Red Spur Lakes Plateau Unmaintained Route

Overview

This route is entirely off-trail, but requires no rock climbing skills, It requires good route-finding skills. Via the right route, there are no dangerous exposures. The Red Spur Lakes Plateau is entirely surrounded by the Red Spur and Kern and Colby Canyons. The described route is the only reasonable way in without rock climbing skills. It is rarely visited and probably has spots where no one has walked before. The plateau is covered with talus, but the route avoids most of it.<br><br>Coming from the gap above Picket Creek, once you cross Kaweah Basin Creek, find an easy way to wander southeast while slowly climbing towards the northern end of the Red Spur. From a point at about 10,800 feet and slightly past the large lake below, look for a rocky chute with some trees. Climb up about 250 feet in elevation to the top of the ridge at the end of the spur. There you'll find an extraordinary 180\u00b0 panorama of the entire Kaweah and Picket Creek basins and the Colby Pass area.<br><br>Continue descending the ridge to the north until you find a good way to reach the small lake below. From the southeast end of the lake, hike up the draw to the first large lake, which is much more beautiful and has great views across to Kern Point and the Sierra crest. <br><br>Continue southeast up a low ridge that passes between two small lakes. At the top, angle down to the east shore of another large beautiful lake with great views of the Red Spur. Somewhat before the far end of the lake, climb up the crest of the low ridge headed southeast. The top of this ridge provides a sweeping panorama of the main ridge of the Sierras from Junction Peak to well past Mt. Whitney, including several 14,000 ft peaks. <br><br>I call the area to the south the "Talus Wasteland". If you hike down to the west a little ways, you have a view of what I call "Talus Lakes". About 15 years ago, my son and I reached this point by climbing from the Chagoopa Plateau over the southern end of the Red Spur. Once on top of the Red Spur, we made our way alon

Trail Stats

Photos

From Red Spur Lakes Plateau, this is looking up Whitney Creek in the right center and Wallace Creek in the left center.

From Red Spur Lakes Plateau, this is looking up Whitney Creek in the right center and Wallace Creek in the left center.

This is Kaweah Basin as seen from the north end of Red Spur Lakes Plateau. Picket Creek Basin can be seen on the extreme right.

This is Kaweah Basin as seen from the north end of Red Spur Lakes Plateau. Picket Creek Basin can be seen on the extreme right.

This is a view of the first large Red Spur Lake, looking toward the Kern Point and Mt. Tyndell portion of the Sierra Crest.

This is a view of the first large Red Spur Lake, looking toward the Kern Point and Mt. Tyndell portion of the Sierra Crest.

This is my favorite of the Red Spur Lakes.

This is my favorite of the Red Spur Lakes.

Foxtail pine rise from the granite along Red Spur Lakes Plateau. This view is looking toward Kern Peak, Kern Canyon, and the Sierra Crest.

Foxtail pine rise from the granite along Red Spur Lakes Plateau. This view is looking toward Kern Peak, Kern Canyon, and the Sierra Crest.

Kern-Kaweah Canyon looking towards Colby Pass, Table Mt. and Kern Point taken from the north end of the Red Spur.

Kern-Kaweah Canyon looking towards Colby Pass, Table Mt. and Kern Point taken from the north end of the Red Spur.

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