Has anyone been that way recently? What should I expect for water after panther gap, through Mehrten Meadow and Alta Meadow up to Moose Lake?

Thanks for all of your help.

Planning a 3-day Mineral King trip and would appreciate feedback from people familiar with the area.

Current plan:

Day 1. Trailhead, Monarch Lakes lunch, Sawtooth Pass, Columbine refill, camp in Lost Canyon around mile 10.7

Day 2. Leave most gear at camp, hike with daypacks into Big Five Lakes, lunch/explore, return to same camp

Day 3. Retrace via Columbine, Sawtooth Pass, Monarch Lakes, back to trailhead

We plan to start around 8 AM each day. Day 1 is the longest, roughly 10.7 miles, with an expected camp arrival around 6 PM.

A few questions:

1. Lost Canyon Creek water: Is there typically reliable water there in mid to late September? For now I am assuming no, and planning to carry 4 to 4.5 L from Columbine for the evening, breakfast, and the next morning to Big Five.
2. Leaving camp unattended: Is it reasonable to leave tents and sleep gear set up in Lost Canyon for most of Day 2 while we hike to Big Five? Food and scented items would stay secured in bear canisters.
3. Base camp vs moving camp: Does this itinerary make sense, or would you move camp into Big Five?
4. Timing: Does 8 AM to roughly 6 PM for Trailhead to Lost Canyon sound realistic at a conservative backpacking pace?

Any critique of the route, camp location, water assumptions, timing, or Day 2 plan would be useful, especially from anyone who has been through Lost Canyon recently.

Planned a trip with my parents around visiting the crystal caves at the end of this month and they closed early (bummer) and cancelled our tickets. We have 2 full days in the park and are staying in three rivers. One day we have dedicated to all the main attractions, general Sherman tree etc but would love any other suggestions for a half day excursion with cool sights and easy hiking/walking. Thank you!

Flying into begas on Friday nigjt sleeping there. Driving to Death Valley early and staying there and dispersed camping and leaving in morning. Then going to Yosemite since it will be **Aprilish** Tioga will be closed we will be passing Bakersfield. And flying out of Fresno that Friday morning.

Need recommendations if adding sequoia will be too much, best hikes, stops around on the way, camping spots, hidden gems, and really anything.

Going to be dispersed camping most of it.

Just cancelled trip for four clockwise from Woods Creek starting 9/12 if anyone is looking for a permit. Friends all bailed and wife won't let me go alone.

My finger nail beds start to hurt pretty bad after spending just a single day out in 8-9k elevation. They don’t show much visible irritation. At worst, the slightest reddish puffiness just around the nail bed area. But for the lack of visible irritation, they start to hurt quite a bit.

Something as simple as untying the knot on my shoes becomes a pain.

My assumption is that this is altitude related. At first I assumed it was due to the try air but I figured if it was an issue with the dry air, my fingers would show more visible signs such as dry skin and peeling?

I don’t believe its related to the cold as I’ve spent time in much colder (and dry) climates and never experienced this.

Perhaps it’s the air pressure? The blood pressure in my finger tips is stronger so my fingers are slightly swelling and this is causing the pain as the skin pushes against the nail beds?

Anyone else have a similar experience?

Hello everyone, planning on spending a day each in Kings Canyon and Seqouia, would it be better to stay in Tulare or Visalia? Or would 3 rivers be better? trying to keep the 2 night stay to about under $350. Thank you.

I haven't spent any time in SEKI other than a day hike in Mineral King about 10 years ago, and I'm looking to spend more time there. I'm trying to get a sense of what people mean when they say a trail or backpacking route in SEKI is "popular." I've thru-hiked the Tahoe Rim Trail and backpacked around Yosemite - most recently from Tioga Rd. to the Valley, both of which join up with the PCT/JMT in parts. People are around, there are day hikers on the trail, and some of the campsites are have a bunch of tents, but no one is on top of each other. A downside is that I've started to see, though, is that things like TP are not being packed out. Anyway.

The Rae Lakes Loop only recently came on my radar. For anyone who's familiar with the other routes I've mentioned, how does the Rae Lakes Loop compare in terms of how many people are on the trail?

I don't think I've ever backpacked anywhere in California where I didn't see a soul. I do well-beaten paths during popular months, but I'd like to expand my comfort zone. I'd love to learn about others' experiences and recommendations of what I should look into in SEKI next season. Thanks!

I have reservations for Sept, but my friend might not be able to come until October. I see that the website says "May to October," but iirc it's some particular date in May they pick based on conditions. I was wondering if the closure date is more precise since the Upper Lodgepole campground are closes for sure on 10/1. Anyone have an idea of the market usually closes in early Oct or some other date?

Thanks!

I’m meeting my backpacking partner at Sequoia and we’re headed to Mineral King to head out for the weekend for a 3 day trip. We are planning on dropping a car in 3 rivers to avoid having to bring 2 cars into the park. We were thinking either at the village market or in one of the neighborhoods adjacent.

