Wilderness Areas of the Sierra Nevada Plus Inyo and White Mountains Ansel Adams Boundary Peak Carson Iceberg Desolation Dinkey Lakes Domeland Granite Chief Emigrant Golden Trout Inyo Mountains Inyo National Forest Jennie Lakes John Muir Kaiser Kings Canyon Mokelumne Monarch Sequoia National Park Mt. Shasta South Sierra Yosemite National Park

Inyo National Forest

Golden Trout Lakes

From Hwy. 395 in Independence, turn west on Market street and drive 13 miles to the trailhead parking in Onion Valley.

This is a very strenuous hike on a rocky, infrequently maintained trail. Bring extra water and a map. The up side of this trail is that you will probably have all the solitude that you desire.

Begin hiking at the trailhead information sign for Kearsarge Pass, look for an unsigned trail to the right after a short distance, 0.3 miles. Take this trail to the right, then go left on a trail coming up from the pack station. The ascent kicks in from here on a sage-lined trail. Continue up beside the creek, crossing it a short time later.

Labor up a steep, rocky section to cross the creek again at 1 mile. The trail can be hard to follow through here. At 1 ½ miles you can either go left for Golden Trout Lake or right for the 2 northern Golden Trout Lakes.

	Elevation	Miles
Trailhead	9,200
Golden Trout Lake	11,370	2.5
Northern Golden Trout Lakes	11,400	2.5

Maps John Muir Wilderness - Topo Kings Canyon High Country - 15 minute - Topo Sequoia / Kings National Park - 15 minute - Topo Mt. Pinchot - 15 minute quad. - Topo Inyo National Forest - 60 minute