Overview The Kennedy Meadows trailhead is located on the west side of the Sonora Pass and provides access to the Emigrant Wilderness Area from the north. Kennedy Meadows Resort and Pack Station A - Summit Creek B - Kennedy Lake C - Lower Relief Valley D - Upper Relief Valley E - Emigrant Meadow F - Emigrant Lake G - Snow Lake H - Maxwell Lake I - Upper Twin Lake J - Bigelow Lake K - Buck Lake L - Dorothy Lake M - Huckleberry Lake N - Tilden Lake O - Benson Lake It was busy over 4th of July weekend but that is to be expected. This is also a great location for day hiking and swimming! Hike to Iceland Lake - Only for experienced cross-country hikers and do not attempt alone. For complete information about camping and recreation in the Sonora Pass area, see Sonora Pass Vacations. Emigrant Meadow Lake junction 9440 feet. Some of our most popular destinations include Relief Reservoir, Kennedy Lake, Maxwell Lake, Huckleberry Lake, Dorothy Lake, Emigrant Lake, Emigrant Meadow Lake, Horse Meadow and any other destination of your choosing within the Emigrant Wilderness, Carson Iceberg Wilderness and Northern Yosemite National Park. This page goes into more detail on the off-trail routes to each lake. Gianelli Cabin is a very popular summer time trailhead in the Emigrant Wilderness. Trail map, trip description, camping spots, photos, fishing guide, wilderness permits. Kennedy Meadows Pack Station Kennedy Meadows Pack Station knows every mile of the trails through the Emigrant Wilderness. The Tahoe to Yosemite Trail South from Kennedy Meadows to Brown Bear Pass is one long steady Climb. a lot of bang for the buck! If we had another day, we would've either gone up the second day or done a day trip but with limited time, we hiked back down the second day. and spent about an hour there at the first point you can go down (at the large rusted pipe) to get water (need to take packs off for the last bit to scramble a little). Amazing to look out over the reservoir with snow capped mountains at the top. Kennedy Lake has become a classic destination in the Emigrant Wilderness. Mid week was perfect, not a lot of people on the trail. may have been made. I really was impressed. We park in the designated hiking parking area which adds roughly .75 miles to the hike. The upper lake is 9.2 miles from the trailhead at 8839' elevation. Kennedy Lake and the land around Kennedy Meadows were claimed by Andrew Thomas Kennedy of Knights Ferry and William E. Lutz in the mid-1880s. We then hiked up to where there is a sharp right on the trail in AllTrails at Summit Creek. Road Map North Sierra Trans Sierra Highways You can see Sonora Peak and Leavit Peak as you walk along the river. I would rate as moderately easy. Smedberg Lake: After crossing the 10,160' elevation of Benson Pass, the trail drops down to Smedberg Lake, about 23 miles from the trailhead.Smedberg is an excellent fishery for rainbows that were planted from 1934 to 1972. State Route 108 (from the Central Valley) The climb up can be a bit hot by late morning, not a lot of protection from the sun. Tie it All Up - http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/roadinfo/sr108 <- It was the perfect hike to introduce a friend to backpacking. Beautiful views and river crossings. Take the trail north from Deer Lake and then follow Spring Creek until you get to Wilson Meadow Lake. The hike between Emigrant Lake and Lunch Meadow is incredible; probably the highlight of the route. Be sure to bring a bear canister. The smoke was terrible when I took a bathroom break in Sonora, but by the time I got to Kennedy Meadows, there was nothing but clear blue sky. Dogs are … Come and stay with us at the resort, go for a day ride, or let us pack you into the Emigrant Wilderness, Carson Iceberg Wilderness, or northern Yosemite National Park. Follow the trail along the north shore of Emigrant Lake and continue west past Buck Lakes. Only a single-day's hike from the trailhead, it is easily done as a weekend trip. The trail proceeds slightly above and to the north of Summit Creek. The restaurant is open all afternoon for a late lunch if needed. The lake is beautiful, we bouldered down to the water and sat for a while there. Solid hike. NO TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS ARE REPORTED FOR THIS AREA. The resort offers rustic cabins, bunk rooms, a supply store, a restaurant, a saloon, hot showers for rent, free public rest rooms, and they also operate a large pack station (horses/mules). Great waterfalls and granite walls...and then you come to the reservoir! Great trail! Great beginner backpacking for families. NO TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS ARE REPORTED FOR THIS AREA. Intense. . To that point, the trail is well defined (sandy / loose rocks / horse poop) and fairly sunny. The river was raging. Always confirm information with the service provider and check for any recent changes that US 395 We did pass a few groups that went from Ridge Lake all the way down in a day. ... Kennedy Meadows to Kennedy Lake Trail Junction, 2.6 miles. Both Salt Lick and Spring Meadows are phenomenal; Long Lakes is an option for sleeping as well. Directions are available on the Kennedy Meadows Resort web site. SR 108 The trailhead area includes Kennedy Meadows Resort and Pack Station as well as two National Forest campgrounds. Start from Kennedy Meadows trailhead, off of Highway 108. Kennedy Meadows, Trailhead for Emigrant Lake Kennedy Meadows is 50 miles east of Sonora on Highway 108. Main Backpacking Features Hiking East from the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail up the Western Sierra Flank to Kennedy Lake South of Kennedy Meadows Pack Station opens up much more that a short spur trail to a beautiful lake between the Tahoe to Yosemite and Pacific Crest Trails. The trail is easy to follow, but the lake is a little farther out than you'd think. We spoke with other hikers on the way down and they noted there are some online resources that describe the best off trail route to Ridge Lake from Summit Creek. This hike is at least 8 miles. The original Kennedy Meadows lodge was erected in 1917. Soaring peaks cradle the lake on three sides while acres of lush meadow spread at its foot. Turn right and climb to Mosquito Pass before descending to Emigrant Lake. be careful of the excessive Horse Manure, We stumbled upon this trail while riding up North From Los Banos. They also have a store and a cafe. It is a popular destination for vacationers, anglers, hunters, horsemen, and hikers heading into the Emigrant Wilderness. A long climb from Kennedy Meadow to High Emigrant Lake. LONG BARN TO 6 MI EAST OF STRAWBERRY (TUOLUMNE CO) FROM 0700 HRS TO 1700 HRS It is a popular destination for vacationers, anglers, hunters, horsemen, and hikers heading into the Emigrant Wilderness. It was beautiful. Hike from Kennedy Meadows to Lower Relief Valley in the Emigrant Wilderness. 1-WAY CONTROLLED TRAFFIC AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS FROM 7.8 MI EAST OF Had tried it on a weekend and the crowd was overwhelming. Option to stay in Upper Relief Lakes. Kennedy Meadows to Relief Reservoir Trail. The cabin was restored in 1988 by Pat Casey. Rumor is you can park up past the restaurant if you're a day hiker. Trail Guide, Section TYT Kennedy Meadows to Tuolumne Meadows. Refer to the previous page “Reaching the Lakes” for a description of the hike to ge to the off-trail section at the base of the mountain. Local Emigrant Wilderness backpackers can ascend the 19.03 miles between the Kennedy Meadows and Sonora Pass Trailheads via Kennedy Lake. All in all, it's a beautiful trail. This difficult hike, however, is a botanist’s delight because with the drop into the canyon, you will pass through almost every Sierra altitude range after leaving the trailhead at Kennedy Meadow. Thomas Winnett's Sierra Northhas a section on hikes which begin at the the Kennedy Meadows trailhead. NO TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS ARE REPORTED FOR THIS AREA. Bond Pass (South TYT) 9720 feet. I always pick up my permit on the way up there at the Summit Ranger Station which is at the corner Pinecrest Lake Road and HW 108. The lazy rivers were my favorite. Trips are available starting end of May through first part of October. - http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/roadinfo/us395 <- But when the breeze kicked in, it was nice. We will definitely be back for a full three day trip (camp near grouse creek/end of reservoir on the first night, go up to ridge lake for night 2, and come back on the third day). Have a beer when you finish. We would say it’s moderately hard. [IN THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AREA] Our final climb to Bond Pass into Yosemite is quite easy. - 7/21/11 8:19 PM PDT <- Worth the climb. I like the challenge of the incline on the way to Relief Reservoir but it was still really doable. Having started my drive well before dawn, I arrived at the trailhead just after nine in the morning. Not too crowded on a Thursday afternoon and recommend turning right after the second bridge (wooden one) as it's a much easier on joints than the left steep stone stairs. Kennedy Meadows to Relief Reservoir