Availability
South Fork Lakes and South Fork Scott River are mapped at or near the camp-area marker. This is map evidence, not a real-time flow report.
Backpacking camp
South Fork Lakes camp area
Trinity Alps Wilderness, California
About this place
South Fork Lakes are the named upper-basin destination a little over one mile from Carter Meadows Summit via the PCT and the source-mapped South Fork Lakes Trail.
Snow lingers in the basin; camp on durable ground, treat water, and check Klamath fire restrictions.
Water planning
Water at this camp
Natural water at or near this camp areaDrinking safety
Natural water is not verified potable. Filter and disinfect it or boil it according to the linked land-manager guidance before drinking.
Seasonality
South Fork Lakes is a mapped waterbody; USGS does not classify it here as seasonal or year-round. Confirm current level, access, and quality. South Fork Scott River is classified as perennial in USGS hydrography, but current flow still must be confirmed.
- South Fork LakesLake or pond · at the camp areaMapped waterbody — level and access can change · Treat before drinkingOfficial source
- South Fork Scott RiverRiver or stream · at the camp areaMapped perennial source — verify current flow · Treat before drinkingOfficial source
Fire planning
Campfire & stove rules
Campfire permit required for every stove or fireCampfires
South Fork Lakes is an undeveloped backcountry camp area in Trinity Alps Wilderness. Carry the required wilderness permit. A California Campfire Permit is also required to operate a backpacking stove or any otherwise-allowed fire; current restrictions may prohibit open flames. Never treat an old ring as proof that a fire is legal, and do not build a new ring where fires are prohibited.
Backpacking stoves
Shutoff-valve gas or pressurized-fuel stove with permit. Use a gas, LPG, jellied-petroleum, or pressurized-liquid-fuel stove with a working shutoff valve. Twig and wood-burning stoves follow the campfire rule and are prohibited anywhere wood fires are prohibited.
Permit
Carry a valid California Campfire Permit for a portable stove or any otherwise-legal fire; the permit never overrides a forest closure, fire-danger order, elevation limit, or named-area prohibition.
Current restrictions
Check USDA Forest Service's current alerts and the selected trailhead posting before departure. The standing rule shown here remains subordinate to a newer emergency order.
Seasonal access
Closures & seasonal access
Trinity Alps Wilderness has no published recurring closure season, but high-country snow can persist into summer and remote forest roads can be blocked by snow, washouts, wildfire, or storm damagePlace closure
No recurring date-based closure of South Fork Lakes is published. The source-connected approach conditions below and temporary emergency orders still control access.
Seasonal access
Source-connected approaches: Canyon Creek Trailhead, Stuart Fork Trailhead, Swift Creek Trailhead, and 11 more. Trinity Alps Wilderness has no published recurring closure season, but high-country snow can persist into summer and remote forest roads can be blocked by snow, washouts, wildfire, or storm damage.
Before driving
Check Shasta-Trinity alerts and the exact signed trailhead road immediately before travel; a self-issued wilderness permit does not guarantee road or trail access.
Mapped approaches
Choose a trailhead for South Fork Lakes camp area
Each option has a sourced trail route to this camp area. Choose one to open its itinerary builder with this destination in context.
- Carter Meadows Trailhead2.5 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
- Long Gulch Trailhead7.0 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
- Fish Lake Trailhead8.2 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
- Middle Boulder Trailhead9.4 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
- North Fork Coffee Creek Trailhead10.1 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
- East Boulder Trailhead12.5 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
- Big Flat Trailhead30.7 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
- Swift Creek Trailhead44.5 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
- Stoney Ridge Trailhead46.3 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
- Long Canyon Trailhead46.6 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
- Stuart Fork Trailhead47.3 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
- Poison Canyon Trailhead47.7 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
- Union Creek Trailhead48.4 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
- Canyon Creek Trailhead49.7 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
Map
Loading map
- Latitude
- 41.224336° N
- Longitude
- 122.886944° W