The Manzanita Lake Winter Routes are oversnow ski and snowshoe routes on the northwest side of the park, starting from Loomis Plaza near the Northwest Entrance. They are the easiest winter routes in the park.
Details
- Type
- Point of Interest
- Accessibility
- Limited accessibility
Overview
When snow closes the park highway to through traffic, roughly December through April, vehicle access is limited to the Manzanita Lake and Southwest Areas. The Manzanita Lake routes begin at Loomis Plaza, at about 5,800 feet, where 24-hour restrooms and water are available. The terrain here is the gentlest in the park, with low slopes and lake scenery.
The Routes
Beginner options include the Manzanita Lake Snowshoe Loop (1.8 miles), the Reflection Lake Snowshoe Loop (0.5 miles), and the Manzanita Campground Loop (1.5 miles). Intermediate routes include the Chaos Jumbles area (1.2-plus miles round trip), the Chaos Crags route (4 miles round trip), the Nobles Emigrant route (5.2 miles round trip), and Manzanita Creek (7.5 miles round trip). Some routes are recommended for snowshoes rather than skis.