Pear Lake Hike @Sequoia National Park…read more Distance : 12.5 mile Elev Gain: 2,200 ft Level : strenuous 5 stars : absolutely stunning hike in the giant forest. You'll first reach Heather Lake , then Aster Lake , Emerald Lake and Pear Lake. If you are afraid of the height like me, there are a little scary section after the Watchtower where the trail gets really narrow like if hikers are coming from the opposite direction you have to stop and let them pass by otherwise one of you will fall off the steep cliff kind of narrow. I try not to look down otherwise I'll freeze up. Only these sections are tough for vertigo otherwise so gorgeous and beautiful up there. It's definitely not a beginners hike considering the distance and the eleva gains. Not as bad as Clouds Rest in Yosemite. I only made it to the Emerald Lake which is after Aster Lake.

Activity Type: Hiking Nearby City: Giant Forest Village…read moreLength: 12.5 total miles Elevation Gain: 2,200 feet Skill Level: strenuous Trail Type: Out-and-back Local Contacts: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park Lakes Trail delivers the promise in its name: Heather, Emerald, Aster and Pear lakes. Named for the red heather growing nearby, Heather Lake, first along the way, is a worthy goal. With an early start, the ambitious hiker could visit all four lakes and return in a day. The little lakes called tarns rest in rock bowls that were scoured by glaciers long ago. The path to the lakes is the most popular in the Wolverton area--so popular that there is a quota on backcountry camping. Maximum 2 nights. No such restrictions are placed on day hiking, however. Even without the lakes, Lakes Trail would be a compelling path. Hiking over the Watchtower, an awesome granite formation, is a walk along the edge of the world--or at least along the edge of a precipitous cliff. Watchtower Trail was dynamited out of the rock by the Civilian Conservation Corps back in the 1930s and remains a stunning example of the trail builder's art. The path is dangerous when icy or covered with snow. We took the Hump Trail and for the most part to reach Heather Lake. Passed the third hump towards Emerald Lake and to Pear Lake crampons were necessary. The Watchtower Trail was closed to the public due to a lot of fallen trees and very icy condition. No camping permitted on Aster Lake this time. Some nature renovation is being done. It means a lot of people trampled on the trail and it caused a lot of damage. The park is doing what they can to save it.

A really lovely, rewarding trail that winds around a ridge far above the Kaweah River. To get to…read morePanther Creek/Falls the trail is mostly uphill. The hills aren't very steep and it shouldn't be an issue unless you've got about 50lbs of gear on your back, like myself. I definitely needed to take breaks often as this trail did not offer much shade and it must have been around 75F outside. The trail is narrow and shared with horses so you'll have to dodge horse poop from time to time. Lots of lovely flowers and amazing views of the river. Watch out for snakes and poison oak (there is a TON of poison oak...make sure you know what it looks like before going!) There are 3-4 streams to cross, mostly just rock hopping. The water is pretty shallow if you just want to walk through. Gorgeous waterfalls and lots of lizards! Once you arrive at Panther Creek, you'll hear the turbulent waters of the river below and will be offered spectacular scenery. There is a campsite right at the end of the trail if you plan on staying overnight, otherwise this is the turnaround point for this hike. If you continue on uphill past the campsite, you'll find the continuation of the trail that will take you to the lovely Redwood Meadow.

I actually am not sure if I should do this, because more people will find out how awesome it is,…read moreand will start going there. I just got back from a backpacking trip in Sequoia. Our original trip was canceled by closed road to the trail, so we randomly picked one that was available. All along the trail is gorgeous, and very soothing with the sound of massively flowing river. Pretty wild flowers and cute marmots, if you are fortunate, may be some black bears? you need to cross few creeks, which is not that hard at all. Beautiful massive granites everywhere, and tasty water. I really enjoyed this trip. Oh, plus very cute camping spot as well.. Only thing that bothered me was campers before us left some trash at the site, so we had to bring it out. Please take your own trash out and don't be such shitheads. Bad karma will follow you til you pay for your deed. I am feeling pretty awesome now after this trip :-) -moderate, short hike, no hardcore up or downhills.

Way way cool place to go. This is located in Buckeye Flats Campground. There is a trail that goes…read morealong the creek. Many watering holes to play in.

