Foxtail pine at Little Claire Lake (Trip 13)
West Side Trips
The west side of the Sierra Nevada rises steadily from the broad plain of the San Joaquin Valley toward the protected lands of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Heading east, the verdant agricultural land of the San Joaquin Valley gives way to the grasslands and chaparral of the foothills zone, which in turn give way to the dense timber of the mid-elevation forests. A few roads penetrate the heart of these areas of towering conifers and scattered groves of giant sequoias, but auto-bound visitors to the parks must stop well below the granite cirques and serrated peaks of the High Sierra. Steadily rising, roadless terrain continues through the red fir and lodgepole pine forests into the subalpine and alpine zones, which eventually culminates at the apex of the Sierra Crest forming the eastern boundary of both parks.
Recreationists entering Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks from the west will experience a wide range of topography, flora, and fauna. The foothills region of Sequoia offers year-round hiking opportunities in the drainages of the South Fork and Middle Fork Kaweah Rivers. In the spring, once Mineral King Road reopens and the Giant Forest is snow free, fortunate hikers are blessed with splendid opportunities to stand beneath a massive sequoia, stroll along a tumbling stream, or gaze across a verdant, wildflower-covered meadow. Midsummer, the height of the outdoor season, lures backpackers with the siren call of the magnificent backcountry within the parks and surrounding wilderness areas.
Giant sequoias in the Garfield Grove (Trip 2)
Introduction to South Fork Kaweah River
Situated in the extreme southwest corner of Sequoia National Park, the South Fork Kaweah River Trailhead provides access to some of the lowland trails of the foothills zone, a plant community composed primarily of oak woodland and chaparral. As opposed to the classic Sierra granite of the higher elevations, much of the foothills zone is covered with crumbling metamorphic rock, primarily marble, schist, and slate. Steep-walled, brush-filled canyons cut by turbulent rivers and streams characterize the topography in this area.
Due to the milder climate at these altitudes, recreationists have opportunities for off-season hiking on trails that typically see little use. Fall, winter, and spring can be ideal times for trips to the South Fork, although summer visitors can beat the heat by hiking earlier or later in the day. During the summer season, backpackers use the Garfield-Hockett Trail as a gateway into the mid-elevation forests and meadows of the Hockett Plateau and backcountry beyond.
In the past, a more extensive network of trails crisscrossed the southwest corner of the park, but many of these paths are now overgrown. Unmaintained trails that still appear on some maps should be considered difficult bushwhacks. The Ladybug Trail follows a section of the historic Hockett Trail, constructed during the Civil War for travel through the Sierra between Visalia and the silver mines east of Owens Valley. Illegal marijuana cultivation has occurred in the lower elevations of the park and adjoining national forests—check with the proper authorities for updates.
ACCESS: This area is open all year. South Fork Road branches away from Highway 198 near the fire station in the town of Three Rivers. The road dead-ends at the South Fork Campground after 12 miles.
AMENITIES: Three Rivers is a small, tourist-driven town near the west boundary of Sequoia National Park, 37 miles east of Visalia. A wide range of services includes motels, restaurants, gas stations, and general stores. No services exist along the South Fork Road beyond Three Rivers.
RANGER STATION: The nearest ranger station is the Foothills Visitor Center inside the park. Wilderness permits may be available from the campground host at South Fork Campground in the summer or by self-registration at the trailhead the rest of the year. The South Fork Ranger Station has not been staffed for several years.
GOOD TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: At these low elevations, hikers should be on the lookout for ticks, rattlesnakes, and poison oak. Mountain lions live in the foothills zone, although they have presented few, if any, problems in the past. However, don’t leave small children unattended. The Park Service recommends against hiking alone in mountain lion country.
SOUTH FORK KAWEAH RIVER TRAILHEAD
TRIP 1
Putnam and Snowslide Canyons
DISTANCE: 4.2 miles, out-and-back to Putnam Canyon
6.8 miles, out-and-back to Snowslide Canyon
ELEVATION: 3,620′/5,125′, +1,830′/-230′/±4,120′ to Putnam Canyon
3,620′/5,800′, +2,690′/-460′/±6,300′ to Snowslide Canyon
SEASON: All year to Putnam Canyon
March to December to Snowslide Canyon
USE: Light
MAPS: Dennison Peak and Moses Mountain
INTRODUCTION: While most Sierra hikers sit at home and eagerly await the snow-free months of summer, a few resourceful souls enjoy the year-round pleasures of the foothills zone in the southwest corner of Sequoia National Park. The 2-mile hike to Putnam Canyon and 3.25-mile hike to Snowslide Canyon on the Garfield-Hockett Trail provide fine opportunities for early and late season forays into the frontcountry, when the majority of higher trails are buried in snow. This trip passes through foothills woodland to Putnam Canyon and then continues through mixed coniferous forest with a smattering of giant sequoias. Fine views of Homers Nose and Dennison Peak provide visual delights along the way.
DIRECTIONS TO TRAILHEAD: Follow State Highway 198 to Three Rivers and turn east onto South Fork Road, approximately 7 miles southwest of the Ash Mountain Entrance to Sequoia National Park. Follow South Fork Road 9 miles to the end of the pavement, and continue another 3 miles on a narrow, dirt road to free South Fork Campground (vault toilets). Proceed through the campground to a small, oak-shaded hikers’ parking area.
DESCRIPTION: The signed Garfield-Hockett Trail begins from the edge of the campground access road a short way before the parking area. Proceed up the trail on a moderate, winding climb across an oak-studded hillside. Lush trailside vegetation includes a healthy population of poison oak and colorful spring wildflowers. Enter a side canyon, about a mile from the trailhead, and step across the first of many small streams you encounter on the way across the slopes below Dennison Peak. The moisture in these diminutive nooks creates a dramatic change in vegetation, and ferns, thimbleberry, maples, nutmegs, alders, dogwoods, and cedar line the shady stream banks.
Continue climbing steadily through oak woodland to Putnam Canyon. Just below the trail, the sound of rushing water from Big Spring courses down the canyon, but chances are the creek will be dry after snowmelt where the trail crosses the streambed.