Golden Trout Wilderness is located above the Upper Kern River Gorge, in between the Sequoia National Forest and the Eastern Sierra peaks, on the Inyo National Forest. The northern most trailheads can be accessed through Mountain Home State Forest and also Mineral King Canyon inside Sequoia National Park
Southern trailheads are located at:
- Jerky Meadow, at the end of Lloyds Meadow Road #22S82
- Monache Meadows on the Kern Plateau, Southern Sierra
- Cottonwood Campground via Horseshoe Meadows Road, Eastern Sierra
Golden Trout Trail Map
Tom Harrison Maps
OLD VERSION
Golden Trout Wilderness Trail Map, Sequoia National Forest, South Sierra Backpacking Maps, Forks of the Kern River Map, Jerky Meadow Trailhead, Big Whitney Meadow, Kern Peak, Coyote Peaks, Grey Meadow, Little Kern River, Kern Canyon, Jordan Hot Springs, Casa Vieja Meadow, Monache Meadows. Topo Sequoia Camping Kern River; Durable, waterproof plastic map; Folded. Map Scale: 63.4K; ISBN# 9781877689765
download digital version of this map
Golden Trout Wilderness Map
Bake Oven Dunes, near Monache Meadows
Kern Hot Springs. Golden Trout Kern River, Golden Wilderness Trail Map, Sequoia, South Sierra Backpacking Maps, Forks of the Kern River Map, Jerky Meadow Trailhead, Big Whitney Meadow, Kern Peak, Coyote Peaks, Grey Meadow, Little Kern River, Kern Canyon, Jordan Hot Springs, Casa Vieja Meadow, and Monache Meadows: which is wonderful camping, hiking and fishing the South fork of the Kern River. 4×4 recommended to access Monache!
Granite Pools, moderate hiking distance from Camp 4 on Rd# 22S82
Forks of the Kern
Lloyds Meadow Road is a paved access road – N of Johnsondale, approximately 30+ miles north of Kernville, CA. Sequoia Forest Road #22S82 is also called Jerky Meadows Road and Lloyds Meadow Road; leads north paralleling the Kern River Gorge. This canyon area lies east of and below Dome Rock and Needles, located on the Western Divide Hwy. One developed NFS campground, Lower Peppermint Campground, is situated along Forest Route 22S82. (open seasonally June-November)
There are also dispersed camping areas located on the opposite side of the street, Camp#2, Camp#3, Camp#3, Camp#4, a few of which are RV accessible. Others may require a high clearance vehicle or 4WD to access the most secluded camps. Horse camping is popular along this route as well.
The paved access road 22S82 dead-ends at the Jerky Meadow trailhead and parking lot. Horse packing, fishing trails and backpacking.
recent wildfires in this area:
Windy Fire 2021
Castle Fire / SQF Complex 2020
McNally Fire 2002
Jerky Meadows Rd is NF Route #22S82
Golden Trout Kern River access on NF Rd #22S82
There are 10 official trailheads that access the eight trail segments which form a continuous loop in the mountains above the lake. The segments range from 12.2 to 32.5 miles in length. Unofficial entry points also provide a means of getting onto the trails. Trail conditions are best during the usually snow-free months of July through October, and the height of the wildflower bloom is usually July and August.
