08-23-12
WHERE TO GO
BACKPACKING GUIDE
By:
THE WESERTN LOS ANGELES
COUNTY COUNCIL
HIGH ADVENTURE TEAM
COMMITTEE
This Where To Go Backpacking Guide includes overnight Backpack Trips in Joshua Tree,
Sequoia and Kings Canyon and Yosemite National Parks. The San Bernadino, San Gabriel,
Sierra Madre and Sierra Nevada Mountains.
There are Trips that cover from 2 Miles to 48 Miles, and from 2 Days to 9 Days in duration.
They go from Sea Level to 14,496 Feet above Sea Level.
I have done most of these hikes myself, some of them more than once.
I have done some since I first started Backpacking in 1980, and some from 1991 to 2011 when I
was part of The Finest Organization In This Country For Youth.
This Is Why Boys Join Boy Scouts
REMEMBER!! Keep The OUTing In SCOUTing!!
ENJOY!
Glenn Covey, W.L.A.C.C. – H.A.T, Chairman
818-787-2504
38 BACKPACK TRIPS
Destination Mileage No. Of Days
Bear Canyon 5 2
Casa Vieja Meadows 5 3
Cedar Creek / Fish Bowls 11.5 3
Cold Spring 25 4
Cottonwood Lakes 10.4 4
Fish Bowls 12 3
Flower Lake 6 3
Forks Of The Kern 9.6 4
Golden Trout Wilderness 40 8
Grasshopper Flat 27 5
Hennniger Flats 1 8 3
Henninger Flats 2 15 3
Henninger Flats / Mt. Lowe 17 3
Hockett Lakes 31 5
Jordan Hot Springs 12 3
Joshua Tree 8 3
Kearsarge Lakes 17 5
Kern Flat 21 4
Kern River Trail 8 3
Kings Canyon 36 7
Lilly Meadows 7 3
Lilly Meadows / Sheep Camp 14 3
Little Jimmy 9 2
Little Kern Bridge 12 3
Mammoth 29 7
Matlock Lake 7.5 4
Mt. Baden-Powell / Little Jimmy 15 2
Mt. Langley 29.5 4
Mt. Pinos 2 2
Mt. San Jacinto 17 3
Mt. Whitney – East Side 27 4
Mt. Whitney – West Side 54 7
Rae Lakes Loop 48 9
Summit Lake 18 3
Summit Lake / Blossom Lakes 29 3
Yosemite 1 38.5 8
Yosemite 2 44 8
Yosemite to Mammoth 30 8
BEAR CANYON
Trip: From the Switzer Picnic Area to Bear Canyon
Length: 5 Miles Round Trip ( 4 Miles + 1400 ft. Elevation Gain )
Season: Fall
Topo Map: Tom Harrison Maps – Angeles Front Country Trail Map
Permits: California Campfire Permit Issued By The U.S.F.S.
Adventure Passes are required to park vehicles at the Trailhead.
Trailhead: Take the ( 5 ) South to the ( 210 ) East to the ( 2 ) Angeles Crest Highway. From La
23 Miles Canada head up into the mountains 10.5 Miles to the Switzer Picnic Area. The parking
lot is on the right hand side of the highway. Take the driveway, on the right hand side of
the parking lot, down to the lower parking lot. WARNING!! Do Not leave vehicles
parked in lower parking lot, because of vandalism, bring them back up and park them in
the upper parking lot on the highway.
Day 1 2 Miles
Drive to the Trailhead. From the Trailhead cross the bridge and follow the trail down canyon, past Commodore
Switzer Trail Camp and down into the gorge of Arroyo Seco below Switzer Falls (fork to the left).
Continue down the Arroyo Seco Gorge another 3/4 mile.
Day 2 2 Miles 1400 ft. Elevation Gain
Hike back out to the Trailhead and drive home.
