Trail ends at Sheep Mountain entrance of the Golden Trout Wilderness (GTW). Cheyenne - The name golden trout conjures up images of pristine, remote, wilderness, spectacular, sore knees and an aching back. Keep the fly on the water as long as possible, allowing cruising fish to spot the fly. Sizing up Lake 3, I tied up a size 14 Hare’s Ear wet-fly on my 4-weight. (Photo by Brad Trumbo). Fly-fishing offers the best opportunity for success, in my experience. Common Destinations: Golden Trout Lakes. #9 - Trail Pass to Cotton Wood Lakes Loop [CLOSED]. Excellent fishing for brook trout in two 10,000 foot lakes. — Scott Trumbo. The trail begins to gain elevation and you will want to avoid a turn off toward Golden Trout Camp. A favorite is Gaia GPS, which allows maps of an area to be downloaded to most devices. Please be aware that the Cottonwood Lakes trail passes through Sequoia National Park and only service animals are allowed there, no pets. The campsites along the way are lovely usually skirting the meadows but watch out for the livestock - cows, horses, mule deer and bear tracks are common. Includes details of wilderness areas, latest sierra wilderness news, resources for planning your trip, and notes from professionals in the field. The distance to the lakes is approximately 2.2 miles, and the elevation gain is approximately 2,200 feet. Breathtaking trail and plenty of close mountains to … Muir Lake from the old Cottonwood Trailhead, Mount Langley Loop via Cottonwood Pass [CLOSED], John Muir Trail: Horseshoe Meadow to Happy Isles [CLOSED], Forks of the Kern Trail to Painters Camp [CLOSED], Trail Pass to Cotton Wood Lakes Loop [CLOSED]. Two subspecies of golden trout are recognized; South Fork Kern golden trout and the Little Kern golden trout. https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/california/golden-trout-wilderness The South Fork Kern River is a designated Wild Trout Water. But beware, goldens can be quite picky, scrutinizing a dry fly like a clever spring creek brown trout. This week-long trip, which is divided between camping at Golden Trout Wilderness School and backpacking through the surrounding Cottonwood Lakes Basin in smaller groups, is their first taste of the Thacher outdoor experience. The symptoms of altitude sickness are basically that of severe dehydration with headache, nausea, dizziness and energy loss. For now, the north eastern part of the Golden Trout Wilderness on the Inyo remains open, which keeps the Pacific Crest Trail and trails at Cottonwood Pass, Trail Pass, and Cottonwood Lakes open as long as those itineraries avoid the closure areas on the Inyo and the Sequoia National Forest (as a rule itineraries heading north from these trails). Langley attempt in the Golden Trout Wilderness of California's Sierra Nevada mountain range. Swedo, Suzanne, Hiking California’s Golden Trout Wilderness. The Golden Trout Wilderness is a federally designated wilderness area in the Sierra Nevada, in Tulare County and Inyo County, California. Avoid swivels and split-shot if possible for a more “natural” presentation. Each rock threatens to jar the fillings out of ones teeth. Golden trout can be as finicky as they are beautiful – especially late in the season. The Fishing Spots section is dedicated to letting you know where the fish are for all the lakes in the Golden Trout Wilderness. Most fishing rods feature both an action and a power rating, but what do those ratings mean and how do you use them to select the right rod for different scenarios? Golden Trout Pack Station offers horseback riding, fly fishing, hunting, and The 300,000+ acre Golden Trout Wilderness (GTW) was designated by Congress in 1978. In the 1960s, the State of California embarked on an intense conservation program to conserve the species and their habitat, which was historically damaged by heavy livestock overgrazing. Once you reach the river, there is a relatively easy forging. My breath, still labored from the climb, or maybe just the elevation, was sucked away completely as the line jerked tight between my fingertips. #1 - Cottonwood Pass / New Army Pass Loop. If spinning gear is your forte, focus on ultralight tackle with no larger than 4-pound-test monofilament or similar diameter fluorocarbon line for finicky fish. His martini would have been extremely well shaken. This one simple trick will trigger more bass strikes on a jerkbait during the fall months. A narrow fisherman’s path follows the Treasure Lakes drainage from the southern end of Long Lake, traversing a long boulder field as it climbs. Golden trout are native to the Kern River watershed in California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range, more specifically