Choose the area where you plan to begin hiking:

Cedar Grove/Road's End
Grant Grove (includes trailheads from the Big Meadows Road in the Giant Sequoia National Monument of the Sequoia National Forest)
Giant Forest/Lodgepole
Foothills/Ash Mountain
South Fork/Mineral King

Sequoia National Forest
Sierra National Forest
Inyo National Forest, White Mountain Ranger District
Inyo National Forest, Mt. Whitney Ranger District

Permits issued from Foothills Visitor Center

Middle Fork Trail (near Buckeye Campground): Begins with a slight grade along the Middle Fork of the Kaweah River. Oaks to pines, rivers & vistas. Early and late season access. Watch for ticks, poison oak, rattlesnakes. First campsite - Panther Creek (3.5 miles/5.6 km) Limit 25 people/day.

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Permits self-issued year-round at the South Fork Campground

Lady Bug Trail (South Fork): Short and steep; dead end at South Fork Grove (5.1 miles). South-facing trail; year-round access. Watch for ticks, poison oak, rattlesnakes. First campsite - Lady Bug Camp (1.7 miles). Daily Quota = 15 people.

Garfield Grove Trail (South Fork): Steady climb. Good early season trail. Giant sequoias then on to Hockett Meadow. Watch for ticks, poison oak, rattlesnakes. Popular horse trail. First campsite - Garfield Grove (4 miles). Daily Quota = 15 people.

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Permits issued from Mineral King Ranger Station
No fires permitted in Mineral King Valley outside frontcountry campgrounds.

Atwell-Hockett Trail (from Atwell Mill Campground): Easy to moderate climb. Giant sequoia grove, meadows. 10 miles to Hockett Meadow. Popular horse-party trail. First campsite - Clover Creek (6 miles). Daily quota = 25 people.

Paradise Ridge Trail (from Atwell Mill Campground): Steep climb, hot and dry. Sequoia grove and vistas. 9 miles to Redwood Meadow. First campsite - Paradise Ridge (3 miles) no water. Daily quota = 15 people.

Tar Gap Trail (from Cold Springs Campground): Moderate climb. Lakes, forests, alpine vistas. 12 miles to Hockett Meadow. Access to trails beyond. Popular horse trail. First campsite - Deer Creek (4 miles) Daily quota = 25 people.

Mosquito/Mineral Trail (Eagle/Mosquito Lakes trailhead): Moderately strenuous climb. Lakes and spectacular vistas. No campfires. Cross-country to upper lakes. First campsite - Mosquito Lake #2 (4 miles). Daily quota = 25 people.

Eagle Lake Trail (Eagle/Mosquito Lakes trailhead): Steady, moderately steep climb. Lake and alpine vistas. No campfires. First campsite - Eagle Lake (3.4 miles). Daily quota = 20 people.

White Chief Trail (Eagle/Mosquito Lakes trailhead): Moderately strenuous climb. Lakes and spectacular vistas. No campfires. First campsite - White Chief Bowl (4 miles). Daily quota = 25 people.

Farewell Gap Trail (Franklin Pass trailhead): Steep and strenuous climb. Access to Sequoia National Forest trails. No campfires. First campsite - Franklin/Farewell Jct. (4 miles). No entry limit.

Franklin Pass Trail (Franklin Pass trailhead): Moderately strenuous climb. Lake and alpine vistas. No campfires. Popular horse trail. First campsite - Franklin/Farewell Jct. (4 miles). Daily quota = 30 people.

Sawtooth Trail (Sawtooth trailhead): Steep, strenuous climb. Rough, unmaintained trail beyond Monarch Lakes. Lakes, vistas, access to Glacier Pass, Big and Little Five Lakes. No campfires. First campsite - Groundhog Meadow (1 mile). Daily quota = 20 people.

Timber Gap Trail (Sawtooth trailhead): Moderately steep climb. Forest, lakes. Access to many trails. No campfires. Popular horse-party trail. First campsite - Timber Gap (2.2 miles). No water. Daily quota = 25 people.

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Permits issued from Lodgepole Visitor Center

Twin Lakes Trail (Lodgepole Campground): Moderately steep climb. Forests, meadows and lakes. No campfires at Twin Lakes. 7 miles (11.2 km) to Twin Lakes, 8 miles (12.8 km) to Silliman Pass, 10 miles (16 km) to Ranger Lakes. First campsite - Cahoon Meadow (3 miles/4.8 km) Limit 30 people/day.

Lakes Trail (Wolverton): Moderate climb. No campfires at the lakes or in the Tablelands beyond. Camp only at numbered sites at Emerald and Pear Lakes. 6.1 miles (9.8 km) to Pear Lake. First campsite - Emerald Lake (5 miles/8 km) Limit 25 people/day depending on campsite availability (no reservations).

Alta Trail (Wolverton): Steady climb to Alta Peak. Fires OK only at Panther Gap and Mehrton Meadow. Spur trail connects with the High Sierra Trail. First campsite - Panther Gap (3 miles/4.8 km) no water. Limit 25 people/day.

High Sierra Trail (Crescent Meadow): New in 2008: No water will be available at the trailhead. Please obtain any needed water at the Giant Forest Museum before proceeding on the Moro Rock/Crescent Meadow Road. 11 miles (17.6 km) to Bearpaw Meadow; steady climb to passes and lake beyond. Canyons, vistas. 70+ miles (112+ km) to Mt. Whitney from trailhead. First campsite - Panther Creek (3 miles/4.8 km) Limit 30 people/day.

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Permits issued from Kings Canyon Visitor Center (in Grant Grove)

Redwood Canyon Trail (Redwood Saddle trailhead): Mostly easy hiking. 2 easy 6-mile (9.6 km) loops through sequoia groves. No campfires. 2-night limit. First campsite - Redwood Creek (1 mile/1.6 km) Limit 15 people/day. Maximum group size is 10.

J.O. Pass Trail (Sunset Meadow trailhead): Moderate hike; first 2 miles (3.2 km) hardest. Forests, lakes. 5.5 miles (8.8 km) to Jenny Lake (Forest Service); 9 miles (14.4 km) to Twin Lakes. First campsite - Rowell Meadow (2 miles/3.2 km) Limit 15 people/day.

Belle Canyon Trail (Sunset Meadow trailhead): Moderate hike; first 2 miles (3.2 km) hardest. Forests, lakes and vistas. 6 miles (9.6 km) to Seville Lake; 8 miles (12.8 km) to Lost Lake. First campsite - Rowell Meadow (2 miles/3.2 km) Limit 25 people/day.

Sugarloaf Trail (Sunset Meadow trailhead): Moderate hike. Spectacular glaciated canyons. First campsite - Rowell Meadow (2 miles/3.2 km) Limit 25 people/day.

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Permits issued from Road's End Permit Station

Bubbs Creek Trail (Road's End): Steep then steady grade. Access to John Muir/Pacific Crest trails (JMT/PCT). Two night stay limit at each Rae Lake and Charlotte Lake. No campfires above 10,000' (3048 meters). Trailhead to begin the Rae Lakes Loop going counter-clockwise. See Woods Creek below. First campsite - Sphinx Creek (4 miles/6.4 km) Limit 25 people/day.

Woods Creek Trail (Road's End): Steady moderate climb. Very busy trail. Vistas, rivers and high lakes. Access to JMT/PCT. Trailhead to begin the Rae Lakes Loop going clockwise. See Bubbs Creek above. Bubbs and Woods Creeks are popular horse-party trails. First campsite - Paradise Valley (6.5 miles/10.4 km) Limit 25 people/day.

Copper Creek Trail (Road's End): Hot, steep climb; leave early in the day. Forests, vistas, alpine lakes. Access to Middle Fork of Kings River. No campfires in Granite Basin or above 10,000' (3048 meters). First campsite - Lower Tent Meadow (4 miles/6.4 km) Limit 20 people/day.

Lewis Creek Trail (Lewis Creek trailhead): Hot, steep, dusty climb. Trail becomes difficult to follow north of Kennedy Pass. Forest, lakes and vistas. No campfires above 10,000' (3048 meters). First campsite - Frypan Meadow (5.5 miles/8.8 km) Limit 25 people/day.

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Permits issued by Sequoia National Forest

Long Meadow Trail (Mountain Home trailhead): Moderate climb. First campsite - Summit Lake in Sequoia National Park(7.6 miles/12.1 km) No entry limit.

Fish Creek Trail (Jerkey Meadow trailhead): First campsite - Grey Meadow (5 miles/8 km) Easy to moderate. Water scarce. No entry limit.

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Permits issued by Sierra National Forest

Florence Lake Trail (Florence Lake): Moderate. John Muir Trail. Access to Evolution Valley and Goddard Canyon. First Campsite - Blaney Meadow (10 miles/16 km) A boat-taxi is available from Florence Lake trailhead in the summer. Send a SASE to Muir Trail Ranch, Box 176, Lakeshore, CA 93634 or visit http://www.muirtrailranch.com/index.html for more information. Limit 72 people/day.

Tehipite Valley (Wishon Reservoir): Moderate; very strenuous in and out of Tehipite Valley. First campsite - Cow Meadow (4 miles/6.4 km) No entry limit.

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Permits issued by Inyo National Forest, White Mountain Ranger District

Piute Pass (North Lake): Moderate to strenuous. Access to John Muir Trail, Evolution Valley. First campsite - Lock Leven (3.5 miles/5.6 km) Limit 32 people/day.

Bishop Pass (South Lake): Moderate to strenuous. Access to Dusy Basin. First campsite - Long Lake (3 miles/4.8 km) Limit 36 people/day.

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Permits issued by Inyo National Forest, Mt. Whitney Ranger District

Kearsarge Pass (Onion Valley): Moderate. Access to John Muir Trail. First campsite - Flower Lake (3.5 miles/5.6 km) Limit 60 people/day.

Mt. Whitney (Whitney Portal): Strenuous, especially to those not acclimated. Permits are required for both backpackers and day hikers to Mt. Whitney. First campsite - Outpost camp (5 miles/8 km) Limit 50 people/day.

Cottonwood Lakes (Horseshoe Meadow): Moderate to lakes (11,008'/3355 meters); strenuous over New Army Pass. First campsite - Cottonwood Lake #1 Limit 60 people/day.

Cottonwood Pass (Horseshoe Meadow): Moderate (Siberian Pass = 10,950'/3338 meters). First campsite - Chicken Spring Lake Limit 40 people/day.

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