Wolverton Picnic Area, Trailhead, and Snowplay Area

The Trailhead for Wolverton

Quick Facts

Location:

End of Wolverton Road

Amenities

11 listed

Audio Description, Bus/Shuttle Stop, Information, Information Kiosk/Bulletin Board, Parking - Auto, Parking - Bus/RV, Picnic Table, Recycling, Restroom, Toilet - Flush, Trailhead

In addition to being a great place to stop for lunch, Wolverton offers trailheads to some of the most stunning frontcountry and backcountry hiking in these parks. The Lakes Trail leads to Heather Lake, Emerald Lake, and Pear Lake. The challenging Alta Trail, which climbs more than 4,000 feet in elevation over 12.8 miles (20 kilometers) to the summit of Alta Peak, has some spectacular views. Or go as far as Panther Gap 4 miles, (6.4 kilometers) for a good look at the Great Western Divide. The Watchtower portion of the Lakes Trail leads you along the ridge overlooking Lodgepole, the Marble Fork of the Kaweah River, and Tokopah Falls. This stretch of trail is extremely treacherous if any snow or ice is present; if icy or snowy conditions are present, always choose the Hump Trail instead.

For a much easier hike, try the Wolverton Meadow Loop which circles a wetland. On this trail, you must usually make two easy stream crossings; however, early in the season the water can be high. Wolverton Meadow is an excellent place to view black bears in the late spring and early summer. They are often seen feeding in the meadows. The meadow's wildflowers change throughout the season, so taking this hike in June is a different experience than in August or May. Keep an eye out for pine martens, relatives of the weasel that live high in the branches of pine trees and are relatively common here. They are shy of people and hide well, so you have to stop for a while and search for them.

Sled Safely

Every winter, people get hurt badly while sledding in the park. The most common reason people get hurt is they sled when conditions are bad (icy snow, rock or tree hazards exposed, poor visibility), so if the snow isn't great or you can't see, don't sled! Don’t let an accident ruin your winter fun.

• When sledding, slide feet first.
• Consider wearing a helmet.
• Make sure your path is clear. Don’t slide near rocks, trees, branches, or other people.
• After sliding, look uphill. Move out of the way of people coming downhill after you.
• Don’t slide into roads or parking lots.
• Avoid hard-packed snow or ice, where speed and direction get out of control.
• Sliding devices that can be steered may be safer than others.

In an emergency, contact a ranger or call 911.