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Jennie Lakes Wilderness
The 10,500-acre Jennie Lakes Wilderness is a lovely mixture of lakes, meadows, forests, and streams. Mostly above 7,000 feet in elevation, this wilderness contains scenic variations of alpine and sub-alpine forest of White & Red Fir, Lodgepole Pine, Western White Pine, Jeffrey & Ponderosa Pine, with an abundance of wildflowers in the Spring and Summer. The summit of Mitchell Peak is the highest point at 10,365 feet. Four trailheads access 26 miles of trails within the wilderness. Several of these trails also connect to Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park's enormous backcountry.
For current Jennie Lakes trail conditions, click here.
There are four trailheads into Jennie Lakes Wilderness:
At a Glance
| Current Conditions: | Access to all Jennie Lakes Wilderness trails are closed to vehicle traffic. The closest TH from Big Meadows Winter Trailhead/Picnic Area is the Big Meadows TH about 3.5 miles. |
|---|---|
| Fees: | There is currently no fee to enter the Jennie Lakes Wilderness, however Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park charges entrance fees at the Big Stump and Ash Mountain entrance stations. There are no overnight wilderness permit fees in Sequoia National Forest, but we do ask that you fill out a voluntary registration card at the trailheads. Note: if you enter the Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks via the Jennie Lakes Wilderness, you must obtain a backcountry permit from the Park Service website or in person at their permit stations (Grant Village or Lodgepole). |
| Permit Info: | A self-registration station is located at each trailhead. Please register your group prior to entering wilderness. This information is used only to track the visitation trend of Jennie Lakes Wilderness and does not collect personal information. |
| Usage: | Medium-Heavy |
| Best Season: | Summer. |
| Busiest Season: | Summer. |
| Closest Towns: | Grant Grove Village in Kings Canyon National Park on CA State Highway 180 is approximately 20 minutes from Big Meadows trailhead. |
| Water: | Numerous streams and lakes in the wilderness. Bring a water filter. |
| Restroom: | At Big Mdw, Rowell Mdw & Stony Creek trailheads. |
| Operated By: | Forest Service. |
| Information Center: | Contact the Hume Lake Ranger District office at (559) 338-2251 for updates. |
Activities
Day Hiking
Please check the individual trailhead pages for detailed information on day hikes.
| Status: | Open |
|---|---|
| Difficulty Level: | Easy to Intermediate |
Backpacking
Please check the individual trailhead pages for detailed information on overnight backpacking.
| Status: | Open |
|---|---|
| Difficulty Level: | Easy to Intermediate |
Horse Riding
There are numerous options for horseback riding in the Jennie Lakes Wilderness, particularly from Horse Camp near Big Meadows and the Horse Corral Pack Station near Rowell Meadow.
| Status: | Open |
|---|---|
| Difficulty Level: | Easy to Intermediate |
Location