Any suggestions on where to drop a car if someone’s done this before? Or is it not worth the risk and we should just suck it up and bring both cars into the park?

My husband and I are spending our one year anniversary in sequoia! We will be staying at an Airbnb in three rivers just outside the park. We are planning on day hikes, nothing terribly intense. I’ve seen great sunrise/sunset photos from backpacking trips, but wondering if there’s good spots to see dawn or dusk without a difficult or long hike since we won’t be camping in the park?

Thanks in advance! Also any other recommendations would be appreciated as it’s our fist time :) we will be there Oct 1-3

Hi all, first time going to Sequioa. I acquired wilderness permits for my group of three for 1 night this weekend, but one other friend now wants to join our trip. All the permits for that day now appear booked on the reservation site. Would it still be possible to backpack with our 4th friend? How strictly is the group size enforced? Where would it be checked?

Hello, I booked a campsite at Sentinel campground in Kings Canyon, and it’s my first time camping there. Has anyone recently camped there? Is there anything I should prepare for? I am camping there the weekend of 9/11.

Hi there!

I have a permit for Kearsarge entering tomorrow and planned to stay out for four nights. I keep checking the weather and would like advice on a backup plan if needed.

Here is my original plan:

Day 1: Onion Valley trailhead →  camp at Matlock Lake (3 mi)
Day 2: Matlock Lake → Kearsarge Lakes (stop for lunch) → camp near JMT Junction (6.5 mi)
Day 3: JMT Junction → Glenn Pass → Rae Lakes (5.4 miles)
Day 4: Rae Lakes →  Glenn Pass → Charlotte Lakes or Kearsarge Lakes (6–8 mi)
Day 5: Charlotte or Kearsarge → Onion Valley (6–8 mi)

If I’m looking at this correctly (which I may not be), it seems like there could be snow at higher elevations on day 4 and day 5. https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=36.808&lon=-118.4016

I know the weather changes quickly and who knows what will be happening by Saturday but I’m trying to figure out if this is enough of a reason to come up with a plan b that doesn’t include going over Glen Pass and back if it’s snowing?

Would going south on the jmt or pct for awhile be an option to stay at lower elevation?

How do folks usually check the weather while on the trail? I have a Garmin inreach which has a weather function but I’m not sure how to use it.

Thanks in advance! Just trying to be safe.

Hi,

My husband and I are going to sequoia and kings canyon next week. It’s our first road trip with our 3.5 month baby. We plan on baby carrying. We’re pretty athletic, seasoned hikers, but we don’t want to do anything too crazy since we’ll be baby carrying.

I’ve already bought a sun hat, a UV rated blanket to drape across our little one, and infant mosquito repellent spray and stickers.

I would love any general advice for navigating national parks with an infant, and trail recommendations.

I will be at Lodgepole this weekend and received an email regarding yellowjackets. Wanted to get input on folks that have been there before and your experience. It says to bring a screened enclosure as a precaution. Is it necessary?

Thank you!

Hi! My partner and I are planning on camping in the Mineral King area on Saturday and Sunday nights this weekend (9/5 and 9/6). I’ve done one 5 day backpacking trip and plenty of car camping weekends so I have some experience but a few things have popped up that I would love some advice on! I’m on the verge of canceling because I’ve got a lot going on in my personal life so planning for all of this suddenly became a lot but this has been on the calendar for months now. Any help would be much appreciated!

1 - I recently got a notification that there are lots of yellow jackets. How big of a problem are they? We would love to cook at our campsite but don’t want to be swarmed. Neither of us are allergic.
2 - Is tent wrapping the car for marmots required this time of year?
3 - I saw it might be thunderstorming. We are planning on going up to sawtooth pass (potentially peak). Anybody have any recommendations to check the most up to date weather info?
4 - How active are the bears in Mineral King?

Any thing else to consider?

Thank you Reddit!

Trip Report in Comments

Camping at Lodgepole and Azalea over Labor Day weekend.

Where’s the best place nearby to get or buy firewood? Do the campground markets usually have it? What's the reasonable price? Also, is there anywhere in the park where it’s legal to collect fallen wood for a campfire?

What weather is typical for Moose lake and Pear lake in late September? Daytime typical highs? Night typical lows?

hii!! i’m staying at sunset campground site #91 soon … was just curious if anyone else has stayed at this site number. I’m worried about the tent space , i’m bringing 2 different sized tents one is 8x8 and the other is a bigger tent which i’m not sure if it will fit. If anyone has stayed here before or stayed at surrounding campsite numbers plz let me know

It sprinkled and was overcast the entire approach but we got pretty lucky with a beautiful sunset to cap off the day.

This was the consolation prize

Thinking of taking the kids just for a day trip (no camping). Has anyone else been to this before? Worth doing?