You can also purchase a park specific annual pass for $70. This park is full of hidden sequoia groves, crisp lakes fed with snowmelt, and over 1,000 miles of hiking trails. Thursday- Drive from UCSB to Sequoia National Park and camp late at Lodgepole campground. Your journey starts at the Big Meadows trailhead on paved Forest Service Road 14S11 located just off the Generals Highway. I was visiting the park for 7 days with two young children one of whom was a quadriplegic. It took us 5.5 hours to get up there, including lunch break. Sequoia National Park charges a fee to enter. Then it changes and gets rocky and tree roots abundant so you have to watch your footing. After admiring the scenery of the park, we will camp at Lodgepole. Next time our packs will be much lighter. Sequoia National Park is famous for its old-growth forests. Trail distances are 7 miles (11 km) to Twin Lakes, 8 miles (13 km) to … The last 2.5 miles were pretty killer. 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Wilderness permits for the following trails are issued by Sequoia National Forest. We went early on a Tuesday and didn't get any traffic going in the park. There are typical tourist things that can be done such as drive through a tree trunk, stand on a fallen tree, stand inside a tree trunk. You are our favorite customers at the Twin Lakes General Store and we hope you feel at home when you arrive in Twin Lakes along your journey. my Samsung Galaxy was able to hold a GPS signal the whole way and so alltrails was able to record my progress. Hike through sequoia groves, flowered meadows, high peaks or just a lonely corner of forest where you can hear yourself think. No wonder this trail is so popular that it’s the only backpacking route in Sequoia Kings Canyon National Park that is only first-come-first-serve and doesn’t accept reservations. Visited here on July 13th. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. However, the first half of the hike consisted of so many mosquitos! Same campsite. Plus, the permitting system is much better suited for last-minute weekend warriors looking to leap into the high alpine. more. Nice trail to hike on to get more experience for harder hikes! Best backpacking trails in Sequoia National Park | AllTrails Twin Lakes Trail Backpacking Review of Lakes Trail in Sequoia National Park Reviewed August 2, 2015 We stayed at the Lodgepole campground for the first night then hiked up the grueling seven mile trail to Twin Lakes, which is mostly uphill, with our 35 pound backpacks. One giant sequoia known as the General Sherman Tree, is among the largest trees on Earth. The trail head says it is 6.8 miles there and then 6.8 miles back, but my group’s health apps all said we went about 17-18 miles. You can gaze up and enjoy the huge Sequoias. Tough last couple of miles, otherwise very pleasant trail and beautiful lakes. However, I didn't realize the trail would be mostly uphill. The terrain gets rocky at times. Some wild life, on the way nice trees, the trail eventually offers different terrain, flat, rocky, and flourished, the lake is pretty, high view not much but eventually you get the high view, I rated 5 remember to bring mosquito repelente , just in case jajajajaja have a good hike. Length 26.1 miElevation gain 5767 ftRoute type Out & back Backpacking Camping Hiking Nature trips Bird watching Forest Lake Views If you are entering on foot or bike the fee is $20 per person. Besides the root was covered in icy snow and I didn't have any crampons and didn't want to risk it. Saturday- Explore and day hike. Wandered up Twin Peaks in the morning real quick (2 hours) for some great views before packing out. Evan Onstot 673 views. Anyway, I highly recommend this trail for anyone visiting the area. Definitely bring a gps or a map if going this time of the year. On my birthday which was also a long weekend we decided to go up to Sequoia … Next time I'll pack less snacks. There are rocky slopes to the south with spring weather running down into the lake. Lace up your hiking boots, or slip on your sneakers — there are more than 1,000 miles of Sequoia & Kings Canyon hiking trails for visitors of every ability and inclination. The coolest part to me was the many fish in the lake. the trail is very well-marked but as with all trails when snow covers the ground that's hard to follow. Cross the log bridge and look for the trailhead sign. ... CA, it was about a 3 hour drive to the Twin Lakes trail head parking lot using 80-E and 50-E. Trailhead via Google Maps. this was one of the more rewarding hikes I have had the pleasure of taking. We're a major backpacking resupply stop on the Continental Divide and Colorado Trails and a… There are no backpacking quota restrictions making this a perfect trip that requires little planning. This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC. And you will need a permit if you plan to camp overnight. We took extra food because we knew we were only planning on camping at Twin Lakes for two nights. read more, The Lakes Trail is between 12-14 miles and 2,800 feet of elevation gain (depending on if you take... Was enjoyable but I would wait a couple of weeks to go if you want to stay on trail. This park is HUGE! The story is that long ago, rangers on horseback planted the lake with trout. 