Split between the Sequoia and Inyo National Forests, the Golden Trout Wilderness covers over 300,000 acres. The … A combination road, trail and topo map of the Golden Trout Wilderness area is for sale along with current information and required permits at any of the following locations: Sequoia National Forest 900 W. Grand Ave. Porterville, CA 93257 (209) 784-1500 Tule River Ranger District 32588 Highway 190 Porterville, CA 93257 (209) 539-2607 #1 Radio Station in the Eastern Sierra since 1953, © Copyright 2021 KIBS/KBOV Radio   |   Website Design by Mtn. For trails entering from the east, contact the Inyo. Cottonwood Pass is a popular eastside Sierra trailhead and is subject to a quota on visitation for much of the year, which can make entry during summer weekends difficult. (760) 873-2400 Starting from the end of Horseshoe Meadows Road,the trail over Cottonwood Pass goes to the northern portion of the Golden Trout Wilderness.Small streams meander through tree-rimmed meadows in this wilderness area named for California's state fish, the Golden Trout. It spans both sides of the Sierra crest, encompassing a vast diversity of terrain and numerous ecosystems. If you are considering hiking or backpacking into the Golden Trout Wilderness from the Inyo, please be advised that there is an uncontained fire and substantial smoke a in the area. Joe and his allies secured protection for the Golden Trout Wilderness on the Plateau with the passage of the Endangered American Wilderness Act in 1978. ), The Inyo and Sequoia National Forests each have a forest order regarding “proper food storage”. Studio   |   Photos by Gary Young. 351 Pacu Lane, Suite 200 | copyright © 2015 sierrawild.com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. It is hosted by the National Weather Service based out of Handford. More information about traveling in bear country in Inyo National Forest. Fire Growth Potential. Reaching from the western foothills all the way to the eastern high desert, the Golden Trout Wilderness is accessible from both sides of the Sierra Nevada range. Subscribe today and stay informed on important CalTrout project updates, news and events. However, golden trout populations have dwindled throughout the state and in the area due to predation and interbreeding from the non-native European brown trout. In addition, the Sequoia National Forest has closed the parts Golden Trout Wilderness under their administration. In places where fires are allowed, make sure to always use smart campfire methods. Fire update: Fire regulations are subject to change. The South Fork Kern River is a designated Wild Trout Water. The Jordan Fire, located in the Golden Trout Wilderness near Jordan Hot Springs, was detected Sunday afternoon. It is thought that California golden trout may have extended downstream of Lake Isabella prior to the construction of Isabella Dam. Guests travel by horseback into remote areas of the Golden Trout Wilderness and Sequoia National Park to fish for isolated species of Golden Trout and Kern River Rainbows. However, golden trout populations have dwindled throughout the state and in the area due to predation and interbreeding from the non-native European brown trout. May 7-9, 2018. This wilderness contains all of the Little Kern River’s drainage as well as the North and South Fork of the Kern River plus 117 miles of streams; the Golden Trout Wilderness is a true trout haven. Why? The waters of the Kern Plateau hold the purest strains of Golden Trout in the world, a fish so unique and colorful, that it has been named the official state fish of California. Please check with specific offices and websites for the most up to date information on the wilderness area you are planning to visit. For now, the north eastern part of the Golden Trout Wilderness on the Inyo remains open, which keeps the Pacific Crest Trail and trails at Cottonwood Pass, Trail Pass, and Cottonwood Lakes open as long as those itineraries avoid the closure areas on the Inyo and the Sequoia National Forest (as a rule itineraries heading north from these trails). Don’t miss out. Limited numbers are available. For a number of years I have also been involved with the Golden Trout Natural History Workshops, a non-profit, educational organization that offered one-week natural history workshops in the Golden Trout Wilderness, on the southern border of the John Muir Wilderness. Whitney Portal Store (Discussion Board)*. Dogs are allowed in the Golden Trout Wilderness, but are not allowed in wilderness areas in adjacent national parks. Northwest corner of Golden Trout Wilderness, CA ~ July, 2015 Wilderness Volunteers Projects (National). 