This Fourth of July let Uncle Sam decide your next adventure – visit a patriotic destination!

Enjoying the vista over Liberty Lake.

Liberty Lake
Destination: Lamoille Canyon to Liberty Lake in Ruby Mountains Wilderness
Mileage: 8 miles round trip
Trailhead: Road’s End on Lamoille Canyon Scenic Byway southeast of Elko, Nevada
Elevation: 8,800 up to 10,500 feet

The Ruby Mountains are a hidden gem in Nevada. The drive up Lamoille Canyon is worth the trip in and of itself, but there’s more to be had when you lace up your hiking boots. On this hike pass Dollar Lakes and Lamoille Lake before the big accent up Liberty Pass – once you near the top turn around because the view back down the canyon is ridiculous. A quick decent will land you at Liberty Lake with Favre and Castle Lakes a little farther south for those wanting to add on mileage and scenery.

Fourth of July Lake
Destination: Fourth of July Lake in Mokelumne Wilderness
Mileage: 9 miles total
Trailhead: Woods Lake off Hwy 88
Elevation: 8,240 up to 9,300 feet

I’ve been wanting to hike the Woods Lake loop for a while now – Woods Lake to Round Top Lake to Winnemucca Lake back to Woods. However, after hiking down memory trail with my dad and his backpacking days I want to add on a spur to Fourth of July Lake! I’m thinking backpack to Fourth of July Lake to escape the crowd on the main loop then the next day hike back and complete the loop. If you really want to get adventurous and add on some miles, another option would be to take the trail from Fourth of July Lake to the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) then either connect with the trail that heads south to Winnemucca Lake just west of Elephants Back or take the PCT all the way to Carson Pass and finagle a ride back to your vehicle.

Independence Trail
Destination: Independence Trail in the South Yuba River State Park
Mileage: 2 miles total, with longer mileage available
Trailhead: Just off Hwy 49, 7 miles north of Nevada City
Elevation: 1,400 up to 1,500 feet

This patriotic trail caught my attention because it is two miles of wheelchair-accessible wilderness! Between the gentle grade of the trail and some fancy woodwork, this trail looks like quite the feat of trail construction. Plus the State Parks, along with volunteer groups, plan on extending the accessible trail for a full 10 miles. What a fantastic resource! Find out more information from the South Yuba River State Park.

This Fourth of July I’ll be enjoying the wilderness above Lake Tahoe. I’m excited for my ridge-top view of the fireworks shows around the lake. Stay tuned for a full report!

Have a blast!
Trails