Upper Little Jamison Falls

Location

Upper Little Jamison Falls: 39.7153 N, 120.7087 W

USGS Topo: Gold Lake

Directions

From the CA-70/CA-89 intersection north of Graeagle, follow CA-70/CA-89 west ~0.6 miles and turn left onto Mohawk Highway Road. Follow this for ~0.6 miles and turn right onto the Johnsville Road. Follow this for ~3.6 miles and turn left onto the Jamison Mine Road just before crossing Jamison Creek. Follow the Jamison Mine Road for ~1.2 miles to its end at the trailhead parking area. From the trailhead you begin by walking past the remnant buildings of the Jamison Mine and then into the forest southeast of the parking area. After ~0.7 miles the trail intersects with the trail coming from Smith Lake to the left (alternate trailhead at the Gray Eagle Lodge). After a further ~0.2 miles the trail intersects with a short side-trail to the viewpoint of Little Jamison Falls. The trail intersects with the northeast corner of Grass Lake at ~1.3 miles. From here there are nice views of Mt Washington over the lake. At ~2.0 miles the trail crosses over Little Jamison Creek upstream of Grass Lake over a log footbridge (the top has been flattened). At ~2.2 miles the trail comes to another junction. To the right, the trail leads to Wades Lake and further to the PCT. To the left, the trail leads to Jamison and Rock Lakes.Turn right here and at ~2.7 miles from the trailhead the trail comes to another junction. To the right, the trail leads on to the PCT. To the left, the trail leads to Wades Lake. Turn left here and after a further ~0.25 miles you'll reach the northern side of Wades Lake near the outlet. From the lake outlet, follow the shorter, steeper trail down towards Jamison Lake. After ~0.3 miles from Wades Lake leave the trail to the north (at the northern apex of the third switchback downstream of the lake) to get to this waterfall. Alternatively, you could follow the Rock & Jamison Lakes trail (to the left at the junction with the Wades Lake trail) for ~0.7 miles where the steep and rocky trail coming from Wades Lake intersects this trail. Turn right and follow the steep Wades Lake trail up for ~0.3 miles before leaving the trail to the north.