Trail is a 9.8 kilometer moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Pinecrest, California that features a lake and is rated as moderate. On the main trail, the three main spots for water are Relief Reservoir (slight detour), Grouse Creek (was flowing in late august but unsure about other times), and Summit Creek. Trails from there wind out through Lake Valley and off toward Buck Lakes. Lake is fishless.Deer Lake: 19 acre lake at 8461' elevation. We started around 10am and it was already getting hot. [IN THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA AREA & SIERRA NEVADA] The Kennedy Meadows trail forks to the left, climbing up a dusty trail, before flattening out after a crossing a bridge at the entrance to the valley. From the resort, cross the meadow to the first bridge and then begin a steep climb along an old road used to build Relief Dam in the early 1900s. r/backpacking. After the second bridge you can take the horse trail to the right, or the stairs straight up. Emigrant Wilderness, Kennedy Lake trek. Kennedy Meadows to Relief Reservoir Trail is a 6.1 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Pinecrest, California that features a lake and is rated as moderate. Technically most of the campsites are FFS but we didn't have an issue finding a site (may have been because of the major fires that week). The trail follows the river out Trails around resevoir were very confusing and didnt always coincide with the maps. Karl's Lake: This lake is south of Wood Lake and is fishless.Red Can Lake: 4 acres at 8296' elevation. Neither campground takes reservations. But overall a really nice day hike! The most beautiful and pristine blue water you will see. Bonus: There is a general store by the trailhead at Kennedy Meadows for a cold beer after the hike! [IN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AREA] That's a nice little trip. Trails from Kennedy Meadows lead up to Relief Reservoir and Kennedy Lake and off to more distant places such as Emigrant Lake and northern Yosemite. for errors or changes that may have occurred since publication. Two National Forest campgrounds are situated close to Kennedy Meadows. Upper Buck has great campsites on granite on the South side and good fishing. They can pack you and your gear into an Emigrant Lake base camp. Some hikers drive up to the resort and drop their packs and most of their party close to the actual beginning of the trail before returning to park their car. The walk along the reservoir trail is breath-taking. Not the 6.1 miles that the app says. We almost abandoned the hike because our 3 yo was tapped out after about 4 miles. We had a wonderful time. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and bird watching and is accessible year-round. If you want a quiet hike choose a week day. A little to cold for swimming but perfect to dip your feet in. I have made two previous trips to this area. It offers a much higher starting point than the nearby trailheads of Crabtree(7100ft) and Bell Meadows(6500ft). << this is taken from http://www.kennedymeadows.com. Campfires are allowed. From here the trail ambles through forest and chaparral, crossing over seasonal streams, and providing occasional glimpses of meadows and mountainsides. Follow the Huckleberry Trail until you get to Emigrant Lake, where you will take the trail west. Regardless of destination, this section of trail involves detailed route finding based on topography. There are restrooms and water as well as facilities to aid with horses. Hike to above Relief Reservoir. Hike to above Relief Reservoir. Up hill all the way to the lake without a lot of shade so be prepared with some sunscreen, hat & water. Kennedy Meadows is 50 miles east of Sonora on Highway 108. The ice cold beer at the store when we got back was a great reward Most definitely recommend this hike. Emigrant Basin on the other side of Brown Bear ends the climb into a gentle roller coaster. A great hike with a lot of beautiful sights to see. More lodging can be found back down the road at Dardanelle Resort. This 9th edition of Sierra North, written with Kathy Morey and It is considered the best hiking guide available for the region. Lots of nice sights along the way. Kennedy Meadows to Granite Dome is a 20.1 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Pinecrest, California that features a lake and is rated as difficult. The trailhead is located at the end of the parking area for the Kennedy Meadows Resort. Kennedy Meadows, trailhead for Emigrant Lake, where the Resort is now.... 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