2015, Wilderness, Hume Lake RD, Sequoia NF

Jennie Lakes & Detailed Trail Reports and Information (trailhead names are in bold type)

By: Jeff Duneman, Wilderness Ranger Hume Lake Ranger District, Last updated: August 3rd, 2015

*NOTES: “How long will it take?! Is it a hard hike?!” Difficulty and time required depends on you, the hiker, and your condition. An experienced, strong hiker will cover 3-4 miles (or more!) an hour carrying a full pack, without stopping. Someone who doesn’t hike much (or walk much, for that matter) will cover 1-2 miles (or less!) an hour, without a big pack, with frequent stops. Know your abilities! Always carry water, always check weather conditions, always tell people where you are going, and always familiarize yourself with the area (real maps recommended, not GPS). Pay attention to your surroundings, and enjoy your wilderness!

*LEAVE NO TRACE: Please take a look at the seven Leave No Trace wilderness ethics before you head out to the trail – https://lnt.org/learn/7-principles *Never leave trash or toilet paper behind! Pack it all in, pack it all out. *When campfires are allowed (check with the forest service on current fire status), always completely drown your campfire so that it is completely out!

Jennie Lakes Wilderness (JLW)

1) Big Meadows Trail (#?)/Weaver Lake Trail (#30E09)  Big Meadows trailhead up to Weaver Lake: At about 3.5 miles one-way, this is one of the easiest and most popular hikes in the JLW. The trail winds through Lodgepole Pines near the trailhead, climbs slowly (with a nice view into Kings ) into Red and White Firs, with another slight ascent once you are getting closer to the lake. A few minutes past the first junction (with the “Leave No Trace” sign) with Fox Meadow, pay attention to the next junction between this trail and the Jennie Lake trail heading south, and make sure to follow the path east to Weaver Lake. The trail sign at this junction was recently stolen so pay attention! (currently there is a only laminated paper sign directing you to the lakes) The trail has been cleared of all downed trees and the tread and most of the water bars are in good condition. Once up at the lake, please camp only in established campsites and do not build any new fire rings! There are over 15 sites located all around the lake, most on the north and west sides. Please do not camp on the east side of the lake and try to camp at least 100-200’ off of the lakeshore. Trout fishing is generally very good at the lake.

2015, Wilderness, Hume Lake RD, Sequoia NF

2) Big Meadow Trail(#?)/Jennie Lake Trail (#29E05)  Big Meadow trailhead up to Jennie Lake: Beginning the same as the hike up to Weaver Lake, this very popular trail turns south/southeast at the junction with the Weaver Lake Trail. It is about 6.5 miles to Jennie Lake cutting slowly around Shell Mountain and then up and down either side of Poop Out Pass. It is a bit of a climb up to the pass but once there it flattens out for a bit, before descending on the other side. A final small ascent and descent leads past some great views into the northern section of the JLW and Kings Canyon as you get close to the lake. There are primarily Lodgepole Pines and White and Red Fir trees along the trail, with some Jeffrey Pines on the way as well as Mountain Pines higher up. The trail has been cleared and there are only a couple of very old downed trees remain along the route, but all have well- worn user trails around them. There are some rock and water bar issues coming up and down either side of Poop Out Pass with some rocky wash out on small sections of the trail, but in general the tread and most of the water bars are also in very good condition. Once up at the lake, please camp only in established campsites and do not build any new fire rings! There are about 20 sites located all around the lake, most on the north and west sides. Please try to camp at least 100-200’ off of the lakeshore. Trout fishing is also generally very good at the lake.

3) Rowell Meadow Trail (#30E08)  Rowell Meadow trailhead up to Rowell Meadow: Another relatively easy hike, it is about 2.5 miles up to the meadow and the old snow survey cabin. Please drive slowly as you pass the Horse Corral camp on the way in; the trailhead is about 2 miles up a decent dirt road. Once on the trail there is a ½ mile ascent up a rocky section to the Wilderness Boundary sign, and this provides some excellent views west and south into the heart of the . From the wilderness boundary, the trail flattens out most of the way to the meadow and is a smooth hike. Just before the meadow, watch for the new trail sign at the junction that directs you south towards JO Pass and the Weaver Lake Trail junction. The old cabin is just east beyond the trail junction. The Rowell Trail itself winds through mostly White and Red Fir trees with a few Jeffrey Pines on the rocky slope, and then turns into thick Lodgepole Pine groves near the meadow. The trail has been cleared of all downed trees. The rocky section of the trail has some minor rock and water bar issues, and is heavily used by stock, so be careful of loose rocks. In general the tread and trail condition is also very good here. On the east side of the meadow, there is a trail junction for four different trails, two of which head into Kings Canyon NP. One sign points out three of the trails, and across the path there is a signpost (missing the sign) pointing the way up to Marvin Pass and Mitchell Peak to the north. Please check the signs and your map and make sure to take the correct path. If camping near the meadow, look for one of the three established campsites near the wooden bridge and please do not build new fire rings. Note: in dry seasons and late in the Summer, there is very little water near the meadow. The closest reliable water sources are a) about ½ mile south up the JO Pass Trail, and b) about a ½ mile north up the trail towards Marvin Pass.