Lengt:h 7.2 Total Miles…read more Elevation Gain: 2,100 feet Trail Type: Out-and-back Skill Level: DIFFICULT Duration: Backpack or day hike Season: Best July through September Trailhead Elevation: 7,900 feet Top Elevation: 10,000 feet In September, this sun-exposed trail was lined with a scattering of Indians Paintbrush, a sampling of the fuller wildflower bouquet, which blooms on these slopes in the spring. After 1 mile, turn right at the White Chief Trail junction. The Eagle Lake Trail shifts in style from a straight track to a series of switchbacks that chew into the elevation. At the junction with the Mosquito Lakes Trail, turn left and set your sites on Eagle Lake, 1.7 miles away. Alternatively, hikers could turn right here and hike the same distance to the lowest of four Mosquito Lakes located one ridge west of Eagle Lake. The ascent tapers as you follow Eagle Creek to its source, passing a pair of unique "sink holes" where the water disappear underground into strange craters. Pass through a wooded meadow and dissect an alpine bounder field. The trail mounts a rock slope beneath Eagle Lake and offers fine northeast views toward Sawtooth and Mineral Peaks. The route to this lake follows the same trail for the first 2 miles, ascending steadily up the west side of the Mineral King Valley. The trail ends at the north end of Eagle Lake, where a small dam, maintained by Southern California Edison, enhances the volume of the lake. A path continues through the trees along the eastern shoreline. Large rocks act as islands in the lake, which gets more picturesque the further you walk.

We just went to Eagle Lake for an overnight camping trip. It's mid-August…read more We first stopped at the ranger station to get some information about the trail. That's where we rented bear can for our food. The rangers were really nice and knowledgeable. We pay $15 for camping permit and $5 for bear can rental fee. It was 4 of us and our 2 year old son. We started hike just OK, but it's ALL UPHILL till the lake. Our son did great, covered good mileage, but of course we ended up carrying him later. If you are going with little kids, it's best to have proper carriage because the terrain gets pretty rocky and steep. It's best if you have both hands free to climb up there. Hiking sticks strongly recommended. It is one of the hardest back-country camping trip, but it was rewarding! The meadows were so beautiful, saw wild life, and the sense of accomplishment was priceless!

The panoramic point was closed in last April and finally we could check it out this time. My hubby…read morehas been there before so he wanted to take me there. This place is hidden gem! You can choose to hike start from the trailhead at the end of Panoramic Point Road, 2 miles up from the park visitor center and market at Grant Village. We chose to drive up to the parking lot instead. It was about a 10 minute drive up on a narrow road from the John Muir Lodge. Gorgeous overlook and amazing views from the top. Highly recommended!

Panoramic Point maybe previously had the potential to be a worthwhile attraction right in the heart…read moreof Kings Canyon National Park. Before I discuss why I was a little frustrated with my experience, let me just give a few details and background about coming here. For my journey exploring Sequoia and Kings Canyon NP's...I stayed in this Grant Grove Village area right in between the border of both parks. I actually rented a tent cabin for a couple of evenings. Panoramic Point was situated just behind Grant Grove and the John Muir Lodge. It was relatively easy to find as there was a sign for it right along the road. If you have any difficulty locating it, the Kings Canyon Visitor Center is situated on the grounds of Grant Grove Village. Just go inside and ask a park ranger and they'll know exactly what you're talking about. Getting here....it was a straightforward drive of 1 - 2 miles up the mountain. Once I arrived, the parking lot was relatively empty around 9am as this was one of the first sights of the day I decided to uncover since it was in the vicinity of my cabin. Getting out of the car, I found the Panoramic Point Trailhead and a description of what the area was all about with what to expect along a short hike. Well, the hike was so quick....it was a 0.5 mile round trip walk. That's how short.... There were 2 main reasons why I was disappointed with Panoramic Point.... 1. Well, I could sense this area could have once been great for panoramic views of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range.....now it looked like over due time the natural skyline appearance had been tainted by trees. To clarify....during my visit a lot of random protruding trees and forest shrubbery appeared in my sightline from the overlook, which ultimately disturbed the scenic aspects of the landscape and beyond. These "unannounced" trees sort of hindered the entire background. I was left puzzled as to what was so special about this spot? I thought in my head...."well, had these trees not been in the way...the potential was there for Panoramic Point to be memorable". Continuing with this idea.....the views were just okay at best. And...the reason I'm convinced Panoramic Point was mediocre was because.....later on in the day I drove fabled 30-mile Generals Highway throughout Kings Canyon which ended at Zumwalt Meadow. Along this parkway I discovered magnificent views and majestic terrain much more inspiring than the short walk up here. In comparison some people may say Panoramic Point is recommended, but for me it was an afterthought especially after stopping at the many beautiful roadside pullovers on Generals Highway like.....Junction View, Yucca Point and Hotel Creek Overlook. My 2nd letdown about Panoramic Point (but this can be easily remedied, lol) was I visited here first thing in the morning over the summer time and I had the sun facing directly into my eyes. Grrrr....this made for picture taking to be difficult especially with the mountainous setting in the distance appearing fuzzy and hazy. So....if you do decide to visit here, I'd certainly suggest stopping on by in the afternoon time with the sun at your back to enhance photographic opportunities. Overall, Panoramic Point could have been momentous back in the day, but with all the new growths of trees rising high into the skyline....it interfered with the whole ambiance and made for a deflating experience. But hey, it's a part of nature. I was in acceptance of it and better to see growth of the forest rather than any wildfires destroying the land.....even if it's at the expense of a place aptly named Panoramic Point.

