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Jennie Lake via Fox Meadows

Tulare County, California

4.5/5
based on 2 reviews

Details

Distance

10.71 miles

Elevation Gain

1929 ft

Route Type

Out-and-Back

Description

Added by Blake Maitoza

Jennie Lake is a beautiful destination with incredible trout fishing located near Sequoia National Park. No backpacking quota restrictions.

Jennie Lake is a beautiful subalpine lake located in the Jennie Lakes Wilderness just outside of Sequoia National Park. There are no backpacking quota restrictions making this a perfect trip that requires little planning.

Your journey starts at the Fox Meadows trailhead on paved Forest Service Road 14S11 located just off the Generals Highway. The hike to Jennie Lakes is ~6.5 miles and takes around 3 hours. Once you begin your hike you start with some tough climbing up the west slope of Shell Mountain where you come to the Jennie Lake/Weaver Lake junction. You will want to take the trail toward Jennie Lake and you soon enter the Jennie Lakes Wilderness. After ascending through the forest on the southern slope of Shell Mountain you soon gradually ascend to the oddly named Poop Out Pass. After going over the pass you descend on a exposed stony hillside and make your way down to Jennie Lakes!

Upon arrival you will be so relieved and amazed by how beautiful the lake is! Once you have taken in all its beauty you will want to find a campsite. Campsites are most plentiful along the north and west sides of the lake. After you have found a campsite you should do yourself a favor and hike to the peak above the lake. You will be rewarded with a 360 degree view from around 10,000 feet elevation.

My favorite way to spend my time at Jennie Lake is fishing. Most people don't know, but Jennie Lake is an incredible wild trout fishing spot, where you can catch Rainbow and Brook Trout. Fishing on the north and west sides of the lake seem to be best and I have never been to this lake and caught less than 10 fish. Most people that fish here like to catch and release to ensure excellent fishing for generations to come.

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Features

Fishing
Photography
Backpacking
Hiking
Forest
Lake
Wildlife

Reviews

We spent two nights at Jennie lake via Weaver Trail from Big Meadows and could not have been happier! It is worth noting that the total mileage from parking lot to camp site is more like 6.8 miles (according to Gaia GPS) but the trail is well maintained and the only potentially challenging part is the climb to Poop Out Pass. Once at the lake, we had no trouble finding a camp site and only saw a handful of other groups throughout our three days. Highlights were swimming, fishing, and hammocking. The lake is teaming with various species of trout !

This is a great hike either up and back or loop. The loop is a challenge be prepared but you are rewarded the whole way with small streams, wild flowers, long views... and of course the lake is gorgeous. It is fun to summit the ridge behind the lake to do some boulder scrambling. Fishing is excellent. I pretty much make this a must hike every year.

This is a great backpack---go early spring and you'll be alone!

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

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