It is a beautiful lake, and unfortunately has not been taken care of properly by people who visit. I think I got a total of 3 hours of sleep that night, and could barely function when I woke up to shoot sunrise. Does anyone have a link to a good map (for purchase as well) or information on the distance to meet up with the PCT over Kearsarge Pass? The California Wilderness Coalition assumes no liability if you intend to visit any of the wild places featured in our materials. The next big push was to climb up above the headwall at Heart Lake. I went to Golden trout and early on in that trail there was some fairly difficult elevation gain coupled with loose gravel areas. Authorities. Web2 1 4.9 105 reviews Write review Sort by: David Salvay September 5, 2022 Hiking Spent 2 nights camping at Kearsarge lakes, hiking to Rae lakes and back on the middle day. Warning: these lakes can be extremely mosquito-y! There were many hikers on route even early in the morning. We had a lot of climbing to do, and the higher the better seemed to be the rule of the day, smoke-wise. Whitney via Kearsarge Pass and John Muir Trails. This is an out and back trail that follows up Kearsarge Pass. So well say the descent took about 2 hours.This was a difficult and rewarding hikes with some of the best views Ive encountered in the Sierra. We camped at Kearsarge lakes for a night and did a day hike to bullfrog lake, which was so worth it! Trail Directions: The trail to Kearsarge Pass starts at the west end of the parking area, where you will see a bulletin board. The most prominent feature of the west side are the Kearsarge Pinnacles and Kearsarge Lakes directly to the southwest. so pack accordingly. The second lake on the way up is absolutely beautiful. Download area map for trail names. The last major landmark is Big Pothole Lake deep below your feet before reaching Kearsarge Pass some 4.7 miles from Onion Valley. At 3.2 miles the trail briefly turns to the southwest, arriving at a great overlook above Heart Lake, 3.5 miles from the trailhead. Hiked to Kearsarge Pass on 6/25. The first few miles backpacking from Onion Valley were steep, and after a few hours we stopped at Flower Lake to pack in a few calories before heading up the summit. Reviews (1,341) Photos (9,136) Kearsarge Pass Trail to Kearsarge Lakes. When backpacking Kearsarge Pass to Kearsarge Lakes, the trail crosses into Kings Canyon National Park at the summit of Kearsarge Pass. Along the way, the trail passes through pine forests and by a se-ries of small lakes. It did kinda rain a little the morning but not too much. Well-maintained trail all the way. 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First one needs to turn west on Market Street, which becomes Onion Valley Road. (TIP : when struggling ascending, dont look at the top (until your almost there) since its psychologically debilitating). I convinced Reid to wake up at 4am the next morning to walk along the ridge to Bullfrog Lake to ring in my birthday, and he begrudgingly obliged. Many of the locations in the book I had been to, or am planning to go to later this summer. We gave a hitch to a man named John (hiker name unknown), who had started in May and was from Utah. Theres no easy lake access to Big Pothole lake and Heart Lake. The entire Kearsage Pass trail is a steady climb from about 9,200 feet up to a maximum of 11,760 feet at the top of Kearsarge Pass over 4.8 miles. It is 4 miles to the top of 11,700-foot Kearsarge Pass. Kearsarge Pass is one of the best places to get a taste of the High Sierra without having to work too hard for it. The trailhead begins atthe Onion Valley campground about 15 miles outside of Independence, California in the Eastern Sierra. Top 10 Best Waterfalls in Yosemite & How To Visit Them, Top 10 Best Waterfalls in California & How To Visit Them, Top 10 Best Waterfalls in Southern California & How To Visit Them, Top 10 Best Waterfalls of the USA & How To Visit Them, Top 10 Best Waterfalls of the World & How To Visit Them, User-submitted Waterfall Write-up of the Month, and the latest news and updates both within the website as well as around the wonderful world of waterfalls. This is a popular trail for backpacking, camping, and fishing, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. This was amazing, when compared with the bad old days of ignorance. Great views at the top! Almost exactly by the time sunrise started to show, we chose a beautiful spot to sit and make some oatmeal. However, our spur trail to Matlock Lake was probably between 1-2 miles in each direction. In 2020, the year of the Covid-19 Pandemic, it wasnt a great year to hitchhike, so we needed two cars, or else take a very