Sierra Nevada backpacking: Cartridge Creek to Marion Lake – Kings Canyon National Park, California

Sierra Nevada backpacking: Cartridge Creek to Marion Lake – Kings Canyon National Park, California

Sierra backpacking: Across the Cartridge Creek basin to Marion Lake

Eastern Sierra – Cross country backpacking to Marion Lake down the Cartridge Creek basin

Kings Canyon National Park
Big Pine, California.
Eastern Sierra, Sierra Nevada.

Trailhead: Tabosee Pass Trailhead, Big Pine

August 2024

Itinerary:
This video covers the second part of the third day of a seven day backpacking trip from the Taboose Pass Trailhead which included the Taboose Pass, Cardinal Mountain, the Muro Blanco Trail, Cartridge Pass, Cartridge Creek, Marion Lake, Dumbbell Pass, Dumbbell Lakes, Cataract Creek Pass, Amphitheater Lake, Cataract Creek, PCT/JMT trail, Palisade Lakes, Mother Pass, Upper Basin, Bench Lake, Taboose Pass and exit to the Tabosee Pass Trailhead.

The section from Cartridge Creek to Marion Lake across the Cartridge Creek drainage is a cross-country section. A fainted use trail exists in a few spots, but overall the hike is off trail. Navigation is pretty straight forward but it is advisable to support the hike with a GPS enabled hiking phone App or a GPS navigation device providing off-line maps (Or a paper map and compass if you want to go old school). The terrain is easy to traverse.

Day 3: Unnamed Lake near Cartridge Pass camp to Cartridge Pass and descent to Cartridge Creek. Hike along Cartridge Creek (see other video: )
Hike down the Cartridge Creek drainage to Marion Lake.

Trip Section Stats:
3 mi, no elevation gain.

AllTrails Map:
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/afternoon-backpack-trip-at-taboose-pass-to-cardinal-mountain-aa0d2a8

Notes about the map: the map is indicative of the trip itinerary although mileage and moving time cannot be considered as reference as I often deviated from the route for filming and photography; also the moving time on the map includes all stops and breaks during the day as I stopped recording only once camp was setup for each day.

Hike Notes:
The hike down the Cartridge Creek drainage is very beautiful. As there is no trail the route can be different but it makes sense to pay a visit to the lakes and tarns on the left side (South side) of the drainage as it is the most logical when aiming at Marion Lake. Beyond the large unnamed L shaped lake the route cliffs out, revealing a beautiful tarn nested in the bowl below. At that point by proceeding on the right hand side of the bench it is possible to find a use trail descending right at the beautiful tarn/small lake below. From there it is easy and quick to cross Cartridge Creek and gain the moraine of Marion Lake.
In my humble opinion Marion Lake is one of the most beautiful lakes of the Sierra range – at least among the 100s that I have visited. It is nested in a bowl surrounded by multi-color towering peaks and high walls on two sides and it features deep blue waters. The part of the lake shore that is accessible features a beautiful forest. The location is amazingly beautiful and almost certainly serene as Marion Lake is far away from any trailhead, therefore not visited very often. The evening light and the golden hours were spectacular, both on the lake side and looking down valley on the Cartridge Creek drainage. Pure Sierra beauty.

Music:
The Longing by So Vea
Licensed by Epidemic Sound.

#marionlake #cartridgecreek #hiking #backpacking #sierranevada #cartridgepass #muroblancotrail #kingscanyonnationalpark

CHAPTERS:
00:00 – Intro
01:02 – Trip Highlights
03:36 – Cartridge Creek to Marion Lake
06:38 – Marion Lake