Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Onion Valley campground day hikes

Prior to my Whitney hike on the 28th, I will be staying for three days at the Onion Valley campground. I have been unable to find any books showing the day hikes in that area. Any suggestions?

Robinson lake - somewhat strenuous. There is a trail at the east end of the campground just after crossing the stream. The lake is up above the cascading stream coming down the mountain on the south side of Onion Valley.

Black stain waterfall seen above north side of campground. Take the golden trout lake trail.

Gilbert lake - first big lake up kearsarge trail.My favorite is Heart Lake about 4 miles up the trail just before beginning the slog up kearsarge pass. Or do the 5 mile hike up to kearsarge pass: the views of kearsarge lakes, pinnacles, bullfrog lake are worth it.

Bob... once at the campground you may be able to chat with Bill the campground host who knows the area very well and can describe all the trails out of Onion Valley campground. I found him to be very helpful in the days before my whitney hike when I stayed there. have fun!

The guide book you are looking for is "The Best 50 Short Hike's in California's Southern Sierra", or something close to it.

I know it has Robinson Lake and Kersarge Pass and possible the hike to Golden Trout Lakes.

Just pick up the Kearsarge Peak 7.5' USGS Quad. It covers the area east of Kearsarge Pass. If you want go beyond the pass or to Mt. Gould pick up Mt. Clarence King.

I can high recommend the trip to Robinson Lake and Kearsarge Pass, the views from 11,740' are fabulous.

Bill

Just another opinion:

I was disappointed with <a href="http://piotrowski.smugmug.com/gallery/145027/1">Robinson Lake</a>. I won't go back unless it is to climb University Peak.

The <a href="http://piotrowski.smugmug.com/gallery/144844/1">Kearsarge Pass Trail</a> has some spectacular scenery that shouldn't be missed.

I agree that the trail up to Kearsarge Pass has a lot of good scenery that is too good to pass up if you are in the area. We did it the previous time we hiked Mount Whitney.

Fred

Thanks for the great info. I will be spending three days in the Onion Valley campground, then off to White Mt. where I will spend the night at the trail head, then on to the summit the next morning. Wednesday, July 28, 2:30am I meet up with our group and head up the Whitney trail. Thanks again for the information. Nothing like getting first hand information!

Robinson lake is very short. It's steep, but nothing spectacular and not any work out for Whitney. Mostly fishermen do that when I've been there.

Kearsarge is much, much better, 10 miles round trip, moderate, but a nice hike. I think the elevation gain is 2400 feet. You stop at 11,700 feet where the sign says you're enterting Sequoia NP. Beautiful view from there, but bring a jacket even in these hot summer conditions. I've done Kearsarge dozens of times and I've never not had it be very windy the last 1/4 mile to the pass. Onion Valley campground is a nice spot. Be sure an use the bear lockers, bears are increasingly active there. Two weeks ago I saw a momma bear with a single cub and she was sniffing around the parking lot at 10:00 in the morning.

Make sure you have plenty of repellant or coverings to camp, about now, at Onion Valley. The bugs really bite!

Having done all the trails and most peaks from this trailhead, I'd recommend going to Kearsarge Pass above all else. You get a beautiful, classic view westward from the Pass, and it's a good trail to there. Maybe allow 4 hours of leisurely hiking to get there.

You have a stream crossing right off the bat to get to Robinson Lake. It should be O.K., now, but it's a tough wade in higher runoff. I enjoyed the two forks of Golden Trout Lakes Trails, and this is done allright in a half day. Nice view of Dragon Peak (12,955'), and Dragon Tooth, from Dragon Lake.

The trip to Robinson is nothing to write home about but the destination is great.

Bill

It can get quite cold at the trailhead for the White Mtn hike - make sure you bring warm wear for the night. You will be quite acclimated by then having spent three days at Onion Valley, so the White Mtn hike should be relatively easy. The views are quite spectacular. Are you planning to do Whitney the next day? You must be quite fit. When we did the combination on July 3/5, we gave ourselves a rest day in between and it worked very well.

While reading these posts I noticed that no one mentioned Kearsarge Peak. Anyone have an opinion on the best way to hike up that peak?

I remember approaching Kearsarge Peak via a skree slope, starting near the hairpin turn on Onion Valley Road many years ago but that was two steps forward and slide one step back.

SFBay Hiker:

My plan is to spend those three days at Onion Valley taking a series of day hikes. On day four I go to White Mtn where I will spend the night at the trail head,then summit on day five. I have been on top of White Mtn before so am familiar with the weather. Day six is a rest day for me then day seven is my Whitney trek, starting at app. 2:30am. I am 57 yrs young, with a bad knee but know how to accomodate it when hiking. I work hard to be prepared for these summer outings. At my age, at some point I may not be able to do these things so I am in as best shape as possible. I usually hike around 60-70 miles on these outings, enjoying every moment of it.

photos of trail to kearsarge pass

http://members3.clubphoto.com/mike879902/2469594/owner-41c6.phtml

whhs, There is a good mining trail to 12,000 feet on the east side of Kearsarge Peak.

About a mile down the road from the Onion Valley parking, a rough side road, to the left (north) and uphill, leads to a primitive parking circle in a hundred yards or so. The unsigned trail starts to the east, I think, and it goes up, switchbacking to the north, then crossing a slight ridge to the east side. Great views of the Owens Valley below.

When it reaches the ridge, you must clamber class 2 talus westward to the highpoint. It's only about a quarter mile of this, but with false summits and the large rocks, it can take some time!

View on my website at http://webs.lanset.com/pyamagata, click Latest Peaks Adventures, scroll down to Oct. 2002 for an account, then, click back to TP Home Page.

Was up at Onion Valley this past weekend. From trailhead via Matlock and Bench Lake to the small lake at the base of University Peak's northeast slope would make a pleasant day hike. The ledges above Bench Lake are particularly scenic.

http://members4.clubphoto.com/g880878/2469745/owner-3317.phtml

To 4xSummit:

Thanks for the information, I appreciate it. I will definitely try that route the next time I get out there.