Live map — zoom/pan freely; hover roads/routes for labels. Pin = camp point · roads by difficulty for the rig: █ Easy █ Moderate █ Caution █ Avoid/closed █ Unknown (USFS OML + OSM tracks) · yellow dots = camp/rec sites · fuel along route (● blue dot = Chevron) · live GPS (top-left) · route (toggle top-right; glows/pulses, thick): █ paved, then recolored by the difficulty of the road it follows offroad. Needs internet (tiles stream live).
Tier: van → trailhead → backpack (drive recon + car-camping ends at the
trailhead; the van stays while you hike in).
(Round Top Lake is ~1 mi further). Easy–moderate — the gentlest of the set.
Plan ~1.5 hr.
Lake, Fourth of July Lake, optional Round Top (10,381 ft) scramble · Sun out.
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The lakes: Winnemucca and Round Top are jewel alpine tarns beneath
Round Top (10,381 ft) in the Mokelumne Wilderness — smaller than the Desolation
lakes, but the setting is the draw: the **most famous wildflower corridor in the
Sierra, near peak bloom in early July. Fourth of July Lake** is a steeper
1,000-ft drop beyond Round Top for a quieter night.
Swim / fish: chilly alpine dips (Winnemucca is warmest); trout.
Best for: the most likely Tahoe-region permit to actually have room —
Carson Pass Management Area is a separate quota from Desolation, so it's not
under the same sold-out wall. Gentlest hike + wildflowers = the relaxed-pace pick.
(Permit = the Carson Pass Mgmt Area quota, *not* the Desolation 233261 permit.)
no data
vs your experience: hardest here is Avoid — harder than anything you've logged (your max is Caution) — be cautious
USFS operational maintenance level. OML 2 = high-clearance = the van's sweet spot; OML 1 = scout first.
| When | Forecast | Temp | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tonight | Mostly Clear | 47F | 0% |
| Tuesday | Sunny | 70F | 1% |
| Tuesday Night | Clear | 47F | 0% |
| Wednesday | Sunny | 68F | 0% |
Click a backup to expand its full analysis — layer-switch satellite (Esri/NAIP) with roads overlay, difficulty, legal roads, and conditions. Ranked by van-friendly access + camping + proximity; driving legs are real-road routed (OSRM). Bailout/regroup point: Kirkwood.
nearest camp ~0.0 mi Eldorado National Forest easiness 0.774 · 38.67225, -120.11981
Getting there: home: 186.9 mi / 251 min bailout: 5.0 mi / 7 min primary: 10.3 mi / 16 min
Difficulty for rig: Moderate 17 Easy 9 Caution 1
Legal roads: 16 — THUNDER MOUNTAIN TH, SILVER LAKE CAMPGROUND, SILVERADO, SHEALOR LAKE TRAILHEAD, TRADGEDY SPRINGS PICNIC, STOCKTON CAMP, WEST MARTIN MEADOW, THUNDER MTN ADMIN
Dry forecast — surface conditions likely stable.
No active wildfire perimeters within range.
nearest camp ~0.0 mi Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest easiness 0.767 · 38.69771, -119.77641
Getting there: home: 220.8 mi / 297 min bailout: 27.3 mi / 42 min primary: 22.1 mi / 33 min
Difficulty for rig: Easy 13 Moderate 3 Caution 1
Legal roads: 7 — MARKLEEVILLE GUARD STATION RD, INDIAN CREEK ROAD, SPRATT CREEK ROAD, GROVER SPUR A, CIRCLE PEAK ROAD, MARKLEEVILLE CAMPGROUND ROAD, MARKLEEVILLE GUARD STATION RD
Dry forecast — surface conditions likely stable.
No active wildfire perimeters within range.
| Road | Designation | Season |
|---|---|---|
| WOODS CR. FISHING ACCESS | Roads open to highway legal vehicles only, Yearlong | yearlong |
| WOODS LAKE TRAILHEAD LOOP | Roads open to highway legal vehicles only, Seasonal | seasonal |
| WOODS LAKE | Roads open to highway legal vehicles only, Yearlong | yearlong |
| SCHNEIDER CAMP 4WD | Roads open to all Vehicles, Seasonal | seasonal |
| CAPLES SPUR DEE | Roads open to all Vehicles, Seasonal | seasonal |
| CAPLES LAKE CG | Roads open to highway legal vehicles only, Yearlong | yearlong |
| UPPER FAITH VALLEY ROAD | Roads open to all Vehicles, Yearlong | yearlong |
| RIVER ROAD | Roads open to all Vehicles, Yearlong | yearlong |
| CRATER LAKE TURNOUT | Roads open to all Vehicles, Yearlong | yearlong |
| FAITH VALLEY LOOP ROAD | Roads open to all Vehicles, Yearlong | yearlong |
| HOPE VALLEY LOOP W | Roads open to all Vehicles, Yearlong | yearlong |
| FORESTDALE SPUR F | Roads open to all Vehicles, Yearlong | yearlong |
| HOPE VALLEY TURNOUT X | Roads open to all Vehicles, Yearlong | yearlong |
| LOWER CHARITY SPUR A | Roads open to all Vehicles, Yearlong | yearlong |
MVUM is the legal authority for motorized use. Dispersed camping is generally allowed on NF land near open roads (commonly within ~150-300ft) unless the forest restricts it to designated corridors — verify on that forest's MVUM.
Free satellite imagery cannot resolve ruts, washouts, or rock ledges. Recent imagery is too coarse for road detail; high-res imagery is not current. Treat the visual analysis as terrain/route guidance, not a current trail report. Scout rough access in person.