1839 South Newcomb St. Whitney Ranger Station, located in Lone Pine, California. The Weather Channel Ski Forecast provides forecasts for Ski conditions in and around your area or anywhere in the world. https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/california/golden-trout-wilderness The Golden Trout Wilderness is a federally designated wilderness area in the Sierra Nevada, in Tulare County and Inyo County, California.It is located 40 miles (64 km) east of Porterville, California within Inyo National Forest and Sequoia National Forest.. The 300,000+ acre Golden Trout Wilderness (GTW) was designated by Congress in 1978. This is a full suppression fire response. It is 303,511 acres (1,228.3 km 2) in size and was created by the US Congress in 1978 as part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. Kennedy Meadows is a little closer but only offers a restaurant and grocery store (no phone). Pet food must be stored to the same standard as people food. The Inyo’s closure is to the west of the South Fork of the Kern and trail networks from Siberian Pass at the northern boundary with Sequoia National Park, remains west of Big Whitney Meadow, Ramshaw Meadow, and Kingfisher Ridge and connects at the at the southern boundary with Sequoia National Forest at Blackrock Ranger Station .Please see the map for better detail. Visitor centers also have bear canisters available for sale, as do many local sporting goods stores. The heaviest use of the wilderness is near Burnt Corral crossing of Little Kern, Little Kern Bridge, and Forks of the Kern, Coyote Lakes, Maggie Lakes, Rattlesnake Trail and Kern Flat Trail. (Why? The wildfire is being managed as a suppression fire with a confine and contain strategy. Weather.gov is the recommended website. As a boy, fishing the South Fork Kern River in 1913, he reported catching California golden trout in the "gorge" just upstream of the Bloomfield Ranch, near the southern boundary of the Domeland Wilderness. (We never share or sell your email address to anyone.) In 2019, we had our first session near the top of the White Mountains. Please consider alternatives. (We never share or sell your email address to anyone.) The local Little Kern golden trout and the Volcano Creek golden trout are classified as threatened while the endemic South Fork Kern golden trout, rainbow trout, from which golden trout evolved, and western sucker and squawfish are more abundant. A quota is in effect for the Cottonwood Pass Trail in the Golden Trout Wilderness. The Castle Fire started by lightning and is currently 23,625 acres and 0% contained. Campfire permits are required. Unleashed dogs may harass, injure and sometimes kill wildlife. A leashed dog’s keen senses can enhance your awareness of nearby wildlife or other visitors. At this time the fire appears to be caused by lightning that was in the area over the last week. The Golden Trout Wilderness encompasses 304,000 acres in an area known as the Kern Plateau, at the southern end of the Sierra Nevada. PORTERVILLE, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) — A pair of wildfires dubbed the SQF Complex Fire has forced officials on Wednesday to close a portion of the Golden Trout Wilderness. The fire has burned 15,000 acres is advancing further into the uninhabited Golden Trout Wilderness in the Sequoia National Forest. Map can be found here.Note that the route on the map is a route I created on CalTopo based on mapped trails and satellite imagery. All Inyo visitor centers rent backpacker bear canisters. We camp near each of the creeks, with ample opportunity to angle for these beautiful fish. The lighting-caused Cow Fire is burning remotely in the Golden Trout Wilderness on the Inyo National Forest. Campfires are prohibited at Chicken Spring Lake and Rocky Basin Lakes. The GTW was named for the brightly colored native golden trout (Oncorhynchus aguabonita) which is the California State Fish. Establishment of the Domeland Wilderness with the passage of the Wilderness Act in 1964 was the first major step taken towards securing permanent protection of the Kern Plateau. Since the wilderness is split between the Sequoia and Inyo National Forests, you must get your permit from the National Forest through which you enter the wilderness. This quota applies to all overnight visitors from the last Friday in June through September 15. Permits may be obtained at the Mt. The fire is approximately 150 acres and burning in the 2002 McNally fire footprint. The Golden Trout Wilderness is a good area for novice backpackers and stock users. Your browser does not support the audio element. Porterville, CA 93257 Golden Trout Wilderness Trip Report. Golden Trout Creek is a designated Heritage and Wild Trout Water. Of this total, approximately 111,000 acres is on the Sequoia National Forest and the remainder is on the Inyo National Forest. The Golden Trout Wilderness is located in both the Sequoia and Inyo national forests and encompasses 475 square miles of pristine lakes, jagged peaks, and lush green meadows. It's 60 miles to Kernville and 75 miles to Ridgecrest. Golden Trout Wilderness. Portions of the Golden Trout Wilderness are closed; if you are planning a backcountry trip into the Golden Trout Wilderness please call for trail status before you leave home. The Golden Trout Wilderness was designated by Congress in 1978. The area is traversed by several hundred miles of scenic trails and two wild and scenic rivers (North and South Forks of the Kern River). The Inyo National Forest has closed the southwest segment of the Golden Trout Wilderness on the Inyo National Forest under a forest closure order due to the SQF Complex (Castle Fire and Shotgun Fire) for firefighter and public safety. In addition to this, bear canisters are required from Horseshoe Meadow to Chicken Spring Lake. The unconfined Sequoia Fire has burned more than 20,000 acres in the Golden Trout Wilderness area. Total trail miles: ~39. Refer here for current information about the SQF Complex, evacuations, and closures. *This public discussion site is not associated with SierraWild.Gov in any way and may contain content not supported or endorsed by this site or its managers. If you are considering hiking or backpacking into the Golden Trout Wilderness from the Inyo, please be advised that there is an uncontained fire and substantial smoke a in the area. The parking lot at Horseshoe Meadow was full, and a dozen excited backpackers, many of them speaking foreign languages, were readying their gear for the ascent into the Golden Trout Wilderness. From the east, most visitors access the wilderness from along Hwy 395, often from near Lone Pine (near Mt Whitney). Golden Trout Wilderness 2008 Summary Report Golden Trout Creek, Siberian Creek, Stokes Stringer, and Mulkey Creek September 17-25, 2008 Heritage and Wild Trout Program The Natural Resources Agency California Department of Fish and Game ... Current weather conditions were noted and Unleashed dogs may intimidate other hikers and their dogs, depriving them of a peaceful wilderness experience. Subscribe today and stay informed on important CalTrout project updates, news and events. From the west, various access roads stem from Hwy 190 near Giant Sequoia National Monument. See the sidebar for Forest Service links. Don’t miss out. The elevation of the Sequoia portion ranges from 4,800 feet to 12,432 feet. The local Little Kern golden trout and the Volcano Creek golden trout are classified as threatened while the endemic South Fork Kern golden trout, rainbow trout, from which golden trout … Please call (559) 539-2607 Monday through Friday 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. for latest fire and weather updates. All waters on the Kern Plateau are open to angling, although many are accessible only by trail since both watersheds are largely encompassed within the Golden Trout Wilderness. From the east, most visitors approach from Hwy 395 near Lone Pine. Horseshoe Meadow has two major trailheads (Cottonwood Lakes and Cottonwood Pass) providing access to areas such as the Two subspecies of golden trout are recognized; South Fork Kern golden trout and the Little K… Wilderness.Net: Golden Trout Info The Golden Trout has supported native populations of golden trout (California’s state fish) for thousands of years in the drainages of the Upper Kern River. Pure populations of golden trout inhabit fewer than 10 miles of streams in the area. Fleshly fallen Sequoia, and others still standing. To speed things up, click on the link below and it will provide you with a 7-day forecast based for an elevation within the Sequoia or Inyo’s side of the Golden Trout Wilderness. Visitors are responsible for the current restrictions in place for each wilderness area. The Sierra Club and its one-time president Joe Fontaine were instrumental in establishing the Golden Trout Wilderness in 1978. Pure populations of golden trout inhabit fewer than 10 miles of streams in the area. In areas where use of a bear resistant food storage container is required, pet food must be stored in your container. TDD (760) 873-2538, Supervisor’s Office Bishop, CA 93514 Supervisor’s Office Additional Deer Hunts Hunt Zone G-6 regulates hunting opportunities in California and covers 297,649 acres. Bishop Broncos & the Los Angeles Dodgers on the air. 559-784-1500 Three creeks encompass the native habitat of the California state fish, the brightly colored golden trout. First protected in 1978, it is a land of diversity – from rolling forests and meadows up to high rugged granite summits. No more than 15 people and 25 head of stock are allowed on overnight trips. Please consider alternatives. The Castle Fire started by lightning and is currently 23,625 acres and 0% contained. From the west, various roads stem from Hwy 190 near Giant Sequoia National Monument. TTY 559-781-6650. Extending from the western foothills all the way to the eastern high desert, the Golden Trout Wilderness can be reached from both sides of the Sierra Nevada range. Ski & Snowboard forecast near Golden Trout Wilderness, CA. Leashes protect dogs from becoming lost and from wilderness hazards such as porcupines, mountain lions, and sick, injured or rabid animals. They prohibit possessing or storing any food or refuse unless stored in a bear-proof container or in another manner designed to keep bears from gaining access to the food or refuse. If you’re coming from the west, contact the Sequoia. Campfires are discouraged anywhere above 9,000 feet. Permits are required for all overnight trips into the Golden Trout. The Golden Trout Wilderness is at the southern tip of the Sierra Nevada in California, 150 miles north of Los Angeles. Wilderness pemits are required for all overnight visitors to Golden Trout Wilderness. Fire Weather Forecast Incident Overview Updated: 1 year ago. 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