Excelsior Mountain in Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, CA

Hike Excelsior Mountain Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, CA

Class 2 9.4 miles 3400 gain 4-6 hrs Loop Aug 13, 2024
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Excelsior Mountain GPX Track

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Excelsior Mountain was among the easier summits on this Sierra summer trip due to its tame approach and lack of any serious scrambling, plus the Virginia Lakes Trailhead begins at a very high elevation relative to most other trailheads in the eastern Seirra. The peak is positioned in an excellent spot to see an array of gorgeous summits, including Twin Peaks to the north and Mount Conness to the south. At the start of our trip, Chris and I promised each other we'd give ourselves time to hang at camp, but our many high-energy peakbagging and driving days kept us out after dark, so we determined we'd have a lighter day to make time for board games. We set out from the Virginia Lakes Trailhead along the popular and well-maintained Green Creek Trail, which slowly gained elevation past Blue Lake, Cooney lake, and Frog Lakes, then continued up to the saddle. We enjoyed the low-angle grade after many days of hiking.

From the saddle we headed south and dropped into a little basin with a couple of tiny lakes. Some light boulder-hopping brought us out of this little basin, followed by rocky tundra walking led to the northeast ridge of Excelsior Mountain. We caught a glimpse of the turquoise water of Burro Lake below, probably the most absurd-looking alpine lake color I've ever seen. We encountered a steep social trail through the scree along the ridge and followed it up to a lump, where the trail disappeared for a bit until we were much of the way up the northern false summit of the peak. We continued south to the summit, some light Class 2 at the top.

Back at the saddle we decided to tack on Peak 11568, a short Class 2 excursion to the north. There are a couple of small lumps along the way that can be avoided on the left, and the summit has some nice views. Bob Burd found a descent route on the east side of the peak, which we used to get down more quickly and return to the Green Creek Trail. This involved dropping just south of the summit on a wide ledge and then continuing through a funnel-like drainage to a weakness that overcomes a cliff. It's all a bit loose, but nothing dangerous or crazy and it definitely saved lots of time rather than backtracking.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Excelsior Mountain
12444 ft
1244 rise
2
Peak 11568
11568 ft
488 rise

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Big Valley Lake on the left as we start along the Green Creek Trail.
Big Valley Lake on the left as we start along the Green Creek Trail.
Entering the Hoover Wilderness.
Entering the Hoover Wilderness.
The trail ascends on the north side of Blue Lake, seen left. Above is Peak 11568, our second peak of this outing.
The trail ascends on the north side of Blue Lake, seen left. Above is Peak 11568, our second peak of this outing.
Passing Cooney Lake.
Passing Cooney Lake.
A couple of easy creek crossings.
A couple of easy creek crossings.
View back toward Dunderberg Mountain.
View back toward Dunderberg Mountain.
Frog Lakes. The saddle we're headed to is seen center.
Frog Lakes. The saddle we're headed to is seen center.
Black Mountain seen left and the scary-looking ridge to its west.
Black Mountain seen left and the scary-looking ridge to its west.
Ascending to the saddle on a tame trail.
Ascending to the saddle on a tame trail.
At the saddle, view back down the valley we hiked up. Dunderberg Mountain seen top left.
At the saddle, view back down the valley we hiked up. Dunderberg Mountain seen top left.
Excelsior Mountain ahead. We left the trail and dropped down to these tiny lakes before ascending to the orange-colored slope ahead.
Excelsior Mountain ahead. We left the trail and dropped down to these tiny lakes before ascending to the orange-colored slope ahead.
View back along a social trail from the tiny lakes.
View back along a social trail from the tiny lakes.
Steep trail up the northeast ridge of Excelsior Mountain.
Steep trail up the northeast ridge of Excelsior Mountain.
View back, Burro Lake seen far right. Dunderberg Mountain top left, Peak 11568 (our next peak) seen below it.
View back, Burro Lake seen far right. Dunderberg Mountain top left, Peak 11568 (our next peak) seen below it.
Close-up toward Burro Lake.
Close-up toward Burro Lake.
On a lump along the east ridge, view toward Excelsior Mountain (left), and its false northern summit (center).
On a lump along the east ridge, view toward Excelsior Mountain (left), and its false northern summit (center).
View back toward the orange lump along the east ridge as we approach the false summit of Excelsior Mountain. Virginia Lakes Trailhead is in the valley in the center.
View back toward the orange lump along the east ridge as we approach the false summit of Excelsior Mountain. Virginia Lakes Trailhead is in the valley in the center.
Wider shot. Mono Lake in the distance.
Wider shot. Mono Lake in the distance.
Image 18 from gallery
A little rockier toward the summit.
A little rockier toward the summit.
Summit of Excelsior Mountain, view back along the ridge.
Summit of Excelsior Mountain, view back along the ridge.
Excelsior Mountain summit, view toward Saddlebag Lake and Mount Conness.
Excelsior Mountain summit, view toward Saddlebag Lake and Mount Conness.
Excelsior Mountain, looking toward Tuolumne Meadows.
Excelsior Mountain, looking toward Tuolumne Meadows.
Close-up toward Virginia Peak and Twin Peaks.
Close-up toward Virginia Peak and Twin Peaks.
Back at the saddle, onward to Peak 11568.
Back at the saddle, onward to Peak 11568.
View back toward Excelsior Mountain (center).
View back toward Excelsior Mountain (center).
Usually pretty easy walking. Keep left of the crest to avoid unnecessary talus.
Usually pretty easy walking. Keep left of the crest to avoid unnecessary talus.
Approaching the summit of Peak 11568.
Approaching the summit of Peak 11568.
Peak 11568, view south.
Peak 11568, view south.
Peak 11568, view west.
Peak 11568, view west.
Peak 11568, view toward the trailhead.
Peak 11568, view toward the trailhead.
Dropping off the summit via a Class 2 ramp.
Dropping off the summit via a Class 2 ramp.
Descending this little basin.
Descending this little basin.
A Class 2 weakness in the cliffs, which allowed us to sneak back to the Green Creek Trail.
A Class 2 weakness in the cliffs, which allowed us to sneak back to the Green Creek Trail.
View back up toward the slope and weakness (center) just before reaching the trail.
View back up toward the slope and weakness (center) just before reaching the trail.

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Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!