expensive shuttle. Beyond Kearsarge Pass, the trail enters Kings Canyon National Park, where it joins the John Muir and Pacific Crest Trails. The rocks surrounding the trail and making up the nearby peaks are interesting enough to catch the eye of the geology inclined in your group. Wish we could have gone to Kearsarge lakes but we had our pup with us. Thunder and Lightning, playing Russian Roulette with mother nature. We reached Kearsarge Lake around 5, and wandered around or a while picking a good spot near the farthest lake. WebRising high above the town of Independence, California, is the Onion Valley Trailhead, which provides access to the Golden Trout Lakes, Dragon Peak, Kearsarge Pass, and much of the high Sierra beyond. Log in, We are passionate waterfall lovers eager to share our experiences chasing waterfalls around the world! Kearsarge Pass is a popular destination for day hikers. Reviews (7) Photos (1,944) Sad but true. During the summer months, this trailhead is a primary stop for folks attempting the Pacific Crest Trail to get resupplied for their next stretch through SEKI. Hiking Adventures For All, Easily marked, decently maintained. On a busy day, I think there are many people who come up to Onion Valley for fishing or day hiking. WebThe hike starts at Onion Valley campground and includes a good deal of elevation (two passes around 12,000 feet). After such a long drive, the three of us spent the night near the parking area, and in the morning my wife drove us south in her car to Onion Valley and the Kearsarge Pass trailhead. Some were backpackers and others only day-hikers. Morning was beyond brisk and frost, and a black bear was running between camps being called out by various hikers until he made his way past the lake into the trees. Hiked from Onion Valley to Bullfrog Lake on 6/30. I can see why this trail is popular, its beautiful! It is very important to do this in order to protect fragile ecosystems. Thunder and Lightning, playing Russian Roulette with mother nature! It is 4 miles to the top of 11,700-foot Kearsarge Pass. Carried gaiters, crampons, microspikes, ice axes, and hiking poles, but did not use gaiters and crampons. Hiking it eventhough it was around 50 degrees of a slop (gradient) was relatively easy and safe. Thunder and Lightning, playing Russian Roulette with mother nature! Conditions: Great! Tough, class 3 scramble with lots of loose scree that will cause you to sometimes slide back. Unfortunately, the starting and ending trailheads were many miles apart. Always check with the managing agency before embarking on a trip. It took us about an hour to do the first 2.4 miles, and I imagine the second half took about the same time. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. It was very windy this weekend even though the forecast was around max. Backpacking the Rae Lakes Loop in Sequoia Kings Canyon, Backpacking to Cathedral Lake in Yosemite, Guide To Redwoods National and State Parks. Wish we had more time to go deeper into the wilds pass the lakes, but alas, there's next year as bad weather starts creeping in more frequently. Trails from Onion Valley provide acces to the John Muir Wilderness and Kings Canyon National Park. This was the final push of our ascent, and there was no shade whatsoever. Backpacked the trail on 07/01 and 07/02. Features: The Kearsarge Pass trailhead begins at Onion Valley (9,200 feet) and travels to Kearsarge Pass (11,800 feet). To get to Onion Valley Campground, head towards Independence (about 42 miles south of Bishop) on Highway 395. We went for a swim before lunch, and sat around in the shade reading until dinner. Trailhead was super busy i got there around 11 am on sat and almost all the parking spots were full. View full map. Along the way, the trail passes through pine forests and by a se-ries of small lakes. Reviews (1,341) Photos (9,136) Kearsarge Pass Trail to Kearsarge Lakes. more, 2006-2023 World Of Waterfalls, WebKearsarge Pass Trail climbs from Onion Valley (9,200 ft) to Kearsarge Pass (11,700 ft). Looking downhill from this point, you may see a running creek and a small pond. It reminded me of Langleys final 1.5mi sandy slog section but much shorter. The content on this website may not be copied or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without prior written permission. The hike was mostly unshaded so I imagine it would be killer in the summer, but it was 10/10 in the fall. Awesome trail, gorgeous lakes and beautiful weather. Took 8hrs round trip. Completed hike in 10hrs with sufficient amount of breaks in between and half an hour break at the lakes. Good luck and be careful! We made it to the Eastern Sierras late, about 12pm the