Sequoia National Park - Lake Trail - Member Hike
| Hike Name: | Sequoia National Park - Lake Trail |
|---|---|
| Country: | United States |
| State: | California |
| Nearby Town: | Three Rivers, CA |
| Rating: |  |
| Directions: | Enter the park at any of the entrances and go to Wolverton Road and on to the parking area at the end of the road. Trail head is at the upper side of the parking area. |
| Total Hike Distance: | 9.20 miles |
| Hike Difficulty: | Difficult |
| Permit Required: | No |
| Hike Type: | In & Out, Backtrack Hike |
| Hike Starts/Ends: | Woverton Parking area. |
| Trails Used: | Lakes Trail |
| Backcountry Campsites: | Yes |
| Backcountry Water Sources: | Streams, Lakes |
| Management: | National Park Service |
| Contact Information: | Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks 47050 Generals Highway Three Rivers , CA 93271 Tel – 559-565-3341 |
| Best Season: | Spring, Summer, Fall |
| Users: | Hikers |
| Road Conditions: | Primary Paved Roads, Secondary Paved Roads |
| Hike Summary: | This trail starts at the Wolverton parking area, elevation 7,300 ft., and is a pretty steady climb of around 4.6 miles to Heather Lake at about 9,250 ft., the first of three lakes on this trail. At around 2 miles, and a 1,000 ft. elevation gain, there is a junction with the Watchtower and Hump trails, both of which go to Heather Lake. The Watchtower trail skirts the rim of the valley we had hiked earlier, while the Hump trail takes a slightly shorter but much steeper route through the forest and over a hump 9,400 ft high. We took the Watchtower trail up to Heather Lake and returned by the Hump trail. On the Watchtower trail you get some spectacular views of the valley as well as the higher country since it is a much more open trail. While you can’t actually climb the Watchtower, you get pretty close. There is a fairly flat area, elevation about 8,900 ft., along the trail adjacent to the tower which was a great spot for our lunch break. After lunch we continued up the trail to Heather Lake, a beautiful alpine lake setting created during the glacial period. Near the lake was a very interesting toilet – walls around it were about three feet high on only three sides, so, no roof but with a view. Though the trail continues on to the two other lakes, it was late so we returned via the Hump trail, climbing the initial 500 feet over the hump before making a very steep 1,100 ft. descent to the junction with the Watchtower trail, then on to the parking lot and the car. |
There are no comments yet.