Needless to say, it was a rude awakening as we had just come from sea level and had to huff and puff up to almost 10k feet. A scant 2 hour hike opens up many beautiful vistas and transitions into … Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. The steep winding road leading to Mineral King serves as a deterrent for casual visitors, limiting the number of people visiting this peaceful valley. As of October 1st Sequoia and Kings Canyon National parks are open and wilderness trips are allowed. Typical days: 5. The gorgeous valley is tucked in the southwestern corner of Sequoia National Park at the head of the East Fork of the Kaweah River surrounded by a stunning cirque. Some backpackers use tarps or chicken wire to keep the rodents at bay. A short distance back down the road is the beginning of the Farewell Gap and Franklin Lakes trails. Over the next seven years prospectors came to the valley hoping to strike it rich. Add Your Recommended Routes, 25.6 mi When driving it seems like one blind curve follows another. Add Your Trails, Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. The robust hike to the lake climbs 2,200 feet over 3.6 miles and delivers a steady climb with expanding views. Beautiful Monarch Lakes lie cradled in scenic bowl at the foot of Sawtooth and Mineral Peaks. The road is steep, narrow, and winding. Make sure you are self sufficient before leaving Visalia.). Steep, scenic trails ascend from the valley to glistening lakes, beautiful alpine meadows and stunning passes with panoramic views. Between campsites 16 and 17 is the beginning of the Atwell-Hocket Trail. The valley floor lies at an elevation of 7,400 feet (2,300 m), while the granite peaks rising above the head of the valley reach heights of 11,000 feet (3,400 m) or more. Day 1 - Monday, August 26, 2019 - Trailhead to Pinto Lake via Timber GapThe hike begins with a 1,500' climb out of Mineral King. Mineral King to Whitney Portal, July 2014. Day 2 hike map (pdf) On Day 2 we … • Mineral King is a quiet corner of what is becoming an increasingly busy Sierra Nevada mountain range. It continues onto Paradise Ridge, giving it the highest elevation of any sequoia grove. Multi-hued rugged canyon walls, pretty meadows sprinkled with wildflowers and a dramatic glacial cirque are the scenic delights of this great hike up White Chief Canyon. A great day is planned climbing Timber Gap (9,500 feet) and hiking toward Redwood Meadow. During the early summer, mosquitoes can be a particular nuisance. Farewell Gap is visible on the left, at the end of the valley. A short distance back down the Mineral King Road from the campground is the start of the Paradise Peak trail. © HikingWalking.com. Mineral King became part of Sequoia National Park in 1978. We went to Mineral King with a loop in mind, due to excessive snowfall this winter our planned loop was still impassable even in early July. About a half mile further up the road is the Mineral King Ranger Station and the Cold Springs campground (40 sites). Mineral King is a good place to start a hike high up into the magnificent back country of Sequoia. A use trail leads to Lake # 2, a beautiful alpine gem cradled in a granite basin. Vandever Mountain (11,947 feet) is the mountain on the right side of Farewell Gap. Day 6 - 7. 9,101' Up The trail passes through a diverse mix of Sierra terrain and ecology, from creekside cascades to old-growth forest to alpine lakes, and it of Trail. When visiting the valley during the spring and early summer be sure to protect your vehicle from the area’s marmot population. Making the … The early part of the trail follows the old mining access road. The Mineral King area of California's Sequoia National Park provides hiking access to some of the most spectacular high country in the southern Sierra. It's 13 miles round-trip. The Cold Springs Nature trail, starting in the Cold Spring Campground across from the Ranger Station, is an easy two mile (out and back) trail with interpretive exhibits explaining the natural history of the valley. This short, strenuous hike climbs to a pretty lake nestled in a rugged cirque, with great views of the East Fork Kaweah River valley and the Great Western Divide en route. Cell phones don’t work in the valley. • The first time we enter king cayon I new i would love it , … It's one of the greatest subalpine valleys in the Sierra and its relative remoteness keeps the crowds away. View Hikes by Area:California's Southwestern SierraLodgepoleMineral King. This very steep hike offers great views of the Mineral King Valley and a good workout. Mineral King to Eagle Lake Trail [CLOSED] is a 6.5 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Three Rivers, California that features a lake and is rated as difficult. This popular day hike climbs to Lower Franklin Lake, nestled in a scenic basin beneath the Great Western Divide. Tulare County owns and maintains the first 9.6 miles of the Mineral King road. The cabins were built in the 1920’s and many are on the National Register of Historic Place. When traveling to Mineral King half the adventure is truly just getting there. How long is Mineral King Road? Trail. It is well worth enduring the poorly maintained, 25-mile Mineral King Road to access this subalpine glacial valley; you will not be disappointed. We aim to camp near or within a grove of giant sequoia, a rare and special experience. But in the 1960s this mountain paradise of snowmelt streams, white-fir forests, and hulking granite peaks nearly became home to a massive ski resort developed by the master of mass entertainment: Walt Disney. Reach the first of two campgrounds, Atwell Mill with 25 sites, at 18.7 miles. Day 6 was my big climb to Discovery Pinnacle