night before. Starting at the Onion Valley Campground just west of Independence, CA, this trail has a huge climb from 9,200 feet to Kearsarge Pass at 11,760. We've done KP before, but this was our first time backpacking it - down to KL (third lake.) Definitely a slow burn all the way up but the views were worth it. Postholed several times and I expect next week this will be a regular occurrence. I took 3 photos, and immediately turned around to go back to bed. Our plan was to hike 65 miles north via the Pacific Crest Trail / John Muir Trail and arrive at The trailhead for Onion Creek is at 9,100ft of elevation and crosses into Sequoia Kings Canyon National Park (SEKI) at 11,700ft. And then we hung out and watched the sunset and the changing light on the nearby peaks. Yes, the map shows another 12 miles west beyond the intersection with JMT. Let someone know where you are going and when you intend to be back. My son was glad that he was wearing sunglasses, as the glare off my fish-belly-white legs was blinding! But we had a few tricks up our sleeves, and soon we found a nice spot on the opposite shore from the main trail. An overnight at Matlock Lake was how I introduced my young children to backpacking. How heavily used is this trailhead? WebExplore Onion Valley/Kearsarge Pass - view hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you. leave early to avoid the heat on the way up. Elevation though! This is stunning High Sierra country, with peaks, meadows and lakes to explore. It was a warm day, and I turned my cargo pants into shorts, which was very rare for me. That is not Mattlock Lake, it's Flower Lake. Snow started around 1.3 miles into the trail. News has always traveled fast on the trail, but with the advent of satellite communication devices (I had one with me) the family at home could warn their loved ones of danger instantaneously, even out here in the middle of nowhere. WebHiking from Onion Valley to South Lake is a 64.2 mile point to point route that will take you on an epic Sierra adventure along one of the most beautiful and epic sections of the Pacific Crest Trail and John Muir Trail. Only used ice axes because of the kids, but hiking poles would have been fine. WebViewing Trip Reports attached to Route: Onion Valley to Kearsarge Pass Trail View All Trip Reports. Kearsarge Pass is a popular destination for day hikers. Less than 3 miles from Onion Valley to Flower lake but steep 1800 ft gain and beware of wasps at trailhead. Spent 2 nights camping at Kearsarge lakes, hiking to Rae lakes and back on the middle day. That fire hadnt been all that large the last time I checked, two days ago, but I was still interested either way, as the two of us were bound northward. Overall, it was a fun day hike. 2hrs to the pass, break at the pass, little over an hour getting up to the summit, long break at the top, 2.5hrs down. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 26 h 57 min to complete. Search Marcsoltan. Web2 1 4.9 105 reviews Write review Sort by: David Salvay September 5, 2022 Hiking Spent 2 nights camping at Kearsarge lakes, hiking to Rae lakes and back on the middle day. You start climbing at the outset, and keep climbing for the first couple of hours before hitting Kearsarge Pass. We drove both cars up to Bishop and left my car on South Lake Road at the terminus of the hike. If you are looking for a high Sierra hike or backpacking trip (permits needed) thats challenging but completely doable for an in-shape individual, I would highly recommend the Kearsarge Pass trail. The rocky hillsides around the lake shore, lined with willows and pines, are often used as campsites. At about 0.3 miles you will see a wooden sign that indicates that the Golden Trout Lakes trail is to the right and the Kearsarge Pass trail is to the left. We got out some lunch and hung out in the shade near the shore. A few false summits This out-and-back trail gains roughly 1,624 feet and, Tucked away in the Northwestern part of California is a park of towering trees, lush green forest floors, and coastal views. Felt like we had Charlotte Lake all to ourselves-so quiet and amazing. This challenging trail offers steep climbs and descents, and the views are amazing! We stopped at Black Velvet Coffee in Mammoth first, inhaling the churro waffles we had ordered before getting back to the car. Explore this 43.6-mile point-to-point trail near Independence, California. Beyond. Id love to bring my dog into the National park as well but theres a reason its not allowed (and why its clearly marked at the top of the pass). We chose to drive Tioga and camp just on the other side of the park boundaries, before driving into town the next morning. Great