2) Next day, stay on the trail 1.6 miles. Ended up using a gps to get back to the trail. That was our first mistake. The trail to the lake was mostly forest and a view of the trees. Also, it seems to be longer than what the trail marker said. The trail serves as the springboard for longer loop hikes, either by climbing over Silliman Pass into Kings Canyon National Park or over JO Pass into the Jenny Lakes Wilderness in Sequoia National Forest. Twin Lakes Trail is a 13.1 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Stony Creek Village, California that features a lake and is rated as difficult. We were hoping to make it to Ranger lake but we ended up doing a smaller loop and then heading back to camp for some fishing.I can't recommend this hike enough. Next morning. Portions of the Sierra Nevada Range run through Sequoia, and most of the park is backcountry wilderness. Not many sites available, but also not very crowded. Wish we could have kept going and going. Not your average Joe hike. There was a nice breeze and no mosquitos at the lake. course correction is a breeze that way. Trip Report: Backpacking Desolation Wilderness, Twin Lakes. Lassen Volcanic National Park is a superb backpacking destination with many trail options, lakes, geology, and Lassen Peak itself to delight backpackers. If you want more of that - keep going over to Ranger Lake and camp there instead. I always find that very useful since it's easy to lose trails and the alltrails topo maps are great for finding your exact position at any given time using the GPS on your phone. she was probably in her mid 20's and I'm twenty years older but in good shape for my age. It also took us ~3,5 hrs to go down. General Grant) don't even compare to some of the spectacular specimens in the forest. One momma with two cubs. Overlook Sentinel Dome 9115ft 2718m HORSE 'CORRAL ... Twin Lakes LOST GROVE Dorst Creek 6720ft 2048m Montecito 1 -Sequoia „ Lodge Big Baldy 8209ft ... for Sherman Tree trail General Sherman Tree Pear Lake 9200ft 2804m Alta Peak 1 1204ft '3415m River Tokopah Falls —Heather Trip Report: ... What was fun about doing this trail was that it was the same trail we all did on our very first backpacking trip in 1993. Fantastic hike, especially for summer. The Lakes Trail is between 12-14 miles and 2,800 feet of elevation gain (depending on if you take... We stayed at the Lodgepole campground for the first night then hiked up the grueling seven mile trail to Twin Lakes, which is mostly uphill, with our 35 pound backpacks. Photos of a California backpacking and hiking trip to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks leaving from Lodgepole Campground and camping at Twin Lakes. If you’re taking this trail make sure to take plenty of repellent. WELCOME HIKERS! As a day hike, it doesn’t have the grand vistas or otherworldly scenery of the Pear Lake or Alta Peak hikes. Took us probably 3 hours from general Sherman tree back to Fresno. this trail is hard do not recommend for a novice very steep took 5 hour to get to the top but only 3 back but worth the pain lake is unbelievable. I finally got the chance to backpack to Pear Lake, the final destination six miles in on the Lakes Trail. They seem to be really hungry because if you throw a pebble in the lake, they will dart towards it to see if it’s food. Saw 2 separate bear. Popular Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park Categories, Things to do near Lakes Trail in Sequoia National Park, Commonly searched for in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park - Things to Do, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park, CA. There is a bench in front of it that leans back. Needless to say we were enjoying the wonderful weather as we were hiking this wonderful trail. Another favorite is the more challenging Alta Peak. If you carry a filter, you can get away with carrying only 16 oz of water. The trail gains and drops for a bit and then at about 1.5 miles to Twin Lakes we start the biggest climb of the day. Run/hike - did it in 3.5 hours total with about 15 minutes of rest at twin lakes. 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Years older but in good shape for my age late, like 4pm in the United States which really you... A nice, fairly easy and quiet uphill hike through Sequoia groves flowered... I wish we had much more time for this Park is backcountry Wilderness take this! Lakes for two nights five hours lodge pole spend the night up at the Lakes trail - Heather, and. From above going, as this road is closed every winter/spring with variable opening dates left and travel miles... The many fish in the Central Valley, the high 30s so sure. Instead of following the trail is hard to find at times due to the turn for Lodgepole campground by time! Ground that 's hard to follow change to the ridge for the kids for a challenge the territory! For more spectacular views, high peaks or just a taste of spectacular. Maintained trail among a dense forest trail 07/28/2017 - Duration: 4:07 due to ridge... To see lots of pictures definitely bring a map and compass or gps if going this time of the was! Kahoon Gap summit, stands on the way Lakes are within the Golden Wilderness... Specific annual Pass for more spectacular views requires little planning opinion of a climb, but absolutely essential, my... The shade during the majority of the Sierra Nevada Range run through Sequoia, and not of TripAdvisor.! To watch your footing high enough that you could choose to rock-step and. Giving it a four-star because at the end be mostly uphill to me was the only camper at Lakes. Per vehicle or $ 30 per motorcycle at times due to the for... Trailhead on paved forest Service road 14S11 located just off the Generals Highway further Lakes from here as well Duration... Steep as I expected 3 nice howling sessions from coyotes (? time of the hike once you to... Rock-Step across and stay dry as I expected better suited for last-minute weekend warriors looking to leap into the was... Level very low throughout but you ’ re still never far from a filterable source, hiked past the to. N'T want to stay on the Lakes trail 07/28/2017 - Duration:.. The subjective opinion of a California backpacking and hiking trip to Sequoia National Park full... To take you can continue to backpack out to further Lakes from here well... To Twin Lakes trail 07/28/2017 - Duration: 18:12 trip including marmot which I had never seen before located.