Deer Cove Trailhead

The Deer Cove Trail has not had much maintenance in several years and is in need of extensive trail work. Due to recent fires, dozens of trees are still down and there are areas where the original trail is lost and has become several user-created horse and cattle trails. There are a lot of tread, water bar and overgrowth issues all along the trail, and the hike includes a big elevation gain. As such, it can be a very difficult hike to arrive at both Wildman Meadow and especially Grizzly Lakes.

However, for more experienced and strong hikers, Grizzly Lakes is a great spot for isolation and some beautiful Kings Canyon views. Mount Harrington, the highest point in either wilderness at over 11,000 feet, lies just to the west of Grizzly Lakes. The trail is very steep for about 3 miles as you head past Deer Cove Creek (a good water source, fill up!), before flattening out for the mile-long section that crosses the junction leading down to Choke Creek. Look for the trail sign, but don’t expect to get past the creek - the trail here has not been maintained in years. Another mile-long steep, climb up a rocky face leads you to Deer Cove Saddle before dropping smoothly down to Wildman Meadow.

Wildman Meadow has been heavily impacted by an old hunter’s camp. There are structures and old garbage all around the meadow, and we do not recommend camping here as there is also no reliable water source at the meadow. However, just past Wildman Meadow, at the junction with the new trail sign, you can go about ¼ mile west towards Happy Gap to find a good water source (East Fork Creek) and camping spot. Past the creek, the Happy Gap Trail is also unmaintained and quickly becomes covered by downed trees, thick, overgrown whitethorn and brush. Recent fires have all but destroyed this trail. We do not recommend venturing further on towards Happy Gap.

Following the trail north after the Wildman Meadow junction, you start to hike right along the boundary with the National Park, and about a ¼ mile