location but a completely sleepless night - and enjoyable otherwise. Please dont do this, it causes harm and sets places like this up to be no camping zones in the future. The main trail rises gently for some one and a half miles to the first lake, Little Pothole Lake. Dropping them off at the trailhead, they grabbed their stuff and flew up the trail. After that, it was time for bed. All the lakes (except the 1st one) are still frozen. Download area map for trail names. We did an overnight hike and the weather was beautiful all the way! Add Trip Report to Onion Valley to Kearsarge Pass Trail: Create New Attach Existing. Add Trip Report to Onion Valley to Kearsarge Pass Trail: Create New Attach Existing. The trail made long switchbacks as it climbed up the north side of the valley, and we trudged onward under the sun. Have any questions or comments about this trail? There was smoke everywhere in the state, and the views from Whitney (the main reason for climbing it besides the bragging rights) would be ruined. Beyond Kearsarge Pass, the trail enters Kings Canyon National Park, where it joins the John Muir and Pacific Crest Trail. Whitney via Kearsarge Pass and John Muir Trails. We did 16 miles in 4 days and are experienced and fit hikers. The road to Onion Valley is usually open from May to November. Trail Stats:Length: 4.8 miles to the top, 9.6 round tripElevation: 2,500 feet of elevation gainDuration: ~5:20 total, for reasonably in-shape hikers that live at 6,500 feet. He was also really excited about the ice cream in town. Continue hiking past Heart Lake to a long traversing part of the trail heading west and your first view of Kearsarge Pass. From the pass, you will have spectacular views of the Kearsarge Pinnacles, Kearsage Lakes and Bull Frog Lake to the west. We only saw 2 other groups, and only one other person camped at the actual lake with us that night. The entire Kearsage Pass trail is a steady climb from about 9,200 feet up to a maximum of 11,760 feet at the top of Kearsarge Pass over 4.8 miles. Only the hardiest day-hikers continued onward from there, and wed pretty much be meeting backpackers exclusively thereafter. Stay on north side of the lake for early morning sun to defrost. The trail is incredible, some of the best views of the lakes from the trial I've seen. Along the way we would cross over five high passes and check out many lakes and creeks. In the spring, Onion Valley is popular with backcountry skiers and snowboarders. Web2 1 4.9 105 reviews Write review Sort by: David Salvay September 5, 2022 Hiking Spent 2 nights camping at Kearsarge lakes, hiking to Rae lakes and back on the middle day. Keep in mind that this area is an active bear area. The trail climbs through forest and alpine tundra and past several lakes, including Little Pothole, Gilbert, and Flower Lakes. The big news of the day, of course, was the wildfires making all of this smoke. To me, this is not one of the most stunning Sierra lakes, but there are some very nice camp sites and even some bearboxes if you go to the Ranger station. The going is much more difficult than a steeper, lower elevation climb. WebFantastic weekend 2 nighter at Flower lake, we day hikes to Kearsarge pass and Matlock lake. WebOverall, the hiking distance was said to be 5 miles one-way from Onion Valley trailhead to Kearsarge Pass (or about 10 miles round trip). Wonderful time out! After a while, we packed up camp and began to head up to the pass to descend into our next stop, backpacking to Matlock Lake. Perfect weather. Incredible views of falls and lakes. They didnt go up the summit block and couldnt find the register anywhere. Highly recommend. This is an out and back trail that follows up Kearsarge Pass. Explore Onion Valley/Kearsarge Pass - view hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you. I will grab that map. Kearsarge Pass Trail is one of the easiest and shortest ways to connect Inyo National Forest to Kings Canyon National Park in the Sierra Nevada Range. Hiked to Kearsarge Pass on 6/25. Reid had told John to enjoy the next part of the journey (into Sequoia Kings Canyon, by Rae Lakes), it was one of the highlights of the PCT and his favorite stretch. This is stunning High Sierra country, with peaks, meadows and lakes to explore. This trail gains roughly 3,727 ft of elevation and is rated as a hard trail with lots of foot traffic. Kearsarge Pass trail closely passes several gorgeous alpine lakes, with Flower and Gilbert Lakes close enough for a refreshing dip or quick fishing pit stop. Glen Pass was steep and rocky both sides (but solid footing thanks to hero trail upkeep). The main trail rises gently for some one and a half miles to the