Camping in the Spectacular Sierra Buttes Area of the Northern Sierra Nevada

The Sierra Buttes area of the northern Sierra Nevada is uncrowded and largely unspoiled. The 8600 foot Buttes are in Sierra County California, 960 square miles and a population of 3,555. It’s quiet, a bit rugged, and absolutely beautiful. I recently did some hiking and camping in the Sierra Buttes area, and I highly recommend it even to those who are not backpackers.

The backpacking and camping opportunities are numerous, and there are several pleasant lake front lodges that emphasize the out of doors more than the luxury of the accommodations.

We camped in a national forest site near Salmon Creek which is in a valley just east of the Sierra Crest. The crest is at about 7500 feet in this part of the Sierra. The Pacific Crest Train runs along the crest just to its west and can be reached from most of the lakes in the area. We reached Salmon Creek by way of California Highway 49 (numbered that because it wanders through the Sierra foothills where the gold rush of 1849 took place. In the north part of the Sierra it turns east through Sierra County following the North Fork of the Yuba River until it crosses Yuba Pass and enters Sierra Valley. Highway 49 is a spectacular trip in its own right and, if cone, right will occupy several days, driving from say Mariposa, south of Yosemite all the way to the Feather River. More about that some other day.

Off of Highway 49 at Bassetts’ Store, Gold Lake Road turns north and follows Salmon Creek past the Buttes and through a region of numerous Sierran lakes. Most were formed by the advance and retreat of glaciers coming down from the east face of the Sierra. They are an unearthly blue and surrounded by trees. There are several Forest Service campsites, and some are RV friendly.
The opportunities for a day hike are numerous, but the Lakes Basin Loop trail is not arduous and is spectacular, only 4 miles RT, ending at Silver Lake at the foot of the escarpment of the Sierra Crest itself. Park at the Gold Lake Lodge trailhead and follow the signs. Following the trail counterclockwise takes you to the most beautiful of the lakes first. Also if you go as far as Silver Lake and then backtrack, you will have seen the best of the lakes and avoided the majority of the climbing.

First you come to Big Bear Lake, then Little Bear Lake, then Cub Lake, each successively smaller. You reach a hill above Long Lake which extends several miles north at the foot of the escarpment. There are beautiful camp spots. But continue southwest from the hill and you come to the gem of the lakes—Silver Lake, tree girdled, right against the rocks of the crest escarpment, with the Buttes looming up behind. One of the most beautiful places in the Sierra.

Another day hike, but longer, 6 miles RT, is from Packsaddle Campground up about an 800 foot climb to Little Deer Lake. Packsaddle is on the Packer Lake Road. Turn left off Gold Lake Road after just a mile or so on to Sardine Lake Road and then right after only a few hundred yards onto Packer Lake Road. The Deer Lake trailhead is well marked and is almost directly across the road from Packsaddle Campground.

This is a beautiful piece of California. Visit it if you can. Some pics are attached.