from Crabtree Lakes. Start from Eagle-Mosquito Trailhead at the end of Mineral King Road and commence hiking up the west rim of the valley. A bitter battle broke out between preservationist and pro-development groups that led to lawsuits. The trail to Monarch Lakes begins at Sawtooth Trailhead in Sequoia National Park's scenic Mineral King Valley. For another nice, easy walk start at the end of the road and follow the Farewell Gap/Franklin Lakes trail for a mile or two up the beautiful East Fork Kaweah Valley. The 25-mile Mineral King Rd. Back at the campground, they had a low-key night and made dinner, drank a few beers, and went to sleep. The grove was partially logged in the 1980’s. Hiking at this altitude is strenuous. This trail follows the path to Eagle Creek for the first 2 miles and then crosses Miner’s Ridge to the Mosquito Lake #1, a small, shallow lake surrounded by red firs. The gorgeous valley is tucked in the southwestern corner of Sequoia National Park at the head of the East Fork of the Kaweah River. The store stocks some basic camping supplies, snacks and soda. 18 Intermediate Trails. Mineral King is remote and has no services. There is NO gas. Mineral King (7,525-ft.) is truly a special place. The road is not recommended for RV’s or travel trailers. Around the trailhead parking area is another group of 24 summer cabins, referred to as East Mineral King or the Beulah Tract. The resplendent Mineral King Valley, as seen from the trail returning to the valley from Timber Gap. The Mineral King Road is mostly paved, but sometimes very good gravel or dirt, and eventually becomes a trail. The trail climbs to the Franklin Lakes and the Franklin Pass. At the end of the road is the start of the Eagle Lake, Mosquito Lake and White Chief Canyon trails. Talk to the rangers to find out if marmots are likely to be a problem during your visit, which parking areas are affected and how you can protect your car. Today, Mineral King Valley is a remote hideaway within California's Sequoia National Park, accessible only by foot-trail or a winding, treacherous automobile road. To hike the round-trip route (roughly six or seven miles depending on where you turn around), start at the Eagle and Mosquito Lakes trailhead in Mineral King. There is no ice or gas. Being a jerk / offensive? Elevation gain: … 194 Miles. The area was threatened once more in the 1960’s and 1970’s, when the Walt Disney Corporation tried to build a ski resort in the valley. Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. Services in the valley are severely limited to nonexistent. 41.3 km At the end of the Mineral King Road, 23.5 miles from Highway 198 and 55 miles from Visalia. Note: the station typically does not open until late May. The first 0.7 miles get your heart beating with a series of steep switches. Length 6.5 miElevation gain 2214 ftRoute type Out & back Walk up the moderately steep trail for about 1.5 miles to see giant sequoias in the upper section of the Atwell Grove. Plan on being totally self sufficient, stock up on food and gas and check your gear twice to make sure you have everything you need before you start up the road. Thankfully others saw the real riches Mineral King had to offer and declared the area part of the Sierra Forest Preserve in 1893. 2771.03 m Down, Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. When you stay with us at Silver City you are just a few short miles from all of the trailheads in the Mineral King Valley. The trail is primarily used for hiking and running and is best used from May until October. Since the trail is only six miles long, you’ll have ample time to take it slow and enjoy the towering, rust-colored peaks of the Mineral King Valley as you ascend. Every hike from this trailhead starts with a climb to some pass, and Timber Gap is probably the easiest. begins at Hwy. Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. 9,091' Down On the other side the route goes down and around the Forrester and Little Claire Lakes. Enough damage can be done to disable a vehicle. (There is a small green sign by the side of the road that reads, “Mineral King 25 miles.”) It will take 1.5 hours to travel from the junction at Highway 198 to the ranger station (22.7 miles). This MH Mineral King 3 is even better with easier setup/breakdown. The matter was finally settled in 1978 when Congress added the valley to Sequoia National Park. Bring all the food, camping supplies and other gear you need for your trip. Hiking, camping and backpacking. Your FREE account works with all Adventure Projects sites. Follow the White Chief Trail, which climbs steeply to White Chief Meadows. 15 Difficult Trails. Franklin Pass, Black Rock Pass, Timber Gap. The road travels along steep drop offs, in many places it is barely wide enough for two cars to pass and contains a few unpaved, bumpy sections. Make your way to the Sawtooth Trailhead near the end of Mineral King and start up the trail. (Do not depend on the store to have the supplies you need. Gauge your hiking to the least fit member of your party. Around the turn of the century, the forest service started leasing land for recreational cabin sites, creating small summer communities in Cabin Cave, Faculty Flats and East Mineral King/Beulah. The campground is located above the site of a defunct sawmill. See the Sequoia-Kings Canyon Wilderness permits page for more information. Something else? Whether you’re looking for crystal-clear lakes, adrenaline-pumping peaks, or awe-inspiring vantage points you will find them! To reach Mineral King from Visalia, CA, follow Highway 198 East for 31.5 miles to the Mineral King Road and turn right. 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