THE ASCENT. At an elevation of 11,200 feet, Cottonwood Pass serves as a gateway to the Golden Trout Wilderness and Sequoia National Park. While it seems wise, it’ll get you in the only section of thick forest. The total vertical climb for this trek was an easy 6081 feet, and the first 6 miles are incredibly gradual. My drive was long, as you can see, thought not quite as long as my previous drive to hike Middle Cloud Peak Lake, or a subsequent drive to Coffeen Park for perhaps my favorite hike ever. After a mile there is reliable water in the form of a creek. I'm transcribing these hikes in my own order, but if you'd like to see one moved to the top of the review list, just let me know. The Golden Trou Explore the most popular wildlife trails in Golden Trout Wilderness with hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you. By this time, it was quite dark out, so I watched TLT and read some SCPs, then fell asleep. My suspicion, based on some discrepancies that I noticed back on my birthday, is that it as “moved” approximately 1-1.5 miles from its original intersection. You’ll be in and out of trees, cross a stream twice, but the uphill is, at least to me, almost unnoticable. The Golden Trout Wilderness encompasses 304,000 acres in an area known as the Kern Plateau, at the southern end of the Sierra Nevada. I saw a small game trail through the rocks that simply started and ended in nothing, along with a panoply of pikas. Hiking California's Golden Trout Wilderness: A Guide to Backpacking and Day Hiking in the Golden Trout and South Sierra Wilderness Areas: Swedo, Suzanne: 9780762726554: Books - Amazon.ca There are 379 miles (610 km) of trail including the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), which stays above 10,000 feet (3,000 m) elevation for most of the 25-mile (40 km) route through the Golden Trout Wilderness. With stops (people coming in wanting to chat, as well as some fishing), I was back at my Jeep by 11:12. Instead of returning the way I’d came, I decided to navigate around the “peak,” if that’s what you can call the boulder-strewn hellscape, and descend via an unnamed chute and Mistymoon Lake. It looked like a short jaunt, but I knew that I still had 4 or so miles to go, and it was getting dark, with the sun below the mountains. The bridge is also built to handle equestrian use, which visitors are likely to see. Three creeks encompass the native habitat of the California state fish, the brightly colored golden trout. Trails are too steep and disorganized for mountain bikes and horse packing. Day hikes and over night hikes to this area are common for those wanting to fish the area for Golden Trout. USGS Map: . While you can use either the west or east side of Florence to access Bomber Mountain, I think that the east side is easier, as there are more granite ramps to follow, rather than pure boulder fields. There was no wind at my camp. Read "Hiking California's Golden Trout Wilderness A Guide to Backpacking and Day Hiking in the Golden Trout and South Sierra Wilderness Areas" by Suzanne Swedo available from Rakuten Kobo. Soon enough I was climbing Bomber Mountain, and I was at the wreckage within 40 minutes, with a vertical climb from 10,875 feet to 11,946’, which puts it at a fairly low elevation and easily accessible to anyone in decent shape. Golden Trout, Barnaby Ridge - July 2007 To each their own of course, … Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. I tried fishing at Gunboat for a couple of minutes with no luck. Eventually I was getting near a pseudo-precipice, and my inclination was to follow some grassy ramps off to the left, instead of taking the chute down. While fishing one day last fall Tim and I planned on hiking into Barnaby Lakes to fly fish for Golden Trout the following season. I was on the trail out by 9:08. (Best hikes to avoid boulder fields in the Bighorns are the Powell or Middle Cloud Peak Lakes.). Thirty minutes of channeling my inner mountain goat, teetering and hopping up, over and across jagged granite, I found myself perched 11,300 feet above sea level. My toe was in bad shape by this point, but I didn’t care. •Yellow—Overnight hikes, typically 2 nights. Cottonwood Lakes Loop starts from Horseshoe Meadow and travels from the Golden Trout Wilderness into John Muir Wilderness. The following week I met up with my mother to hike to Frozen Lakes and Lake Angeline. This short hike features incredible history and excellent fishing for a rare species of trout. Some icons at default view contain 5+ hikes when zoomed in. The climb was very quick, with only a couple of boulder patches, and mostly it was just ascending grassy ramps. A fit hiker can probably make it to either destination in an hour or so. NOTE! Good choice! From the west, various roads stem from Hwy 190 near Giant Sequoia National Monument. I might check that out one day. Pass over the log bridge or rock hop, and proceed on the flat trail skirting a meadow that holds Cottonwood Creek. Three moose which I skirted around at a distance. —Date of Visit: Sep 14-16 —Notable Features: West Tensleep Lake, Lake Helen, Lake 10,547, Gunboat Lake, Florence Lake, Bomber Mountain, Wreckage of B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed “Scharazad,” Mistymoon Lake, Lake Marion —Total Miles: 15.37 miles (sans all excursions; minimum distance ~14 miles) —Elevation Gain/Loss: +/-3428 feet —Elevation Min, Avg, Max: 9084, 10,022, 11,911 The contour lines for my planned route were just on the verge of being unsuitable, but I figured that I’d give it a shot. Oddly, a tiny stream between Florence and Fortress Lakes has full-sized Brookies. Unfortunately, getting this view meant that I was away from the trails, so I had to cross more boulder fields to find the trail back. I woke the next morning to a crisp air at 6, and didn’t really feel like being invigorated that early in the morning, so I fell asleep again until 7:30. Tons of places to camp, and all better than where everyone else camps on the other side of the lake. There are historical sites such as the Tunnel Meadow and Casa Vieja guard stations, and the 12-mile trail to Jordan Hot Springs along Ninemile Creek. I find it highly grotesque. Weird. I cleaned up a little, but the wind and cold were out in force, so I quickly retreated into my tent to read some SCPs (think free, Twilight Zone-like writings) and then watched an episode of a historical-based fiction series…The Looming Tower! Strangely, that short hike also had far more elevation gain! The Little Kern River Bridge was built in 1957 and is still being maintained by the USDA Forest Service. It is a steady climb. Distance: . I finally crested the little hill between me and the final lake of the ascent. Remain low and you’ll save yourself effort. I arrived and grabbed a chilled Coke which I had brought along. Golden trout lakes is a 5-mile rout trip hike with the opportunity to fish for Golden Trout. I inspected the bits that I found while listening to the Flop House’s Godzilla review, then aimed down along the path of least boulders. From the east, most visitors approach from Hwy 395 near Lone Pine. https://www.nps.gov/maps/full.html?mapId=1a3dabe6-06e2-4766-ac55-a7d41b37ea14 MODERATE 6.2 mi. That made me feel quite a bit better, though my stomach was doing very poorly. Here are some common sights during the section: I had decided to camp at Lake Helen as it appeared to have more trees than the other lakes, and high winds were in the forecast. —Download the GPS file with a free GaiaGPS account. AbeBooks.com: Hiking California's Golden Trout Wilderness: A Guide to Backpacking and Day Hiking in the Golden Trout and South Sierra Wilderness Areas (Regional Hiking Series) (9780762726554) by Swedo, Suzanne and a great selection of similar New, Used and Collectible Books available now at … Those fish are very small anyway. Never seen the likes of that before. Numerous hiking adventures are possible. I felt very sad at the wreckage, and even sadder when I found a memorial to a young kid who had died. I reached Lake Helen by 5:15, which is a nice, leisurely pace. Hiking Trails (30) Reviews (11) 1. The Golden Trout wilderness was named for the brightly colored native golden trout (California State fish). Horseshoe Meadow Campground Loop via Trail Pass trail. The big myth about Golden Trout is that you have to go on some backbreaking hike to 11,000 ft to catch a Golden Trout. Hiking California's Golden Trout Wilderness will help outdoor enthusiasts choose and plan a day hike or backpac The Golden Trout Wilderness was designated by Congress in 1978. Again, a leisurely pace as I just didn’t feel all that well. Of this total, 111,148 acres is on the Sequoia National Forest and the remainder on the Inyo National Forest. Tom Harrison Topo Map – Golden Trout Wilderness Giant Sequoia Forest Map Topo Pacific Crest Trail – Section G (Map Bundle) USGS Topo Map – Alta Sierra, Shirley Mdws (free) USGS Topo Map – Cannel Peak, Creek, Meadows (free) USGS Topo Map – Johnsondale, Sequoia NF (free) Kern River (north) OHV Guide Map Kern River (south) OHV Guide Map Regardless, I was finally off of Bomber Mountain! When they see you coming they all start moving fast and jumping, expecting to be fed. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/montana/golden-trout-lakes Mount Langley via Cottonwood Lakes Trail. Drank a bunch more fluid, too. Buy the Kobo ebook Book Hiking California's Golden Trout Wilderness: A Guide to Backpacking and Day Hiking in the Golden Tr... by at Indigo.ca, Canada's largest bookstore. The Golden Trout Wilderness is at the southern tip of the Sierra Nevada in California, 150 miles north of Los Angeles. I decided to visit Bomber Mountain, starting at West Tensleep trailhead. With just 1,330 feet of elevation gain en route to the lake, this is a desirable destination for day-hikers and a good first camp for backpackers. Neither trail is terribly difficult. Let me know if you have any questions, comments, or if I can help in any way! The trail starts out by West Tensleep Lake, going through boreal forests, and then goes through some grasslands. Enter your email address to subscribe to this the content of this site, some of which, we hear, is worthwhile. Hiking The Golden Trout Lakes Trail In Montana’s Gallatin Range Location: . Oddly, while the trail shows up on the map, and I could see it faintly from high up, I was never able to locate it when I was on the Solitude/Grace Lake trail. Head up