Whether you’re looking for crystal-clear lakes, adrenaline-pumping peaks, or awe-inspiring vantage points you will find them! Franklin Pass, Black Rock Pass, Timber Gap. A moderately-steep trail to the lake climbs through meadows, red fir forest and avalanche-scoured slopes and features fine views of the Mineral King valley. Your FREE account works with all Adventure Projects sites. Two campgrounds at Mineral King, Atwell Mill and Cold Spring operate on a first-come, first serve basis with no reservations. Follow the White Chief Trail, which climbs steeply to White Chief Meadows. Distance: 36.3 miles. Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. This short, strenuous hike climbs to a pretty lake nestled in a rugged cirque, with great views of the East Fork Kaweah River valley and the Great Western Divide en route. The trail to Crystal Lakes begins at the Timber Gap/Sawtooth Trailhead (7,800 feet elevation), which is located at the end of Mineral King Valley Rd. Location: California's Southwestern Sierra. Cell phones don’t work in the valley. When you stay with us at Silver City you are just a few short miles from all of the trailheads in the Mineral King Valley. 15 Difficult Trails. The trail travels up the valley, from the Cold Spring Campground to the Eagle-Mosquito Creek parking area. The Mineral King Road is mostly paved, but sometimes very good gravel or dirt, and eventually becomes a trail. On the other side the route goes down and around the Forrester and Little Claire Lakes. Add Your Trails, Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. 2773.89 m Up The 24.5 mile narrow, twisting road gains almost 7,000-ft as it climbs steeply up the north side of the East Fork of the Kaweah valley. The road is steep, narrow, and winding. The store stocks some basic camping supplies, snacks and soda. View Hikes by Area:California's Southwestern SierraLodgepoleMineral King. Add Your Recommended Routes, 25.6 mi The resplendent Mineral King Valley, as seen from the trail returning to the valley from Timber Gap. © HikingWalking.com. The ranger station also includes historic photos of the area and a small collection of artifacts. There are public pay phones available at the ranger station and the Sawtooth trailhead. The gorgeous valley is tucked in the southwestern corner of Sequoia National Park at the head of the East Fork of the Kaweah River. Walk up the moderately steep trail for about 1.5 miles to see giant sequoias in the upper section of the Atwell Grove. See the Franklin Lakes trail description for more information on the trail and directions to the trailhead. Mineral King will remain closed for the season and some wilderness closures will be in place. Enough damage can be done to disable a vehicle. Farewell Gap is visible on the left, at the end of the valley. The road travels along steep drop offs, in many places it is barely wide enough for two cars to pass and contains a few unpaved, bumpy sections. 18 Intermediate Trails. The resort includes a restaurant, typically opened Thursday to Monday during the busy summer season, and a tiny store with very few supplies (mostly soda and snacks). Hiking in Mineral King Mineral King is known for its breathtaking views on its multitude of hikes! The first 0.7 miles get your heart beating with a series of steep switches. The matter was finally settled in 1978 when Congress added the valley to Sequoia National Park. About a half mile further up the road is the Mineral King Ranger Station and the Cold Springs campground (40 sites). 4 Easy Trails. A good turnaround point is the pretty waterfall on Franklin Creek, 1.9 miles up the valley. Being a jerk / offensive? Introduction. Silver City Resort (19.9 miles from Highway 198) is privately owned and offers a variety of cabins and chalets. Note: the station typically does not open until late May. Some backpackers use tarps or chicken wire to keep the rodents at bay. The approximate starting elevation is 7,700 feet. Mineral King Hiking. Between campsites 16 and 17 is the beginning of the Atwell-Hocket Trail. Mineral King is truly a special place to hike. The road is 39.91km (24.8 miles) long and runs west-east from CA-198 (Sierra Drive) towards Mineral King. The views of the Mineral King Valley were just amazing though. 312 Kilometers. The Cold Springs Nature trail, described above, starts in the campground. There is no ice or gas. At the junction, turn right away from Timber Gap, and continue the climb. A short distance back down the Mineral King Road from the campground is the start of the Paradise Peak trail. Hiking in Mineral King, Sequoia NP. A scant 2 hour hike opens up many beautiful vistas and transitions into … Advanced reservations are available for permits. It's one of the greatest subalpine valleys in the Sierra and its relative remoteness keeps the crowds away. begins at Hwy. Tulare County owns and maintains the first 9.6 miles of the Mineral King road. Please explain. See the Sequoia-Kings Canyon Wilderness permits page for more information. Continuing up the road you will pass the Tar Gap parking area, the Sawtooth / Monarch Lake trailhead parking areas and a number of cabins before reaching the end of the road at 23.5 miles. Day 1 - Monday, August 26, 2019 - Trailhead to Pinto Lake via Timber GapThe hike begins with a 1,500' climb out of Mineral King. Vandever Mountain (11,947 feet) is the mountain on the right side of Farewell Gap. Steep, scenic trails ascend from the valley to glistening lakes, beautiful alpine meadows and stunning passes with panoramic views. The robust hike to the lake climbs 2,200 feet over 3.6 miles and delivers a steady climb with expanding views. The campground is located above the site of a defunct sawmill. The gorgeous valley is tucked in the southwestern corner of Sequoia National Park at the head of the East Fork of the Kaweah River surrounded by a stunning cirque. 41.3 km Around the turn of the century, the forest service started leasing land for recreational cabin sites, creating small summer communities in Cabin Cave, Faculty Flats and East Mineral King/Beulah. what you know about this area! a prefect place to relax and enjoy natural. Thankfully others saw the real riches Mineral King had to offer and declared the area part of the Sierra Forest Preserve in 1893. As previously mentioned visitors to Mineral King should be self sufficient. On the other side ascend along the trail through the East Fork Grove of giant sequoias. 9,101' Up Day 2: We begin our hike out of Mineral King. In 1873 James Crabtree discovered silver in the Mineral King’s White Chief Canyon. When driving it seems like one blind curve follows another. 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