Kings Canyon National Park: Bullfrog Lake Overlook via Kearsarge Pass

Trek along a series of High Sierra lakes nestled in sculpted granite basins below towering alpine peaks on this 11.6-mile out-and-back.

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Author:	Backpacker Magazine
Date:	5 Oct 2005 5:34:41 PM
Activity:	Hiking ActivitySearchHiking
State:	California (CA)
Distance:	5.8 mi (Change units)
Survey Elevation:	Total Gain: 4387 ft Total Loss: 2607 ft Net Change: 1780 ft
Difficulty:	5 / 10
Tags:	California, Independence, Hiking, Kings Canyon National Park
Rating:	1 rating(s) Rate it

TO TRAILHEAD: From Ridgecrest, take CA 395 N to Independence; W onto Market St. for 13 mi (becomes Onion Valley Rd.). Continue W past turnoff to Shepherd's Pass. Park in lot by Onion Valley ranger station.

Position Format:	Datum:

Tracks

KL01

Dist: 5.80 mi	Points: 2434	Calories: none
Time: none	Speed: 0.0 mph	Pace: 0:00 / mi

Kings Canyon National Park: Kearsage Lakes

Points of Interest

Bullfrog Lake.

Location: 36.776379°, -118.404465°
Bullfrog Lake: A sun-dappled jewel nestled in the rugged eastern High Sierra. ©Justin Ennis

KL001

Location: 36.772778°, -118.340279°
From Onion Valley parking lot, head W on Kearsage Pass Trail

KL002

Location: 36.774349°, -118.342430°
L onto Kearsarge Pass Trail as marked

KL003

Location: 36.775459°, -118.343208°
L @ Y. Views of Owens Valley and Inyo Mtns. to E through canyon walls

KL004

Location: 36.769955°, -118.349220°
R @ intersection. Spur trail to L goes to Little Pothole Lake. Note granite spire of IndependencePeak to SE

KL005

Location: 36.770107°, -118.350250°
View of Little Pothole Lake, first in a series of glacially deposited watersheds

KL006

Location: 36.770275°, -118.355820°
Trail crosses terminal moraine of granite boulders; skirt the placid N shores of Gilbert and Flower Lakes

KL007

Location: 36.770695°, -118.366699°
Series of short zigzags up steep wall. View of Heart Lake on L

KL008

Location: 36.773220°, -118.376694°
Final switchback up shale-marked terrain to Kearsarge Pass (11,760 ft.), trail high point and park entrance. Views of Mts. Brewer, North Guard and Farquhar, and glimpses to SE of Panamints

KL009

Location: 36.773735°, -118.381912°
Keep R to Charlotte Lake and Bullfrog Lake overlook. Option: Veer L to hike N shore of Bullfrog Lake.

KL010

Location: 36.774578°, -118.403870°
To W, foreground views of Kearsage Pinnacles and Lakes, with serrated rampart of Kings-Kern Divide on horizon

Trail and Backcountry

University Peak

Location: 36.769016°, -118.361282°
View from trail of University Peak (13,632 feet), which straddles the border between Kings Canyon National Park and the John Muir Wilderness ©Justin Ennis

View from Trailhead

View West from Kearsage Pass

Location: 36.774742°, -118.376656°
West from Kearsarge Pass of Mts. Clarence King, Cotter, and Gardiner, and glimpses to SE of Panamints ©Justin Ennis