Perfect for distancing. 1 Lassen Trail Lake RT Fingerling Grow-Out Jun 7/10/2018 Water from creeks, lakes, and springs should be treated before drinking. Laws, John Muir, The Laws Field Guide to the Sierra Nevada. From the trailhead, you almost immediately enter the Golden Trout Wilderness. You’d probably like it, even though it’s really hard, steep, sometimes not so clear. This area is said to have some of the best fishing in the region, and even passersby can … Not very well marked, very steep, significant sections of scrambling over boulder fields and sandy/rocky scree. Inyo National Forest Fishing can mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people. Yes the lakes are beautiful but again very hard trail that needs physical fitness and good prep. The first 5 are within an easy walk of each other from the Cottonwood Trail where the 6th lake is a more strenuous climb to 11,600'. Bring all needed supplies including water. Ward Lake is a natural High Sierra lake that sits in a beautifully sculpted granite grotto 3.6 miles east of the junction. At an elevation of 11,200 feet, Cottonwood Pass serves as a gateway to the Golden Trout Wilderness and Sequoia National Park. STL- Steelhead Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) 10. Golden Trout Lake Loop is a 5.1 mile lightly trafficked loop trail located near Independence, California that features a lake and is rated as difficult. For my wife Aimee and I, it’s always been a vehicle; a vehicle to adventure and explore places we’d never dreamed possible. The trail is primarily used for hiking, camping, and fishing and is best used from April until September. Cottonwood Pass Trailhead. Primrose Lake Hike up the rocky slope alongside the drainage coming down from Primrose Lake. This trail is steep, rugged and difficult to follow. Inyo National Forest Trailheads Trails lead into the Golden Trout Wilderness, Inyo National Forest portion from Hwy 395 … The route is straightforward, however, across a grassy meadow dotted with small boulders, beside the lake's exit stream then down a slope, as trees start to reappear. Extending from the western foothills all the way to the eastern high desert, the Golden Trout Wilderness can be reached from both sides of the Sierra Nevada range. 7 h 28 m. Please note that the gate leading to this trailhead is currently closed (06/04/2020). These fish are a prized catch for their golden skin and appearance and the fact that they are found only in such a small area. Starting at the trailhead (10,040'), it is a 4.5 mile hike to Cottonwood 1 at 11,008'. Worst trail ever, if it even is a trail. The last section is steep but better marked to lake one. Permits are issued at Inyo National Forest visitor centers. This is a moderate one way trail in Inyo National Forest. Maybe for someone younger and/or more adventurous this would be more fun. On the Golden Trout Lake Trail, there is a creek to follow, and a big waterfall along the way. The back country enthusiasts will appreciate that Quail Meadows and the John Muir and Pacific Crest Trails are but a gentle one-mile walk from the dock at the back of the lake. The Golden Trout Wilderness is a federally designated wilderness area in the Sierra Nevada, in Tulare County and Inyo County, California. California’s state fish, the California golden trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss aguabonita) is native to only two creeks draining the Kern Plateau but has been distributed throughout many of … The distance to the lakes is approximately 2.2 miles, and the elevation gain is approximately 2,200 feet. One accesses Windy Pass (a nice hike in it's own right), the other heads off to the Golden Trout Lakes. Golden Lake consists of Golden Trout. Onion Valley is about 15 miles west of in downtown Independence, at an elevation of about 9,600 feet. past the waterfall it gets steep again but manageable. This trail is steep, rugged and difficult to follow. Golden Trout Creek is a designated Heritage and Wild Trout Water. The Pacific Crest Trail junction at Cottonwood Pass gives the option to go to the southeastern portion … Please Leave No Trace, bury human waste away from water sources. Foot-long Golden Trout can be spotted flashing their vibrant red scales in the creek. The road is usually open from May to November, depending on snow conditions. After the branch, the Golden Trout Trail climbs up a knoll where there are remarkable views of the surrounding mountains. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Bishop, CA 93514. Trying to see how the snow is thinking about doing it this weekend, beautiful place, little traffic, hard climb up, Junction Meadow Via Kearsarge Pass and Bubbs Creek Trails, Manzanar Japanese Relocation Site: Manzanar Trail, Onion Valley, Kearsarge Pass, Forrester Pass, Shepherds Pass Backpacking Trip, Onion Valley Campground to Rae Lakes via Kearsarge Pass, Kearsarge Pass Trail to John Muir Trail Loop, Onion Valley to Mt. Trail travels northerly to Casa Vieja Meadows then you can travel northwest to Jordan Hot Springs or northeast to Templeton and Tunnel Meadows. The Golden Trout Trail continues down, passing Upper Golden Trout Lake (not very exciting) and then the beautiful (Lower) Golden Trout Lake at 1.3 