4) JO Pass Trail (#30E11)  Rowell Meadow junction up to JO Pass: This trail leads you into the heart of the Jennie Lakes Wilderness, linking you to the Weaver Lake Trail, Jennie Lake, and south into Sequoia NP towards Lodgepole. It is about 4 2015, Wilderness, Hume Lake RD, Sequoia NF

quick miles from the junction up to the pass. There is some slight up and down along the trail, with a little climb before you reach the junction with the Weaver Lake Trail, and then again as you approach JO Pass you ascend a clear, rocky section. Watch for the trail sign at the junction which leads west towards Weaver Lake. Once you continue past the Weaver Lake Trail junction heading south, just to the east off the trail you can cut over to the “Profile View” (see your map) for a great view over the boundary and down into the Park. From the Rowell Meadow area, the trail winds through a thick Lodgepole Pine forest and then starts ascending up towards JO Pass, where it becomes White and Red Fir, with Mountain Pines appearing higher up. Once on the clear rocky section, to the west you get a nice view of Jennie Peak in the distance. There are only a couple of very old, very large downed trees on the trail, but all with good user trails around them. There are also some minor rock and water bar issues with some washout on small sections of the trail up and down the rocky sections towards JO Pass, but in general the tread and trail is in good condition. If you want to camp at JO Pass, there are several good campsites established by the creek below the pass, as well as above it near the small pond. Please do not build any new fire rings. Just to the south and west of the JO Pass Trail junction there are some great views into .

4) Weaver Lake Trail (#30E09)  Weaver Lake over to JO Pass junction: Finally cleared of most of the dozens of downed trees that were here for several years, this trail is in the best shape it’s been in quite a while. There are a couple of very old trees (near the junction with JO Pass Trail), but with good user trails around them. It’s about 4.5 up and down miles from Weaver Lake heading east to the junction with the JO Pass Trail. Past Weaver Lake, the trail remains relatively flat until you descend into the valley where you will cross several streams (a great water source late in the Summer) that all become Boulder Creek. After the streams you begin a somewhat steep ascent on a rocky section up towards the JO Pass Trail junction with some spectacular views north, south and west into the JLW. Past the rocky face, heading up towards the JO Pass trail junction, the trail can be a little difficult to follow, so pay attention. Look for the remnants of an old gate near the junction. At Weaver Lake, the trail sign directing you in the direction of Rowell Meadow (at the junction) was recently stolen and there is only a laminated paper sign currently there. Please pay attention to the trail at the junction. Along the way, you’ll hike through thick White and Red Fir forests, with Lodgepole Pines and some Mountain Pines as well. Once you start descending into the valley, there are some rock and water bar issues, with quite a few loose rocks and some washout on sections of the trail before and after the streams. Watch your footing in these sections! In general the trail is in decent condition and one can now easily do the whole loop from Weaver to Jennie and back out, going either direction.

5) Marvin Pass Trail (#30E06)/Mitchell Peak Trail (#30E07a)/Kanaywer Gap Trail (#30E07)  Marvin Pass trailhead up to Mitchell Peak, and out to Kings Canyon NP via the Kanawyer Gap: Another short hike, it’s about a 3 mile hike one-way up to the beautiful views of Mitchell Peak, at 10,365 feet the highest vista point in the JLW. The round-trip hike to Mitchell Peak is fairly moderate and is easily done in a day. The trail begins with a slow, steady climb of about a mile through Red and White Fir trees, from the trailhead up to the trail junction at Marvin Pass, where you can head south towards Rowell Meadow and the Seville Lake Trail, or continue east on the Kanawyer Gap Trail towards Mitchell Peak and the Park boundary. The trail sign here 2015, Wilderness, Hume Lake RD, Sequoia NF

was recently stolen, so please pay attention to your map and the trail so you head the proper direction. Heading east, look for the new trail sign directing you up to Mitchell Peak. After that junction, the Kanawyer Gap Trail goes a short ½ mile or so into Kings Canyon NP, heading down towards Roaring River. The trails are cleared of all downed trees and are in very good condition, with only very minor water bar work needed and stock use creating several user trails in a few areas near Marvin Pass (please stay on the original trail!) and over towards Rowell Meadow. These trails receive a lot of stock use heading in and out of the Park and there is a High Sierra camp nearby, so you can expect to run into people and horses. Note that the road sign directing you up the dirt road to the trailhead from Big Meadow Road was stolen – look for a small ‘hiking’ sign on Big Meadows Road pointing to the turn off to your right (south). The dirt road to the trailhead is fairly well maintained and most cars can easily make it.

6) Seville Lake Trail (#30E43)  Rowell Meadow trail junction up to Park boundary: An easy 1.5 mile jaunt takes you from the east end of Rowell Meadow up to the boundary with Kings Canyon NP. This “Lakes Trail” is a very common route for hikers and horses coming or going from the three popular lakes in the park (Seville, Lost, Ranger). The trail is clear of any downed trees and is in very good condition. Once you enter the park, however, the trail becomes quite steep descending the first section towards the lakes. Note: on some recent maps a shortcut trail going directly from Seville Lake north up to the Forest boundary is listed. There is no trail here! A very rough cross-country path was created by some hikers, but it is not maintained and very difficult to follow. Please stay on the trails.

7) Stony Creek Trail (#29E06)  Stony Creek trailhead up to junction with Jennie Lake Trail: A fairly steep, but beautiful hike up from the well-established Stony Creek campground, this trail is generally only used by day hikers. It is about 4 miles up to Poop Out Pass and the Jennie Lake Trail, but most overnight hikers enter through the easier Big Meadow trailhead. Climbing through Fir tree forests for the most part, you’ll also see some Jeffrey and Mountain Pines as you hike right alongside the National Park boundary for most of the trail. There are some excellent vistas looking west and north when you arrive at a rocky clearing about halfway up the trail. Recently cleared of all downed trees, the trail is in better condition than it has been in several years, but there are a few rock and water bar issues in small sections. Particularly as you climb in the approach to Poop Out Pass, it can be steep and strenuous in sections. Along the rocky sections, the trail can be difficult to follow so please pay attention as you hike. There are usually rock cairns guiding the way through this section. If you are planning an overnight trip to Jennie Lake, the best option is to enter at Big Meadows TH to the north.

Monarch Wilderness NOTE: Within Sequoia National Forest, the Monarch Wilderness is generally much ‘wilder’ and remote than the Jennie Lakes Wilderness. It receives much less visitation than the JLW and is less maintained as well. One can be assured of solitude as well as more difficult hiking. 2015, Wilderness, Hume Lake RD, Sequoia NF

1) Kanawyer Trail (#30E04)  Kennedy Meadow trailhead through Evans Grove and down to Little Boulder Creek: Recently almost impassable due to downed trees and overgrowth, the past two seasons have seen extensive trail work in this area. It has been cleared of numerous downed trees, and extensive brushing and tread work has also taken place since 2013. Currently there are only two newly downed trees. A very short ascent from the trailhead will take you past excellent views south and east into the heart of the northernmost section of Sequoia National Forest. After a quick mile or so you drop into the Evans Grove of Giant Sequoias. Continuing on about a ½ mile you will pass two old signposts (signs long gone) at junctions that lead west into the heart of Evans Grove. Immediately after the second one, you will arrive at the new Monarch Wilderness boundary sign. Beyond the boundary a very sharp descent begins that takes you straight down the canyon to Little Boulder Creek. See if you can spot several other Giant Sequoia Groves (Agnew, Deer Meadow, Kennedy) east and south across the valley. The total hike is a short 3.5 miles in distance, but very strenuous particularly when climbing out of the canyon with a full pack (it’s over a 2,500 foot elevation change in about a mile.) This difficult hike, however, is a botanist’s delight because with the drop into the canyon, you will pass through almost every Sierra altitude range after leaving the trailhead at Kennedy Meadow. It is also the only hike in the Monarch or Jennie Lakes Wilderness where you pass directly through a Sequoia Grove. Enjoy White and Red Firs, Jeffrey and Ponderosa Pines, Sugar Pines, Incense Cedars, and Grandpa Sequoia along the higher elevations. Follow the marking on either of the two signposts you pass in Evans Grove and head west into the heart of the grove for an excellent day hike among the Giants. As you descend into the canyon you will pass Black and Live Oak, the rare Single Leaf Pinyon Pine, Mountain Mahogany, Yucca, and Quaking Aspen. In the heart of Summer, abundant wildflowers also blossom in the canyon. The hike will be further rewarded when you arrive at the always flowing Little Boulder Creek, one of the best water sources and swimming areas in either of our Wilderness’. Fill up your water here! Some tread and water bar issues remain on the steep slopes of the trail and it can be quite exhausting. Bring plenty of water and pace yourself as you descend and ascend! But the trail is now much more easily passable and you are generally assured of complete solitude (minus an occasional black bear!) Note: after the creek and the old washed out bridge (going east up towards the Deer Meadow Trail) the trail basically disappears due to the Sheep Fire several years ago and is not passable. We recommend that you do not venture past the creek.

2) Deer Meadow Trail (#30E05)  Deer Meadow TH up to the ridge: Another victim of the Sheep Fire several years ago, the higher sections of this trail are basically gone and in need of a lot of maintenance to bring back to standard. Most of the trail signs past the wilderness boundary were burned up and/or destroyed by the fire. However, since 2013, some trail work has been done along the first section the trail and so this part is in much better condition. The 2+ mile climb up to the ridge does gain some altitude but is not exceptionally difficult and is a very good day hike, or an easy overnight trip. On the way up look for Deer Meadow and the remains of the old cabin. There are also some great views into the heart of the Jennie Lakes Wilderness to the south from the rocky section of the trail. Notes: again, once you pass the campsite overlooking Kings Canyon (heading north), near the Monarch Wilderness boundary (the sign is pretty chewed up, but recently was put back 2015, Wilderness, Hume Lake RD, Sequoia NF

up) the trail basically disappears and is not easy to find or follow. There are also old fire lines from the fire, which add more confusion. Further along, at the trail junction that splits west down to Boulder Creek and northeast down into Kings Canyon, both trails are all but gone. We recommend that you not venture past the campsite at the ridge. Also, there is no reliable water source in this area, so make sure you pack plenty of water, particularly if you are planning to stay overnight on the ridge.

3) Deer Cove Trail (#30E01)  Deer Cove trailhead up to Wildman Meadow & Grizzly Lakes: This trail has not had much maintenance in many years and is in need of extensive work to bring it back to standard. Dozens of trees are down and there are areas where the original trail is lost and has become several user-created horse and cattle trails. There are a lot of tread, water bar and overgrowth issues all along the trail, and the hike includes a big elevation gain. As such, it can be a very difficult hike to arrive at both Wildman Meadow and Grizzly Lakes. However, for more experienced and strong hikers, Grizzly Lakes is a great spot for isolation and some beautiful Kings Canyon views. Mount Harrington, the highest point in either wilderness at over 11,000 feet, lies just to the west of Grizzly Lakes. The trail is very steep for about 3 miles as you head past Deer Cove Creek (a good water source, fill up!), before flattening out for the mile-long section that crosses the junction leading down to Choke Creek. Look for the trail sign, but don’t expect to easily get past the creek - the trail here has not been maintained in years. Another mile-long steep, climb up a rocky face leads you to Deer Cove Saddle before dropping smoothly down to Wildman Meadow. Wildman Meadow has been heavily impacted by an old hunter’s camp. There are structures and old garbage all around the meadow, and we do not recommend camping here as there is also no reliable water source at the meadow. However, just past Wildman Meadow, at the junction with the new trail sign, you can go about ¼ mile west towards Happy Gap to find a good water source (East Fork Creek) and camping spot. Past the creek, this trail is also un- maintained and quickly becomes covered by downed trees, thick overgrown whitethorn and brush. We do not recommend venturing further on towards Happy Gap. Following the trail north after the junction, you start to hike right along the boundary with the National Park, and about a ¼ mile up there is another trail junction that leads east into Kings Canyon NP with a good trail sign (“Frypan Meadow”). Continue north another ½ mile until you reach a very clearly marked junction with two trail signs and a Monarch Wilderness boundary sign half-eaten by a black bear a few years ago (if you want to see a bear, this area is also a good bet). At this junction, the trail up to Grizzly Lakes becomes very difficult and you will need to pay close attention to the path and your surroundings. It climbs very steeply about 2.5 miles towards the lakes and there are numerous trees down and substantial tread and water bar issues. It is not a trail for inexperienced hikers! The path becomes very difficult to follow. Please proceed with caution. After climbing a final ridge and winding over to the west you will see Upper Grizzly Lake below you. You can camp at several old established campsites between both of the lakes. Please do not build any new fire rings, and try to camp 100-200’ off of the lakes. Similar to the Kennedy Meadow hike you will also have the chance to study a lot of different trees from the Deer Cove TH up to Grizzly Lakes. Climbing out of heat of Kings Canyon, you will pass Black and Live Oak, Quaking Aspen, Incense Cedar, Jeffrey and Ponderosa Pine, Red and White Fir, and Sugar Pine, as well as numerous wildflowers in the Summer. A challenging, but rewarding hike.