Sequoia National Forest

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General Description
The hike is located in Sequoia National Forest and the southernmost area of Sequoia National Park. The trail is circular, beginning at the Summit trailhead and ending at Clicks Creek trailhead. It is approximately 40 miles in length, and offers a six day hike, one of which is a lay over day. The map pertaining to this trail is the Golden Trout Wilderness Map.

Areas of interest along the trail include seven lakes, with fishing and swimming at most of them, as well as the Little Kern River. Check with the Department of Fish and Game on regulations concerning special fishing restrictions in the Golden Trout Wilderness. The trail for the most part is above 7,000 feet, and provides magnificent views of the surrounding forests. It is recommended that drinking water be purified.

First Hiking Day - 6.5 Miles
Quaking Aspen to Summit Trailhead - 10-mile drive (approximately 30 minutes)
Summit Trailhead to Mountaineer Creek - 1.7 miles
Mountaineer Creek to Jacobson Meadow - 2.3 miles
Jacobson Meadow to Mowery Meadow - 2 miles
Mowery Meadow to Alpine Meadow - 0.5 mile.

The day begins with a drive to the Summit Trailhead over a good dirt road. A large parking area is provided at the Summit Trailhead. Road Junctions are well marked.

The first day will be moderate, and is splendidly shaded. It will probably involve about 3-4 hours in hiking time. Camping is possible at all of the meadows and creeks listed above. Each site will hold 1 group without problem. However, the best camping is at Alpine Meadow. There is adequate room for 4 or 5 groups, and plenty of water and wood.

Just before switching back down into Jacobson Meadow, the trail runs along a narrow ridge. From the Pinnacle you can view the San Joaquin Valley to the west and the Western Divide to the east. Over the years, this spot has become known as "Inspirational Point."

Second Hiking Day - 6.4 Miles
Alpine Meadow to Maggie Lakes - 6.4 miles.

The Trail from Alpine Meadow to the cut off down to Maggie Lakes is fairly steep. From there the hiker descends down a steep and rocky trail. At the bottom of the small canyon, the hiker enters a large campsite. A group may camp there if it wishes. The final stretch of trail to Maggie Lakes is steep.

Maggie Lakes offers fishing and swimming. There is a trail up to Maggie Mountain from the upper lake. This is a good layover spot.

Third Hiking Day - 9.5 Miles
Maggie Lakes to Frog Lakes - 1 mile
Frog Lakes to Twin Lakes - 1.2 miles
Twin Lakes to National Park Entrance - 1 mile
National Park Entrance to Summit Lake -1.1 miles (Optional)
National Park Entrance to Windy Gap - 3.1 miles
Windy Gap to Quinn Horse Cabin - 2.2 miles
Quinn Horse Cabin to Soda Spring Creek - 1 mile

The trail to Frog Lakes leaves by the upper end of the lower Maggie Lake. The hiking from Twin Lakes is moderate. It then climbs steeply at Sheep Mountain. At the top is the entrance to Sequoia National Park. The trail down to Summit Lake is hard, and the climb out is equally difficult. The trail to Windy Gap is very smooth, but may be snow covered during the early part of the season. From there the hiker drops swiftly to Quinn Snow Survey Cabin and continues on down the canyon for about a mile. The hiker then crosses Soda Spring Creek and enters a large site. It sits right above some natural soda springs. This site will hold about 3 groups.

Fourth Hiking Day - 7.5 Miles
Soda Spring Creek to Walker Campsite - 2.8 miles
Walker Campsite to Little Kern River - 4.7 miles.

From the Soda Springs the hiker ascends by switchbacks out of the canyon. The trail from the top of the ridge to the Little Kern River goes downhill and is very steep in some places Walkers campsite is where the old Walker cabin used to be. The campsite on the Little Kern is just across tine river from where the trail and Mountaineer Creek meet. This site is very large and has enough room for six or seven groups. Firewood may be difficult to find. Swimming and fishing are possible.

Fifth Hiking Day - 8.1 Miles
Little Kern River to Grey Meadow - 2.1 miles
Grey Meadow to Clicks Creek Meadow - 1.6 miles
Clicks Creek Meadow to Clicks Creek Trailhead - 4.4 miles.

The trail from the Little Kern to Grey Meadow is steep, and from Grey Meadow the trail climbs very steeply up Clicks Creek Canyon. Grey Meadow is a large meadow with a ranger station. There is enough room for 5 or 6 groups. Along the trail there is a small secluded site next to Clicks Creek. It offers an abundance of wood and water. This will be one of the roughest parts of the hike.

The trail climbs one last ridge and descends gently down to Clicks Creek Trailhead, ending the hike. Clicks Creek Trailhead and Summit Trailhead are separated by about 4 miles. You may want to have a car waiting at the Clicks Trailhead, if you don't wish to hike the additional 4 miles to Summit Trailhead.