CASA VIEJA MEADOWS
Trip: From the Blackrock Trailhead to Casa Vieja Meadows
Length: 5 Miles Total ( 4 Miles + 650 ft. Elevation Gain )
Season: Summer
Topo Map: Tom Harrison Maps – Golden Trout Wilderness Trail Map
Wilderness Permit: 15 People Maximum
Stop at the Blackrock Ranger Station on your way to the Trailhead and fill out a
Wilderness Permit and drop it in the Box. 760-365-9585
California Campfire Permit Issued By The U.S.F.S.
Trailhead: Take the ( 14 ) North to the ( 395 ) toward Lone Pine. Turn Left at the Kennedy
Meadows Turnoff, if you get to Little Lake you’ve gone too far. Take the Kennedy
Meadows Turnoff up the mountain. There is a “Y” when you get to the Kennedy
Meadows Campground, go Left as the sign indicates to Blackrock Ranger Station. Go
up past the Kennedy Meadows Campground, the Fish Creek Campground and the
Troy Meadow Campground. Keep going up and watch for signs to Blackrock Ranger
Station. Stop at the Ranger Station and fill out a Wilderness Permit and drop it in the
Box. Proceed to the end of the road to the Blackrock Trailhead.
Day 1
Drive to the Blackrock Trailhead at the end of the road and spend the night.
Day 2 2 Miles
Hike from the Blackrock Trailhead (8960 ft.) to Casa Vieja Meadows (8310 ft.)
Day 3 2 Miles 650 ft. Elevation Gin
Hike back out to the Blackrock Trailhead and drive home.
CEDAR CREEK / FISH BOWLS
Trip: From the Cedar Creek Trailhead to Cedar Creek Campground and
Fish Bowls Campground
Length: 11.5 Miles Total ( 10.5 Miles + 800 ft. Elevation Gain )
Season: Spring / Summer / Fall
Topo Map: U.S.G.S. Lockwood Valley & San Guillermo Mountain, CA
Permits: California Campfire Permit Issued By The U.S.F.S.
Adventure Passes are required to park vehicles at the Trailhead.
Trailhead: Take the ( 5 ) North and Exit at Frazier Park Road. Take Frazier Park Road to
Lockwood Valley Road and turn Left. Take Lockwood Valley Road to Mutau Flats
Road and turn Left. Take the road down to the bottom of the canyon. Go past the
corrals on your right to the Cedar Creek Trailhead on your right.
The Cedar Creek Trailhead sign NO longer exist, it was burned up in the 2007 fires.
Look for the “7N03B” sign.
Day 1 2 Miles
Drive to the Cedar Creek Trailhead (4865 ft.) and hike into the Cedar Creek Campground ( 5090 ft.)
Day 2 2.5 Miles 800 ft. Elevation Gain
Hike from the Cedar Creek Campground (5090 ft.) to Fish Bowls Campground (5200 ft.)
Day 3 6 Miles
Hike from the Fish Bowls Campground (5200 ft.) to the Fish Bowls Trailhead (4835 ft.) and drive home.
COLD SPRING
Trip: From the Jerkey Meadows Trailhead to Cold Spring
Length: 25 Miles Total ( 24 Miles + 970 ft. Elevation Gain )
Season: Summer
Topo Map: Tom Harrison Maps – Golden Trout Wilderness Trail Map
Wilderness Permit: 15 People Max. www.fs.fed.us/r5/sequoia/ (760-376-3781 Kernville Ranger Station)
California Campfire Permit Issued By The U.S.F.S.
Trailhead: Stay on the road to Camp Whitsett and go 18 Miles past the entrance to Camp
203 Miles Whitsett to the road’s end to the Jerkey Meadows Trailhead.
Day 1
Drive to the Jerkey Meadows Trailhead and spend the night.
Day 2 5.9 Miles
Hike from the Jerkey Meadows Trailhead (5930 ft.) to the Little Kern Bridge (5760 ft.)
Day 3 6.7 Miles 800 ft. Elevation Gain
Hike from the Little Kern Bridge (5760 ft.) to Cold Spring (6560 ft.)
