High Sierra Topix

The twin lakes over Kaiser Pass leaving from Badger Flats campground is pretty mellow. I did not take the kid but I did take my dad for his first trip there. I want to say the first lake is right around 4 miles in and there is only one short climb on the way out. Very pretty out there

Pics can be found here
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and here with Pop
http://s62.photobucket.com/user/abbaman ... t=3&page=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Have fun and enjoy

Fishon wrote:Weaver Lake in the Jennie Lakes Wilderness. Good distance for first timer kids.

Have fun.

I will second this one a great hike to a pretty lake. Jennie lakes wilderness sit between Sequoia and Kings Canyon nps and requires no permits.

TehipiteTom wrote:First couple trips I took my son on were to Granite Lake in Mokelumne Wilderness. 2 miles in (out of Blue Lakes trailhead), ~500' gain. Very pretty lake, fairly popular but not so popular that it's hard to get a permit.

If you feel like wandering off trail a short distance (my son loved exploring off the trail), there are two very easy cross-country destinations: Devil's Corral, north of Granite Lake, and Evergreen Lake, to the south. I found the whole area to be ideal for kid trips.

I'm reviving an old thread here, just cause I have to say that I did this trip a few weeks ago with my kids and it was AWESOME! Thanks for this great suggestion TehipiteTom, you really nailed it -- its ideal for kids. Short hike in -- some elevation gain but not difficult. Granite lake itself is really beautiful (and very cold ), but what's so great about this area is the terrain. Tons of wide open spaces with abundant granite, with very little too steep and difficult for all day kid scrambling. My two just went nuts for our few days there, never stopped moving. Best playground ever! And on our layover day we wandered over to Devil's Corral, which was also totally amazing. A great big-country feeling valley, with abundant signs of big wildife and a great creek. Again, kids were totally enthralled and busy here (and so was I, heh). We went in on a Sunday so ran across a number of people that day, and while there were a few other folks there that night, the next day and evening we had the place totally to ourselves. Over the past few years we've hit a bunch of other places on similar short backpacks, but this was one of the better ones. Fantastic.

LOL, class 3 butt scrambling.

Chain Lakes in the Emigrant Wilderness is a good spot for kids. 2 miles in roughly flat. Nice lake, a bit shallow but that makes it warm for swimming. Lounge on your thermarest! Easy 1 mile scramble to the southernmost lake which is also good for swimming. The long drive in to Box Springs trailhead keeps usage to a minimum.

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This is also a great cross country shortcut into the heart of the Emigrant Wilderness. Shaves off those unpleasant miles from Crabtree, and is far more interesting. There are two ways down into the West Fork of Cherry that I'm aware of.