Great trail, a bit intense if you are not in shape and prepared. Gorgeous area. Plan on going again.read more

Getting to Jennie Lake requires a 5 mi hike to Jennie Lake from the Fox Meadow trailhead. Many…read morebackpackers hike to Jennie Lake then camp there. You need a FREE campfire permit if you're staying there overnight available from the Hume Lake Ranger Station, but we just did a day hike. There is lots of climbing involved, you have to cross Poop Out Pass at 3.7 miles and I was dying to get to the lake cuz it felt like I had been hiking Forever. It's the highest point on the trip. The lake is at 9,000 ft and I could tell we were up high because of the headache I got. Took some aspirins then felt a bit better. The lake is nice, lots of small fishes that I couldn't see but they kept jumping out of the water I guess eating bugs. Had lunch there then turned back down the trail. Total miles 10 mi RT/6 hrs min. took us lots longer or 2 days if backpacking. Difficulty 3/5; views 10/10. website: http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/sequoia/

I don't understand what this obsession with hiking is, I mean how foolish right? But I'm so…read moreobsessed I can't stop. I just want to be out there all the time. Here's a place with some wonderful rangers that will help you realize your walking goals...super nice people, gorgeous area, iconic trail.

One of the best spots to start a High Sierra hike, easy 1.5hr drive from Fresno, right at the end…read moreof the road (no pun intended, it's rather aptly named). Ample parking, two pit toilets, and fresh drinking water to fill bottles. One of the main starting spots for doing the Big SEKI Loop, I believe they also have bear canister rentals (call ahead to confirm). Plenty of opportunities to access the river back down the road (west) before you arrive, or after your trip. starting the loop counter clockwise allows for a more mellow start, as clockwise necessitates a 6-7mi climb of approx 4000 vertical ft towards Granite Basin. However, climbing Bubbs Creek isn't exactly easy, nor is heading up Avalanche Pass, though at least there is a couple miles of flat prior to starting the climb. all in all, a solid 5 star spot, only leaving 4 b/c of the brutality of the climbs, haha! don't forget, though the ranger may say there is nowhere to leave notes (we were told this upon calling), there IS a bulletin board in the 24/7 open area of the ranger station, and you can also use backcountry ranger stations to send messages to others in your party if you are meeting someone partway through your trip (we were running one day behind, so used this option to let our party know when they picked up their permit that we'd be a day late meeting up). Nice option to have, but can also leave handwritten notes on the bulletin board if you know when you leave. Have fun and hike Bear Safe, as bear canisters are req'd most of the season.

Being in the high Sierras is one of the best things in the world. Like many trails on the eastern…read moreside of the Sierras, this 9.7-mile roundtrip hike with 2500' elevation change wanders past a series of natural lakes (not fake dammed up reservoirs) before reaching the superlative view at Kearsarge Pass. The trailhead (0.0 miles in and at 9240') is next to the Onion Valley Campground - although Kearsarge Pass can also be reached from Kanawyers at the end of road in Kings Canyon National Park. The trailhead had plenty of parking, many bear lockers, and exceptionally well-maintained outhouses. Little Pothole (1.6 miles, 9960') is a crescent-shaped and somewhat marshy lake. The least attractive and smallest of the five lakes, it benefits from an easy-to-reach shoreline and visible cascades feeding it water. Gilbert Lake (2.3 miles, 10,320') is superior to Little Pothole with its larger and rounder shape. With vegetation at the water's edge, continue to the western side of the lake where standing on a massive boulder provides a clear view of the lake. With heavy winter snowfall in both 2017 and 2019, Gilbert Lake was half covered in snow on 6/18/17 (see pic) but was clear on 8/19/19. Flower Lake (2.7 miles, 10,470') is also bushy at water's edge but oddly not with flowers. If at Gilbert, take the rewarding effort to reach nearby Flower. Flower is a good turn-around point if not going to Kearsarge Pass. Heart Lake (3.6 miles, 10,960) is truly heart-shaped. The pond at 3.4 miles is not Heart Lake. Reaching the shoreline requires a steep scramble that needs a healthy heart. Big Pothole (4.3 miles, 11,420') is the best-looking pothole I've seen. Below a Baroque-rippled rock face, the lake has a pentagon shape. An extensive scramble is needed to reach the water but the trail wraps around the lake and delivers plenty of bird's eye views. The bluish-green water also provides motivating sights while making the final ascent to the pass. Kearsarge Pass (4.8 miles, 11,760') is an absolutely phenomenal vista - not necessarily looking back towards Independence but forward to Kings Canyon with a broad basin filled with multiple reflective lakes in front of rows of piercing mountain ranges. I'd share a picture but I couldn't rightly capture the enormous beauty.

Got to the pass via the onion valley trailhead. Really pretty waterfalls and lakes along the way…read more Been awhile since I was there but remember it being beautiful.