miles. Should be rated extremely hard! Swedo, Suzanne, Hiking California’s Golden Trout Wilderness. The lower route is followed by looking for the rocks with smaller rocks filled in the gaps to aid traversing. And calling it a trail is generous, it was more of a mountaineering route. The only reason I gave it 3 stars was because of the views, but those views can be seen from the Kearsage pass trail which is so much nicer. The hike in and out feom below is miserable and hazardous, from the upper trail, it might be better. The South Fork Kern River is a designated Wild Trout Water. At the trailhead, all food, trash and scented items must be removed from vehicles and placed in the bear proof lockers and trash cans that are located in parking areas. Life on the Fly: On the Trail of the California Golden Trout. All food, trash and scented items must be stored in. Amazing surreal lakes. Alltrails kept us on track most of the time. Golden Trout Lakes Trail. A friend and I did this home last week and were separated. Golden Trout Lake Loop is a 8.2 kilometer lightly trafficked loop trail located near Independence, California that features a lake and is rated as difficult. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. In our area you will find the following species of trout: German Browns, Eastern Brook, Rainbow and Golden Trout. From May 1 to November 1, use is limited to 10 overnight visitors / day. Neither trail is terribly difficult. Along the Golden Trout lakes Trail, all food, trash and scented items must be stored in bear-proof containers, or counter balanced at least 15 feet above the ground and 10 feet horizontally from a tree trunk. California Academy of … Hiking is permitted throughout the area. The trailhead serves double duty as it's the jumping off place for two trails. It is located 40 miles (64 km) east of Porterville, California within Inyo National Forest and Sequoia National Forest. May 1 to November 1: Overnight use is limited to 10 people per day. Starting from the end of Horseshoe Meadows Road,the trail over Cottonwood Pass goes to the northern portion of the Golden Trout Wilderness . Then there is the one section of bouldering that is sketchy at best, and outright treacherous if you have a heavy pack and a large dog like we did. I am close to 60, in good shape and an experienced hiker and hated this. Cottonwood Lakes Loop starts from Horseshoe Meadow and travels from the Golden Trout Wilderness into John Muir Wilderness. I ended up falling down the side of the waterfall, losing the trail and being lost until 9pm when search and rescue came to get me (5 hours later). Historically, there has been a high level of bear activity in the Onion Valley area. Whitney via Kearsarge Pass and John Muir Trails, Mount Rixford from Onion Valley Campground. The trail is primarily used for hiking, camping, and fishing and is best used from April until September. Beautiful area with very few other people. There is a higher route along the cliff base which can be walked through mostly but one section of slightly exposed crux that is much easier if there are 2 or more in your party. Scratched our heads on several occasions to try to find the trail. Download area map for trail names. This trail goes by Onion Valley Trailhead and Lilley Pass. From the east, most visitors approach from Hwy 395 near Lone Pine. EXTREMELY HARD! Golden Trout Lake is just below, supposedly reached by a trail that ends by its eastern edge, though this is barely discernible, especially early in the season when patches of snow remain. moderate (239) Length: 16.1 mi • Est. Horseback riding is permitted on designated trails. Golden trout are native only to the Upper Kern River basin in California… Backpacked with my kids (9 & 11) and wife to the upper lakes and had a great time. The fish measured 32.5 inches in length and … Golden Trout Creek is thought to have once formed the headwaters of the South Fork Kern River but, due to volcanic activity thousands of years ago, it was diverted west near Tunnel Meadow and now flows … As I unzipped our tent door and felt the crisp, thin air of our 9,300-foot-high campsite rush into my lungs, … Wet, freezing, bruised, bloody and shaken, S&R stated this trail is not safe and definitely one of the hardest trails to navigate. They are native to Kern Plateau area but their native populations are strained due to the introduction of invasive species and habitat destruction. This trail is barely defined and straight up incline with precarious terrain. The primary decisions on backpacking destinations are centered on fishing for Golden Trout.The Golden Trout is the California State Fish. As the name implies, this area is home to the Golden Trout, a subspecies of the Rainbow Trout that is native to California. Barely marked, steep, climbing boulders or loose gravel most of the hike, Hiked for 2 hours and barely made it to 1.3 miles then turned around. Jenkins, Exploring the Southern Sierra: East Side. Golden Lake: From Honeymoon Lake, you can travel off-trail about 1/3 mile to Golden Lake. An older but still useful reference that is no longer in print. A fit hiker can probably make it to either destination in an hour or so. ... Golden Trout from Golden Trout Creek were introduced to the headwaters of Mulkey Creek in 1872 by Samuel Mulkey. Was afraid I'd break a leg or worse. This trail has spectacular views but also some challenging terrain and very thin trails that disappear and reappear quickly. Then there is a trail but it is thin and meandering. While the view at the top was pretty, the other trail nextdoor is much more defined with wayyyyyyy prettier views and water to play in. Pacific Crest Trail: Southern California. Wilderness Press. Wilderness permits are required for overnight visits. Starts off like most trailheads and at .7 mile disintegrates into a loose dirt hill that is long hot and steep. Hard. Hiking. Starting from Onion Valley, Golden Trout Lakes Trail ends at Golden Trout Lakes, in the John Muir Wilderness. 