Grand Park via Lake Eleanor, Skyscraper Mountain & Huckleberry Creek — Wednesday, Apr. 30, 2025

The NF-73 forest road to the trailheads of Huckleberry Creek and Grand Park is gated. Before the gate (at the fork to Sun Top), there is a pretty bad maze of potholes. After the gate, the road is pretty good and dry until the Huckleberry Creek crossing.

After the creek crossing (when climbing up the big switchback), there is substantial washout (see the Flickr album). It is not possible for any car  to cross when/if the road would open. Snow starts 5 miles up the road (from the gate) and then gets deep fast.

I biked until the snowline on the road and then spend the rest of the day on snowshoes (24 miles roundtrip to Skyscraper).

If you would embark on this route, some notes:

- Snowshoeing across Grand Park takes about 45 minutes. It's so large! But views are awesome.

- The descend from Grand Park is a bit messy. Big snow drifts that are a bit clumsy to go up and down.

- I was most concerned around the steeper slope at Affi Falls, but it wasn't that hard and partially melted out. I'd still suggest an ice axe.

- Around 5700 ft there are some tricky filled up slopes that go straight into the creek that has a steep bank. I'd suggest an ice axe.

- The ridge between Second Burroughs and Skyscraper still has some cornices. The summer route didn't look too appealing. I went up the slope south of Pt 6786, which has some trees. It is obvious with Slope Angle Shading on CalTopo.

- I saw some very fresh cougar prints that put me on high alert for a bit.

- There are plenty of opportunities to fill up on water until 5600ft. Above that, it's all snow.

Stats:

- 10 miles biking with 730ft gain

- 24 miles snowshoeing with 5600ft gain

- Gear: Snowshoes, ice axe. Brought crampons but did not use.

More Information on this Trip Report

• https://www.flickr.com/photos/bravenboer/albums/72177720325803778/