the trail across a well made log bridge, rock hop one more creek and come to a junction. Long Lake via Cottonwood Lakes Trail. Please note that the gate leading to this trailhead is currently closed (06/04/2020). Katie Burgert 12 Sep 2019 Reply. I had a full-day ahead of me of climbing and fishing, and at least 50% of it would be off trail, so I was on the “road” so-to-speak by 8:30. The trail back to camp featured some undulation, which I hate, and moose, which I despise. The Little Kern River Bridge was built in 1957 and is still being maintained by the USDA Forest Service. As I made my way up and around, the drainage to Lake Solitude came back into view. There are trails that shoot off from this loop that head to Muir Lake, South Fork Lake and New Army Pass. I observed that my hunch about the grassy-descent on the far side of the mountain to be spot on as I rounded the hillside. PCT - Golden Trout Wilderness is a 34 km blue singletrack trail located near Whitney Portal California. The trailhead serves double duty as it's the jumping off place for two trails. One accesses Windy Pass (a nice hike in it's own right), the other heads off to the Golden Trout Lakes. This same trail goes down to Lake Solitude, and a branch goes over by Lily Lake and to Battlecreek trailhead, which I used earlier this summer to access the Middle Cloud Peak drainage. We camp near each of the creeks, with ample opportunity to angle for these beautiful fish. Numerous hiking adventures are possible. I was at Lake 10594 by 10:00, which included some downtime by a pleasant stream where I drank 80oz of fluid with electrolytes. Fast and free shipping free returns cash on delivery available on eligible purchase. Buy Hiking California's Golden Trout Wilderness: A Guide to Backpacking and Day Hiking in the Golden Trout and South Sierra Wilderness Areas by Swedo, Suzanne online on Amazon.ae at best prices. The 300,000+ acre Golden Trout Wilderness (GTW) was designated by Congress in 1978. From the parking lot trailhead, there is a steep decent down to the river. Show more. Kennedy Meadows is a little closer but only offers a restaurant and grocery store (no phone). By this point, I was behind a small ridge and Bomber Mountain had disappeared from view. I use them on my phone and in Google Earth. How??? Not true. #6 - Mount Langley Loop via Cottonwood Pass [CLOSED], #7 - Blackrock Trailhead to Casa Vieja Meadows [CLOSED], #8 - Forks of the Kern Trail to Painters Camp [CLOSED]. Golden trout fishing requires gaining altitude to where the scenery and trek can take your breath away. Most of the fish were golden trout, which are not native. Thoroughly washed my hair, too. It had only been 5.2 miles of hiking, so I was still fresh, but also ready for bed. Day hikes and over night hikes to this area are common for those wanting to fish the area for Golden Trout. I mostly did this because I thought that the view was worth the extra time spent picking my way down (I’m a rock nerd), and it was. Coral Lake is a monumental hike that leads up several valleys. Once you reach the river, there is a relatively easy forging. I immediately saw a tent, which was there for the duration of my stay, but never had a resident. The Cloud Peak Wilderness has a lot of regulations—more than the Winds—but they let you camp within 100-feet of water, which is nice. Sadly, much of the wreckage has been defaced by chuckleheads who have to put their signatures on everything. It was very warm and still, being perhaps even in the 60s, so I stripped down and bathed myself. Titcomb Basin (driving directions and hiking map), in the heart of the Winds, is already the kind of place that backpackers dream about.Head to Elbow Lake, a granite-ringed tarn at the end of an 18-mile trek from Elkhart trailhead. He had always wanted to hike to Bomber Mountain to see the downed aircraft, but he passed away before he could. 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. After putting up camp, I thought about dinner, but I was feeling wretched. Instead of using the trail, I had discerned that it was better to go through the trees on the east side of the lake and orienteer through a gap in the mountains, which let me see Lake 10,594, an unnamed lake. I had a hunch that I could perhaps even find a straight show down with grass if I went beyond the view-horizon. 2. It probably has a great deal of fishing pressure. Total Elevation Gain : . I quickly fell asleep to elk bugling. A smiliar approach last year had saved me 18 miles (don’t ask) coming off of Goat Flat outside of Dubois, WY, which, by the way, is a similar alien hellscape. Did the Army blow it up after they found it? This multi-use trail can be used both directions and has a … Suffice it to say that it is much easier to travel off-trail on the east side of the lake. Golden Trout in the Wind River Range. It's 60 miles to Kernville and 75 miles to Ridgecrest. Golden Trout Wilderness is a protected area in California. Weather like this so late in the season would make a leper happy. I also climbed up the grassy ramp to the south of Florence to look down toward Soldier Park. ... Golden Trout Wilderness is a protected area in California. 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