hikespeak

Lower Soldier Lake lies at 10,800 feet on the eastern edge of Sequoia National Park. This is a favored place for backpackers to bed down, and for good reason. A host of trails and off-trail targets make this a prime base camp. The nearest trailhead is Horseshoe Meadow in the Golden Trout Wilderness, which offers two routes to Lower Soldier Lake. About half a mile separates the start of the... Read more.

Cirque Peak can be reached from either Cottonwood Pass Trail or Cottonwood Lakes Trail. The mountain rises between the two, straddling the divide of the Golden Trout and John Muir Wildernesses. The summit boasts an excellent panorama with a good look at Mount Langley to the north, the Cottonwood Lakes to the east, and the sprawling Sierra to the west. By far the easiest approach to Cirque... Read more.

Old Cottonwood Creek Trail breaks from the popular Cottonwood Lakes Trail for a more secluded hike into Cottonwood Basin, visiting pristine meadows, alpine lakes, flowing creeks, and amber forests. The trail provides a lovely 8-mile day hike to South Fork Lake, with several options to extend to nearby lakes and peaks. Take Cottonwood Lakes Trail from Horseshoe Meadow as it runs downhill... Read more.

Cottonwood Lakes Trail provides a scenic romp through the Southeastern Sierra with alpine lakes and mountain views. Located south of Mount Whitney and west of the city of Lone Pine, the trail travels through the Golden Trout Wilderness and the John Muir Wilderness to end at the border of Sequoia National Park. This is a superb trail for day hikers and backpackers alike. The first mile... Read more.

This mountain lake is 0.6 miles from Cottonwood Pass, making it an easy 8.2-mile round trip hike from Horseshoe Meadow. With just 1,330 feet of elevation gain en route to the lake, this is a desirable destination for day-hikers and a good first camp for backpackers. Follow Cottonwood Pass Trail to a junction at the pass with Pacific Crest Trail. Turn right and continue through a rocky... Read more.

Cottonwood Pass Trail and Cottonwood Lakes Trail provide great portals into Inyo National Forest and Sequoia National Park. Hiking begins at an elevation of 10,000 feet, providing a launch pad into the high sierra. Because you start so high up, acclimating is a key to avoiding altitude sickness. For this reason, a pair of first-come first-serve campgrounds offer a valuable resource for... Read more.

At an elevation of 11,200 feet, Cottonwood Pass serves as a gateway to the Golden Trout Wilderness and Sequoia National Park. The pass is reached via a 3.5-mile one way trail from Horseshoe Meadow, which has an elevation of 10,000 feet, making this is one of the easiest passes for hikers to reach in the Eastern Sierra. A view of Trail Peak from Horseshoe Meadow Pick up the trail at... Read more.