first lake, Little Pothole Lake. We initially wanted to hike further south on the PCT, and summit Whitney along the way. We then hiked the rest to Kings Canyon boundary (we brought our dog and can only go this far). Highly recommend. Lots of small rainbows made for good fishing in the early morning. Whitney via Kearsarge Pass and John Muir Trails. But it can be difficult to those who are not active. I was surprised to see hundreds of frogs and (ginormous) tadpoles in Matlock Lake, and never a fish. After Kearsage Pass, you'll head back down to Charlotte Lake around 10,300 feet. At 4.5 miles and 2600 feet of climbing, Kearsarge Pass was a significant achievement for most folks. WebBeginning at the end of Onion Valley Road, the Kearsarge Pass Trail travels through the John Muir Wilderness. WebThe Kearsarge Pass Trail takes you past a number of scenic lakes and in 7 miles over the pass to the John Muir Trail, which meanders for 23 miles through the John Muir Wilderness. Holy crap. Best compliment I have gotten in some time. Authorities. Eventually, of course, we had to head on down from the top. Mosquitos were definitely biting at night, but not in hordes. Rich Dukowsky August 2, 2022 Hiking Mostly True Stories of My Hiking Trips, a PhotoJournal. If you are traveling to the trailhead from a low-elevation area, please also keep in mind that you should acclimate to the high elevation before hiking to the Pass, perhaps by camping at the developed campground (Onion Valley Campground), located about 100 yards from the trailhead, the night before your hike. The big fire at the time was the SQF Complex Fire, down south in the Sierra National Forest, and even though it was too far away to be dangerous, it was barfing out tons of smoke. WebExplore Onion Valley/Kearsarge Pass - view hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you. For example, the At the pass, youll enter Kings Canyon National Park, and could continue your hike onto the John Muir Trail and down to Kearsarge and Bullfrog Lakes, and even further to connect with the Pacific Crest Trail. Rich Dukowsky August 2, 2022 Hiking Enjoying the views of the mountains will make this section of the trail feel less tedious. Both passes were pretty challenging, but the views were spectacular and well worth the effort. Lots of flat spots around Gilbert and Flower to pitch a tent. WebOnion Valley Area. For dinner, I packed a Pork Pad Thai backpacker meal and a Creme Brle birthday desert from Backpackers Pantry. Bear canisters are required, but we had more trouble from the chipmunks than the bears. This is a popular trail for backpacking, birding, and camping, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. There is a 2 night camping limit at Kearsarge and Charlotte Lakes; 1 night limit Rae Lakes. The last stream to fill up was on the dry section before big pothole lake. Once you get to Matlock Lake on the Onion Valley side you are walking in snow the whole time (minus a few spots at the top of Kearsarge). All the lakes on either side of the pass except for the big pothole and heart lake have running water (they're all partially frozen). --Goethe. Starting at the Onion Valley Campground just west of Independence, CA, this trail has a huge climb from 9,200 feet to Kearsarge Pass at 11,760. Less than 3 miles from Onion Valley to Flower lake but steep 1800 ft gain and beware of wasps at trailhead. The incline to the pass was extremely well-graded, so it was very manageable. Driving Directions: From Highway 395, in Independence, CA: Turn west on Market Street (which seamlessly turns into Onion Valley Road). Beyond Kearsarge Pass, the trail enters Kings Canyon National Park, where it joins the John Muir and Pacific Crest Trails. Choose a campsite at least 100 feet away from lakes, streams, or trails. Very peaceful. No wind, cold but not frost-bite level. I assume it is the Kearsarge Pass one that they have, and that it continues to the west? There were plenty of switchbacks on this section, and plenty of views. Perhaps the wet weather kept the mosquitos from bothering uswe didnt even use repellent. Definitely not a secluded place you want to be spend the night wet. Am looking to resupply some friends who are doing the PCT and will be near the pass in late June. Trails from Onion Valley provide acces to the John Muir Wilderness and Kings Canyon National Park. Generally considered a challenging route. We will try the JMT in a not-high snow year. We hiked the 4.8 miles and climbed just over 2,500 feet with a moving time of 2:05:40, however our elapsed time was 3:20:20 which means we took nearly 1:15 in breaks across the nearly 5 miles.
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