Visited Monday 9/13/21, arrived at the Fryingpan Creek TH at 3:20am, there were several vehicles at the TH. There is no handicap parking here and the trail is not handicap accessible. Parking enough for 20 vehicles (this is including the paved lot and narrow dirt pull offs.). There are no bathrooms here. America the Beautiful Pass ($80/yr) or day use pass ($30) required here.
Fryingpan Creek TH to Wonderland trail to the tarn in between Camp Summerland and Panhandle Gap (out & back). My Gaiagps App tracked 10.58 miles w/2797ft EG.
This trail would be great for small children to Summerland, be aware though there is a log bridge with high railing. To Panhandle Gap there is another log crossing with no railing. With dewy conditions, these bridges were not hard to cross.
Arrived on the Wonderland trail around 4:15am, saw no other people until just before Camp Summerland at 8:40am. After it was a steady onslaught of backpackers and hikers, I'd say over 50 people. Took long breaks at the Fryingpan Creek crossing for sunrise and the tarn. It was a cold morning, in the high 30s.
Wonderland trail in this area is easy to moderate with steady elevation. When you cross Fryingpan Creek there is log bridge with high handrail. A mile or so after Camp Summerland is when you enter the boulder field below the tarn. There are some stream crossings before the boulder field. There is a log bridge with no railing over an unamed creek drainage coming from the tarns and before a waterfall. This portion of Wonderland trail is very well maintained. Every junction has signs, but it is always smart to have a map of the area on you, before your visit. There was some frost on the trail in the Camp Summerland meadow.
There was a bear spotted by a couple I met on trail probably around 10am or so at Fryingpan Creek crossing. The bear had no interest in the humans.
The Tarn below Panhandle Gap was stunning and well worth the visit. There were a ton of yellow jackets here. I arrived here at 9:58am and other than traffic on the Wonderland trail, no one stopped at the tarn.
When I arrived back at the TH at 2:09pm there were over 21 vehicles parked on both sides.
Comments