the Kern Plateau. Almost too easy. Please review the USDA's map for further information. It is located 40 miles (64 km) east of Porterville, California within Inyo National Forest and Sequoia National Forest. Starting from Onion Valley, Golden Trout Lakes Trail ends at Golden Trout Lakes, in the John Muir Wilderness. Golden Trout Wilderness tour: Kern Lake Sequoia National Forest. (Photo by Brad Trumbo) THE PURSUIT Here are the 10 most common spinning and baitcaster reel performance problems and how to fix... As most catfish anglers know, blue cats, channel cats and flatheads will eat darn near... Want to test the outer limits of your shooting skill? The diligent angler can find these lakes scattered across the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. Turning around, I faced the cluster of four alpine lakes, known as the Treasure Lakes, in the John Muir Wilderness of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The hike isn't very stenuous at all. If traveling to the Sierras from elevations below 6,000 feet, consider camping or lodging at about 8,000 feet for a couple days to acclimate to the environment before setting out for higher destinations. https://www.nps.gov/maps/full.html?mapId=1a3dabe6-06e2-4766-ac55-a7d41b37ea14 Please note that the gate leading to this trailhead is currently closed (06/04/2020). Our entire route is nicely portrayed on the Tom Harrison map: “Golden Trout Wilderness." While pursuit of High-Sierra gold is the allure of a backcountry trip into the Treasure Lakes, proper fishing gear and technique are only pieces of the puzzle of success. Day-hiking can be enjoyable with the potential for an overall exceptional experience, but when breaching 10,000 feet, elevation is a force to be reckoned with. The heaviest use of the wilderness is near Burnt Corral crossing of Little Kern, Little Kern Bridge, and Forks of the Kern, Coyote Lakes, Maggie Lakes, Rattlesnake Trail and Kern … Approximate hiking time to the lakes is 5-6 hours. In fact, much of the South Fork of the Kern River is only accessible to the dedicated outdoorsmen who are willing to ride in by horseback. Generally you can’t just do a quick day trip for these ornate fish. From the west, various roads stem from Hwy 190 near Giant Sequoia National Monument. But for those who make the trip, catching a golden trout, the state fish, is worth the effort. In this video, outdoor writer and tackle specialist Shane Beilue breaks down the difference between a rod blank’s action and power and discusses what the various ratings of each mean. The TripThe Golden Trout Wilderness is more open and gentler than the better-known areas of the Sierra to the north. This is an entrance to Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks. Golden Trout Creek is a designated Heritage and Wild Trout Water. California’s state fish, the California golden trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss aguabonita) is native to only two creeks draining the Kern Plateau but has been distributed throughout many of the high Sierra lakes where they now thrive. It is beautiful and a hard to get to area that is first come first serve and has about 10-15 camping spots. From the east, most visitors approach from Hwy 395 near Lone Pine. Tapered leaders carry buoyancy that floats the fly above the sinking line and reduces the fly’s action. Wind can be unpredictable in the higher elevations, but casting comes easy when the gusts lay down. On the Sequoia National Forest … The first step is perfecting your release. A very nice trip into the lesser used Golden Trout Wilderness in the Southern Sierras. Please note that the gate leading to this trailhead is currently closed (06/04/2020). A Mt. Lakes 1 and 2 hold golden and brook trout, while only goldens are found in lakes 3 and 4. Want to tangle with giant striped bass during the fall months? It offers scenic views of the Sierra, meadows, alpine terrain, and lakes. The trail arrives at Lake 1 to the northeast. It's easier than you think — and will put more big bass in your boat. Be sure to place the fly far enough ahead of a cruising fish to avoid spooking it as the line touches down on the clear water. After a mile there is reliable water in the form of a creek. Their beauty, complimentary to the breathtaking wilderness areas in which they thrive, the effort required to reach their habitat, and the suite of skills required to entice a strike harmoniously strums every chord in my soul. 8/31/2016 3:29:29 PM. Pass over the log bridge or rock hop, and proceed on the flat trail skirting a meadow that holds Cottonwood Creek. Both are found in this wilderness. 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