Day 4 11.7 Miles
Hike from Cold Spring (6560 ft.) to the Jerkey Meadows Trailhead (5930 ft.) and drive home.
COTTONWOOD LAKES
Trip: From the Cottonwood Lakes Trailhead to Cottonwood Lakes
Length: 10.4 Miles Total ( 9.4 Miles + 1000 ft. Elevation Gain )
Season: Summer
Topo Map: Tom Harrison Maps – Golden Trout Wilderness Trail Map
Wilderness Permit: 15 People Maximum – www.recreation.gov - Inyo National Forest
NO Ground Fires Allowed Above 10,000 ft.
Stop at the Eastern Sierra Inter Agency Visitor Center, South of Lone Pine, on the way
to the Trailhead to pick up the Permit. 760-873-2483
Trailhead: Take the ( 14 ) North to the ( 395 ) to Lone Pine. In Lone Pine turn Left on Whitney
199 Miles Portal Road. Take Whitney Portal Road to Horseshoe Meadow Road, go Left and go
20.7 Miles to the Cottonwood Lakes Trailhead.
Day 1
Drive to the Cottonwood Lakes Trailhead and spend the night.
Day 2 4.7 Miles 1000 ft. Elevation Gain
Hike from the Cottonwood Lakes Trailhead (10,040 ft.) to Cottonwood Lakes (11,040 ft.)
Day 3
Layover at the Cottonwood Lakes.
Day 4 4.7 Miles
Hike back out to the Cottonwood Lakes Trailhead and drive home.
FISH BOWLS
Trip: From the Fish Bowls Trailhead to Fish Bowls Campground
Length: 12 Miles Total
Season: Spring / Summer / Fall
Topo Map: U.S.G.S. Lockwood Valley & San Guillermo Mountain, CA
Permits: California Campfire Permit Issued By The U.S.F.S.
Adventure Passes are required to park vehicles at the Trailhead.
Trailhead: Take the ( 5 ) North and Exit at Frazier Park Road. Take Frazier Park Road to
Lockwood Valley Road and turn Left. Take Lockwood Valley Road to Mutau Flats
Road and turn Left. Take the road down to the bottom of the canyon to the corrals on
your right, look for yellow gate.
Day 1
Drive to the Fish Bowls Trailhead and spend the night.
Day 2 6 Miles
Hike from the Fish Bowls Trailhead (4835 ft.) to the Fish Bowls Campground (5200 ft.)
Day 3 6 Miles
Hike back out to the Fish Bowls Trailhead and drive home.
FLOWER LAKE
Trip: From the Onion Valley Trailhead to Flower Lake
Length: 6 Miles Total ( 5 Miles + 951 ft. Elevation Gain )
Season: Summer
Topo Map: Tom Harrison Maps – Kearsarge Pass – Rae Lakes Loop Trail Map
Wilderness Permit: 15 People Maximum – www.recreation.gov - Inyo National Forest
NO Ground Fires Allowed Above 10,000 ft. 760-873-2483
Stop at the Eastern Sierra Inter Agency Visitor Center, South of Lone Pine, on the way
to the Trailhead to pick up the Permit.
Trailhead: Take the ( 14 ) North to the ( 395 ) North to Independence ( North of Lone Pine ) and
213 Miles turn left on Market Street. Take Market Street all the way up to the end to the Onion
Valley Trailhead.
Day 1
Drive to the Onion Valley Trailhead and spend the night. There are campsites on the West side of the
parking lot.
Day 2 2.5 Miles 951 ft. Elevation Gain
Hike from the Onion Valley Trailhead (9185 ft.) to Flower Lake (10,136 ft.)
Day 3 2.5 Miles
Hike back out to the Onion Valley Trailhead and drive home.
FORKS OF THE KERN
Trip: From the Lloyd Meadows Trailhead to the Forks Of The Kern and Boy Scout Camp
Length: 9.6 Miles ( 8.6 Miles + 840 ft. Elevation Gain )
Season: Summer
Topo Map: Tom Harrison Maps – Golden Trout Wilderness Trail Map
Wilderness Permit: 15 People Max. www.fs.fed.us/r5/sequoia/ (760-376-3781 Kernville Ranger Station)
California Campfire Permit Issued By The U.S.F.S.
Trailhead: Stay on the road to Camp Whitsett and go 16 Miles past the entrance to Camp
210 Miles Whitsett, to the turnoff to the Forks Of The Kern Trailhead on the right side.
Turn right on the dirt road and go 2.5 Miles to the Forks Of The Kern Trailhead.
Day 1
Drive to the Lloyd Meadows Trailhead and spend the night.
Day 2 4.3 Miles
Hike from the Lloyd Meadows Trailhead (5550 ft.) 2.3 Miles down the canyon to the Forks Of The Kern
(4710 ft.), ford Little Kern Creek and hike over to the Kern River. Hike 2 Miles up the Kern River
to Boy Scout Camp (4790 ft.).
Day 3
Layover Day on the Kern River.
Day 4 4.3 Miles 840 ft. Elevation Gain
Hike back out to the Lloyd Meadows Trailhead and drive home.
GOLDEN TROUT WILDERNESS
Trip: From the Horseshoe Meadow Trailhead to the Jerky Meadows Trailhead
Length: 40 Miles Total ( 37.5 Miles + 2950 ft. Elevation Gain )
Season: Summer
Topo Map: Tom Harrison Maps – Golden Trout Wilderness Trail Map
Wilderness Permit: 15 People Maximum – www.recreation.gov - Inyo National Forest
California Campfire Permit Issued By The U.S.F.S.
Stop at the Eastern Sierra Inter Agency Visitor Center, South of Lone Pine, on the way
to the Trailhead to pick up the Permit. 760-873-2483
Trailhead: Take the ( 14 ) North to the ( 395 ) to Lone Pine. In Lone Pine turn left on Whitney
199 Miles Portal Road. Take Whitney Portal Road to Horseshoe Meadow Road, go left and go
20.7 to the Horseshoe Meadow Trailhead.
Day 1
Drive to the Horseshoe Meadow Trailhead and spend the night.
Day 2 4.3 Miles 680 ft. Elevation Gain
Hike from the Horseshoe Meadow Trailhead (9960 ft.) over Trail Pass (10,640 ft.) to the South Fork Kern
River (9350 ft.)
Day 3 10.9 Miles 400 ft. Elevation Gain
Hike from the South Fork Kern River (9350 ft.) to Golden Trout Creek (8410 ft.)
Day 4 7.1 Miles 400 ft. Elevation Gain
Hike from Golden Trout Creek (8410 ft.) to Little Kern Lake (6400 ft.)
Day 5
Layover Day at Little Kern Lake.
Day 6 9.3 Miles 400 ft. + 900 ft. Elevation Gain
Hike from Little Kern Lake (6400 ft.) to Little Kern Bridge (5760 ft.)
Day 7
Layover Day at Little Kern Bridge.
Day 8 5.9 Miles 170 ft. Elevation Gain
Hike from Little Kern Bridge (5760 ft.) to the Jerkey Meadow Trailhead (5930 ft.) and drive home.
GRASSHOPPER FLAT
Trip: From the Jerkey Meadows Trailhead to Grasshopper Flat
Length: 27 Miles ( 27 Miles + 400 ft. Elevation Gain )
Season: Summer
Topo Map: Tom Harrison Maps – Golden Trout Wilderness Trail Map
Wilderness Permit: 15 People Max. www.fs.fed.us/r5/sequoia/ (760-376-3781 Kernville Ranger Station)
California Campfire Permit Issued By The U.S.F.S.
Trailhead: Stay on the road to Camp Whitsett and go 18 Miles past the entrance to Camp