Chewing Gum Lake Hike

Chewing Gum Lake Trail

A Moderate Hike among Wildflowers

Chewing Gum Lake is a beautiful little camping spot not far inside the Emigrant Wilderness. It's not a fishing lake, but it can have spectacular sunsets and offers good swimming. The 4½-mile hike to Chewing Gum Lake passes through meadows of wildflowers and over 9,000-foot Burst Rock with panoramic views of the Stanislaus River watershed.

Chewing Gum Lake is best done late in the summer when the snow has melted and the mosquitoes have died off. Because of its proximity to Pinecrest, it makes a nice overnight backpacking trip for anyone staying at a nearby cabin or campground.

Burst Rock

Preparations for Chewing Gum Lake

Getting Organized

Wilderness Permits for a backpacking trip to Chewing Gum Lake can be picked up at the Summit Ranger Station near Pinecrest. There are no restrooms or water at the trailhead, so be sure to fill your water bottles before you leave Pinecrest.

Elizabeth Wenk's Sierra North has a section on other hikes which begin at the Gianelli's Cabin trailhead. This 2020 edition of Sierra North, written with Mike White, covers hikes throughout the Northern Sierra Nevada. It makes a good reference when planning trips into the Emigrant Wilderness.

Getting to the Gianelli Cabin Trailhead

From Pinecrest drive up the Dodge Ridge Road until you see a turnoff to Bell Meadow and Crabtree Camp to your right. A short connecting road will bring you to Crabtree Road, which left Highway 108 back near Cold Springs (an alternate way to come). Drive up Crabtree Road past Aspen Meadow Pack Station and the past turnoff to Crabtree Camp, keeping your sights on Gianelli's Cabin as your destination. It's 12 miles from Pinecrest, the last miles on a gravel road.

Hiking to Chewing Gum Lake

Chewing Gum Lake Campsite

The trail from Gianelli's Cabin climbs 500 feet along the ridge to Burst Rock (9,100') where you will be rewarded with great views of the Stanislaus River watershed to the north. Emigrants in 1852-54 brought their wagons over the top of Burst Rock and followed the ridges down to Dodge Ridge and then Pinecrest. Continue down the backside of Burst Rock. A mile from the summit you pass a "use trail" that leads down to Powell Lake, known for great swimming and also as a popular hangout for young people.

Climb another ridge and then descend the other side, watching for your turnoff to Chewing Gum Lake at about mile 3.5. The trail leads beside a pretty meadow known as Lakes Valley. You will find many attractive, small lakes scattered about the area.

Camping at Chewing Gum Lake

Good campsites at Chewing Gum Lake can be found on the east and southern sides of the lake. A couple other nice sites are tucked among the rocks on the northern side.