Big Meadow Trailhead

Area Status: Closed

The Big Meadows trailhead provides numerous opportunities to explore the beautiful Jennie Lakes Wilderness. The trailhead has parking available along with one vault toilet. The info boards by the restroom give detailed information on the Jennie Lakes trail system. There are NO bear lockers at the trailhead. Please plan accordingly.

At a Glance

Operational Hours: In the winter months access to the trailhead will only be allowed by hiking, snowshoeing or skiing from the Big Meadows Winter Trailhead.
Usage: Heavy
Best Season: Summer.
Busiest Season: Summer.
Water: Numerous streams and lakes. Bring a water filter.
Restroom: One Vault Toilet
Operated By: Forest Service
Information Center: Please contact the Hume Lake Ranger District office at (559) 338-2251 for updates.

Recreation Map

Map showing recreational areas. Map Information

Activities

Day Hiking

This trailhead is often used for easy to moderate day hikes from the Big Meadows campgrounds. The short hike to and from Weaver Lake is easily done in a day. Make sure to bring water!

Status: Open
Difficulty Level: Easy to Intermediate

Backpacking

The trailhead offers the opportunity for overnight backpacking. From here one can easily access anywhere in the Jennie Lakes Wilderness. Some of the most common destinations are Weaver Lake, Jennie Lake and Rowell Meadow, and on into Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park.

To Weaver Lake: at about 3.5 miles one-way, this is one of the easiest and most popular hikes in the JLW. The trail winds through Lodgepole Pines near the trailhead and then into Red and White Firs and Ponderosa Pines as you pass a nice view into Kings Canyon; after a short descent past the junction with Fox Meadow it slowly climbs again as you get closer to the lake. A few minutes later, pay attention at the next junction between this trail and the Jennie Lake Trail heading south, and make sure to follow the path east to Weaver Lake. The trail sign at this junction was recently stolen so pay attention! (Currently there is a only laminated paper sign directing you to the lakes.)

Once up at the lake, please camp only in established campsites and do not build any new fire rings. There are 15 sites with fire rings located all around the lake, most on the north and west sides (check for fire restrictions before heading out!) Please do not camp on the east side of the lake and stay at least 100’ off of the lakeshore. Trout fishing is generally very good at the lake.

Past Weaver Lake, you can continue about four up and down miles along the Weaver Trail towards Rowell Meadow and the JO Pass Trail junction. The trail sign here was also recently stolen, so pay attention to the trail!

To Jennie Lake: beginning the same as the hike up to Weaver Lake, this very popular trail turns south/southeast at the junction with the Weaver Lake Trail. It is about 6.5 miles to Jennie Lake cutting slowly around Shell Mountain and then up and down either side of Poop Out Pass. It is a bit of a climb up to the pass but once there it flattens out for a bit, before descending on the other side. A final small ascent and descent past an excellent view into the northern section of the JLW and Kings Canyon means you're very close to the lake.

There are primarily Lodgepole Pines and White and Red Fir trees along the trail, with some Jeffrey and Ponderosa Pines on the way, as well as Mountain Pines higher up by the lake. There are some rock and water bar issues coming up and down either side of Poop Out Pass with some rocky wash out on small sections of the trail, but in general the tread and most of the water bars are also in very good condition.

Once up at the lake, please camp only in established campsites and do not build any new fire rings. There are 19 sites with fire rings located all around the lake, most on the north and west sides (check for fire restrictions before heading out!) Please camp at least 100’ off of the lakeshore. Trout fishing is also generally very good at the lake.

Past Jennie Lake, you can continue for about a mile east up to JO Pass and the boundary with Sequoia National Park.

Status: Open
Difficulty Level: Easy to Intermediate

Horse Riding

This is a very popular area for horseback riding from the nearby <a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/sequoia/recreation/horseriding-camping/recarea/?recid=79512&actid=104">Horse Camp Campground</a>.

Recreation Areas

Recreation Activities

Location

 
  Latitude : 
36.7185

  Longitude : 
-118.8341

  Elevation : 
7,633 Feet