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Kings Canyon National Park: Bullfrog Lake Overlook via Kearsarge Pass
Trek along a series of High Sierra lakes nestled in sculpted granite basins below towering alpine peaks on this 11.6-mile out-and-back.
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| Author: | Backpacker Magazine |
| Activity: | Hiking |
| State: | California (CA) |
| Distance: | 5.8 mi |
| Difficulty: | 5 / 10 |
| Rating: |
 2 rating(s)
|
TO TRAILHEAD: From Ridgecrest, take CA 395 N to Independence; W onto Market St. for 13 mi (becomes Onion Valley Rd.). Continue W past turnoff to Shepherd's Pass. Park in lot by Onion Valley ranger station.
| Position Format: | Datum: |
Tracks
KL01
| Distance: 5.80 mi | Points: 2434 |
Kings Canyon National Park: Kearsage Lakes
Points of Interest
Bullfrog Lake.
Location: 36.776379, -118.404465Bullfrog Lake: A sun-dappled jewel nestled in the rugged eastern High Sierra. ©Justin Ennis
KL001
Location: 36.772778, -118.340279From Onion Valley parking lot, head W on Kearsage Pass Trail
KL002
Location: 36.774349, -118.342430L onto Kearsarge Pass Trail as marked
KL003
Location: 36.775459, -118.343208L @ Y. Views of Owens Valley and Inyo Mtns. to E through canyon walls
KL004
Location: 36.769955, -118.349220R @ intersection. Spur trail to L goes to Little Pothole Lake. Note granite spire of IndependencePeak to SE
KL005
Location: 36.770107, -118.350250View of Little Pothole Lake, first in a series of glacially deposited watersheds
KL006
Location: 36.770275, -118.355820Trail crosses terminal moraine of granite boulders; skirt the placid N shores of Gilbert and Flower Lakes
KL007
Location: 36.770695, -118.366699Series of short zigzags up steep wall. View of Heart Lake on L
KL008
Location: 36.773220, -118.376694Final switchback up shale-marked terrain to Kearsarge Pass (11,760 ft.), trail high point and park entrance. Views of Mts. Brewer, North Guard and Farquhar, and glimpses to SE of Panamints
KL009
Location: 36.773735, -118.381912Keep R to Charlotte Lake and Bullfrog Lake overlook. Option: Veer L to hike N shore of Bullfrog Lake.
KL010
Location: 36.774578, -118.403870To W, foreground views of Kearsage Pinnacles and Lakes, with serrated rampart of Kings-Kern Divide on horizon
Trail and Backcountry
Location: 36.773434, -118.367004Trail and Backcountry ©Justin Ennis
University Peak
Location: 36.769016, -118.361282View from trail of University Peak (13,632 feet), which straddles the border between Kings Canyon National Park and the John Muir Wilderness ©Justin Ennis
View from Trailhead
Location: 36.771957, -118.340904View of eastern Sierra foothills from trailhead ©Justin Ennis
View West from Kearsage Pass
Location: 36.774742, -118.376656West from Kearsarge Pass of Mts. Clarence King, Cotter, and Gardiner, and glimpses to SE of Panamints ©Justin Ennis
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