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View Full Version : Laurel Lakes.. Anybody make the trip/trek up there?



slief
07-25-2008, 08:04 AM
So in my planning of my sierra trip this coming august, I read a recent thread where someone mentioned the Laurel Lakes. I did some investigation on them and as I understand it, the road to them is a "rugged" forest service road requiring a 4 wheel drive vehicles with some clearence. Have any of you made the trek up there? We are bringing my 4x4 2004 3/4 ton suburban along and I was wondering how rough or difficult this road is? It is said to be narrow and steep. Are you driving along steep drop offs or is it thru a narrow canyon? Do you think it would be easily drivable in the Suburban? I really like the idea of hitting a remote lake like that which we dont need to hike to.. Since I also have a folding boat which will be on the roof of the burban and both gas and electric motors as well as oars, this would give us another option for fishing this lake. I am sure the gas engine would be out of the question.

gwjones00
07-25-2008, 10:35 AM
You might want to look at this: http://www.gbr.4wdtrips.net/4x4/laurel.htm. It contains a detailed report of the trip up to Laurel Lakes. Have fun!

slief
07-25-2008, 11:17 AM
You might want to look at this: http://www.gbr.4wdtrips.net/4x4/laurel.htm. It contains a detailed report of the trip up to Laurel Lakes. Have fun!


Thanks a million! That is some great info there! Better than anything I have found thus far. It looks like a promising destination! Makes me want to pack a couple dirt bikes along for the trip but my dad would kill himself. :ROFL:

How close can you park next to the lake? Just wondering if we were to use the port bote there if we would need to hike it down or could drive it close enough to make it easy to launch.

gwjones00
07-25-2008, 11:49 AM
I've never been there myself. The description is from a website that I read a lot when I have a question about going somewhere off the beaten path in the Eastern Sierras.....

e-cat
08-05-2008, 04:05 PM
Thought I might add a side note, and maybe save someone a hairy trip!- I attempted the road last season (2007) in a very capable 86 Toyota 4 Runner that has never failed me before. My buddy got out of the car about 3/4 of the way up the first major climb and walked a bit further, came back down to me, and said "abort!"- The road has really gotten worse over the past few years, more suitable now for a Quad, Jeep or any other Shorter wheelbase, high clearence, aggressive ORV- Check with the rangers in Mammoth Lakes, its pretty gnarly!

mammoth xfactor
08-05-2008, 11:06 PM
That area is closed right now due to a fire

Crawler
08-06-2008, 07:41 PM
Thought I might add a side note, and maybe save someone a hairy trip!- I attempted the road last season (2007) in a very capable 86 Toyota 4 Runner that has never failed me before. My buddy got out of the car about 3/4 of the way up the first major climb and walked a bit further, came back down to me, and said "abort!"- The road has really gotten worse over the past few years, more suitable now for a Quad, Jeep or any other Shorter wheelbase, high clearence, aggressive ORV- Check with the rangers in Mammoth Lakes, its pretty gnarly!

Thats awsome to hear. I would like to take my 87 4runner up there before the season is over. It has a few "upgrades". :Big Grin:

Rawkon
08-06-2008, 09:40 PM
Ive been there its an awesome place to fish, I run a pretty modded Jeep and it was a pretty easy trail. I ran the trial last year in 2wd most of the way. theres one really sharp turn at the end and i had to make a 4 point turn. Theres lots of patrols by DFG on quads there. barbless hooks NO BAIT catch and release. basically its a fly fishing lake.
Now i do alot of fourwheeling so something easy to me may be pretty hard to others. the road has lots of shale and has some drop off you drive next too so it can look pretty scary. make sure you have good tires with good sidewall protection.
Its a golden trout late and can be really tough to fish.
as far as getting close to the lake you can park right next to it. we launch our float tubes easily.
Heres some pics.
http://offroadworld.tenmagazines.com/gallery/Rawkon/154026.jpg
http://offroadworld.tenmagazines.com/gallery/Rawkon/154043.jpg
http://a633.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/119/l_aa38171a61b4ea56e1e18cb4e5549a68.jpg
http://a317.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/75/l_6ca489c705cc48d0128aa01075fdfc74.jpg
http://a415.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/78/l_ab6c4254d673b5799aaeefc756fede8e.jpg
no pics of fish though sorry