351 Pacu Lane The trip begins on a mostly sandy trail leading you North into the Golden trout Wilderness. Distribution and Habitat. GT- Golden Trout- (Oncorhynchus aguabonita) 9. Suggested Tackle and Gear. Suite 200 The distance to the lakes is approximately 2.2 miles, and the elevation gain is approximately 2,200 feet. Permits may be reserved up to 6 months in advance. Golden Trout Lake Loop, Independence: Address, Golden Trout Lake Loop Review: 4/5 Small streams meander through tree-rimmed meadows in this wilderness area named for California's state fish, the Golden Trout. Below the shimmering surface of the crystal-clear depths lay pure California gold. Golden Trout Wilderness. ... Golden Trout Wilderness, South Golden Trout Wilderness, South Golden Trout Wilderness, West ... Inyo National Forest 351 Pacu Lane, Suite 100 Bishop, CA 93514 760-873-2400 Links. It is about 400 feet higher than Honeymoon at a 10,850 foot elevation. The lunker was a hookjaw male that shattered the old lake rainbow trout record by 3 pounds, 6 ounces. Overall very rocky trail. Isaac’s trout measured 14-7/8 inches and weighed 1 pound, 2.88 ounces, a lunker by golden trout standards. By Chase Bartee | May 15, 2019. I highly recommend wearing sturdy shoes, sunscreen, GPS, eyes and brains :). The pass is reached via a 3.5-mile one way trail from Horseshoe Meadow, which has an elevation of 10,000 feet, making this is one of the easiest passes for hikers to reach in the Eastern Sierra. Steep uphill the whole way to the lakes but trail was much better than expected and in places where it disappeared it was clear which way to go. With a full pack and a new trail dog, the 3.1 miles up took 5.5 hours including breaks and lunch for us 50 somethings but should be faster if you are younger and pack lighter. For more information about traveling in bear bear country, click here... Inyo National Forest Wilderness Food Storage Requirements, Forest Service Home | USDA.gov | recreation.gov | Recreation Customer Service Standards | USA.gov | Whitehouse.gov, Plug-Ins | FOIA | Accessibility Statement | Privacy Policy | Important Notices | Information Quality, https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/inyo/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=20778&actid=51, Eastern Sierra Interagency Visitor Center, Wilderness permits may be reserved up to 6 months in advance at. Never made it to the lakes. The road runs right beside it, it has campgrounds and a trail around the lake and is stocked with trout regularly during the summer months so it’s always good fishing. Angler’s Take (catchable, super catchable and trophy) - fish are planted with intent ... California Department of Fish and Wildlife Provisional Fish Releases - 2019/2020 ... Reg. Starting from Onion Valley, Golden Trout Lakes Trail ends at Golden Trout Lakes, in the John Muir Wilderness. Rough roads to the Golden Trout Lakes It was difficult driving up the road to get to the beginning of the trail, so I recommend a vehicle that can handle the rough road; preferably a truck or AWD. the lake FULL of stunted Brook trout, the Golden Trout may have all died out due to someone planting these brookies into the lake, probably an air drop by a lost fish and game dept. A short branch trail goes to the north side of the lake. California golden trout are native to two stream systems on the eastern side of the Kern River: Golden Trout Creek and the South Fork Kern River (Tulare County). From the west, various roads stem from Hwy 190 near Giant Sequoia National Monument. Further on there are a few patches of snow, amazing peaks, and long views to the east toward the Owens Valley, which was full of smoke from a fire near Mammoth. Golden Trout Wilderness. Don’t be fooled by the short distance, this is a serious trail. South Fork Kern River. The California golden trout, or simply the golden trout (Oncorhynchus aguabonita or Oncorhynchus mykiss aguabonita), is a species of trout native to California.The golden trout is normally found in the Golden Trout Creek (tributary to the Kern River), Volcano Creek (tributary to Golden Trout Creek), and the South Fork Kern River.It is the state freshwater fish of California. Once you get to the beginning of the trail, the hike is a nice little workout until you reach the final location of Has anyone does this trail this year. Per times, dangerous. airplane. Huge risky rocks to scramble through and multiple steep inclines. 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