High Sierra Topix

I am currently looking for some good camping/hiking spots in either kings Canyon or Inyo forest.. The Idea is to find a camping spot with trails heads near bye.. The type of trails we are looking for are either long day hikes(possible loop?) or an In & out with a possible spot to over night camp on the trail.. Toughness of the trail isn't that important ASLONG AS ITS A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT!! ... Myself (37) in excellent hiking shape & my son (10) has good hiking experience..

Thank you for your input, Douglas..

Hi Douglas,

Welcome to HST! Would leave Kings Canyon for backpacking, it takes most at least
1 1/2 days of backpacking to reach the good stuff. There are numerous campgrounds
in Inyo NF: http://www.forestcamping.com/dow/pacficsw/inyo.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Would recommend the following areas to find basecamping campgrounds near:
Sabrina Lake: http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/inyo/rec ... 4&actid=50" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Little Lakes Valley: http://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsint ... ey%20Trail" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Big Pine: http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/inyo/rec ... 2&actid=51" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Those are all on the east side of the SIerra. You might also want to look at some spots on the west side. You can find some wonderful hikes in the Jennie Lakes area---although you would have to camp a few miles away from the trailhead, or the Dinkey Lakes area is also good.

I agree that under your trip conditions I would rule out Kings Canyon. Although that park is probably my favorite place in the Sierra there is really only one place you can car camp which is on 180 out of Cedar Grove which is low and hot with all hikes out of there being a good distance with lots of climbing.

Inyo however has many options for camping with hikes to great places.

Outside your criteria but consider Tuolumne Meadows.

Mike

Horseshoe Meadows. Lot's of choices, few people, Army Pass, Cottonwood Lakes and Pass, Old Army Pass. Car camp at 10,000+ , two steps up the trail and you are in the high country.

dugout83 wrote:Toughness of the trail isn't that important ASLONG AS ITS A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT!! ...

In King's Canyon, it's not that tough, and it's a BEAUTIFUL SIGHT:

Avalanche Pass:

-- Park at Road's End -- Hike up Bubbs Creek -- go up the Sphinx Lakes trail and do the granite stairs (they're the best) with good views of Kings Canyon -- Go to Avalanche Pass, which is *not* on the trail, you have to hike downhill and to the right to get to the real pass, and from there are some beautiful views to the north of high country -- Then, although there is no trail, it's fairly easy to hike uphill and to the left to Sphinx Crest, where you get BEAUTIFUL views of Whaleback, Cloud Canyon, and lots, lots, lots more. Happy trails!