Rawkon
08-06-2008, 09:47 PM
as far as rolling up in a burban?? not unless it had 4 wheel steering. there are lots of steep drop offs which arnt a problem in a burb and it is narrow but a burb can fit. but the last main turn is crazy sharp and drops off as your making your 50 point turn. I had to revers it a couple times in the jeep and drive up the side of the mountain to cut it.

slief
08-07-2008, 08:54 AM
as far as rolling up in a burban?? not unless it had 4 wheel steering. there are lots of steep drop offs which arnt a problem in a burb and it is narrow but a burb can fit. but the last main turn is crazy sharp and drops off as your making your 50 point turn. I had to revers it a couple times in the jeep and drive up the side of the mountain to cut it.


So you are saying that that last turn will be nearly impossible in the burban? The truck is 4 wheel drive with 33" off road tires.. I have seen the pictures of that turn and it does look a bit hairy but it looked doable.. I have alot of off road experience.. Both 4x4 and sand rails..

Thanks for the info and pics!

Rawkon
08-07-2008, 01:33 PM
you can prolly do it, but it will be hairy. if your experienced go for it.
here is a picture of the turn. immedialty in front of the scout is a big drop off. and you can see how much of a hair pin turn it is.
http://offroadworld.tenmagazines.com/gallery/Rawkon/154040.jpg

slief
08-07-2008, 01:43 PM
you can prolly do it, but it will be hairy. if your experienced go for it.
here is a picture of the turn. immedialty in front of the scout is a big drop off. and you can see how much of a hair pin turn it is.
http://offroadworld.tenmagazines.com/gallery/Rawkon/154040.jpg

Definately looks a bit hairy.. Probably end up being a 6 point turn. It also looks like going down the hill will be worse than up.. Thanks again for the info and the pics! That helps a bunch! Love the shot with the rod in the foreground. Now I have to decide if time and nerves will permit this journey!

Crawler
08-07-2008, 08:01 PM
Nice Scout. :Big Grin: It looks familiar, you on pirate?

I have been eyeballing this trail for a while now. Too much work to drag this mofo up there.

Outer limits in Johnson valley, mine is the white one.
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a276/yotamasters/HammersTrip10-27-07056.jpg

A few years ago on the Rubicon. Little sluice.
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a276/yotamasters/rubicon0904007.jpg

My daily driver looks like it would be a better candidate. No lift, 31 a/t's, 4.0 transfercase (lifted 1.25"), rear ARB, lots-o under protection. A slight disregard makes up for no lift and small tires. :Envious:

Dusy Ershim trail in 2006. :Envious:
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a276/yotamasters/Dusy8-25-06065.jpg

Rawkon
08-11-2008, 09:37 PM
I lurk on pirate, but the scout was a good friends. the scout has been sold to a guy in the midwest and now my friend just finished importing a mog from Germany and we have been modding and repairing the mog for the last couple months. we just installed Cadi CTS leather heated/cooled seats in the mog haha.
I own a heep nuthin special but still fun. definatly not JV ready but im getting there.
http://offroadworld.tenmagazines.com/gallery/Rawkon/154279.jpg

heres a shot of the mog on John bull
http://photos-575.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v292/232/7/663205575/n663205575_3409770_9669.jpg

Rawkon
08-11-2008, 09:53 PM
Oh and i was just up in mammoth this past weekend and laurel lakes is closed temp for the fire they just put out

Crawler
08-22-2008, 11:03 AM
That pic of your jeep, is that Deep Creek / Dishpan springs / whatever you call the one that ends in Ceder Glen - trial?

Look farmiliar. :Envious: