is water along the trail; so no need for a massive water haul on the first three miles.

There will be ample opportunities to fish.