JENNIE LAKES WILDERNESS

Posted on by John Greening

Maps and Directions | Site Details  

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Visiting Jennie Lakes Wilderness

by Laurie Schwaller

     Readily accessible from four trailheads, Sequoia National Forest’s 10,500 acre Jennie Lakes Wilderness offers 26 miles of hiking trails, beautiful lakes (Jennie and Weaver are the largest), perennial streams, lovely meadows, extensive coniferous forests, rocky peaks (especially 10,365′ Mitchell Peak) affording great views, beckoning spring wildflowers, watchable wildlife, and trail access to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks’ backcountry (Wilderness permit required for travel into the Parks).  Jennie Lakes Wilderness lies almost entirely above 7,000′, so it’s refreshingly cool in summer; winter access is limited by road closures and its steep, snowy terrain.

November, 2025

NOTE: The Project Team will be conducting research for a full article as volunteer time allows.  Contact us if you’d like to help research, write about, and/or illustrate this Treasure!  

 

Jennie Lakes Wilderness

 

Maps & Directions:

 From Visalia, take Hwy 198 east through Three Rivers to the Sequoia National Park entrance station (fee), where the road becomes the Generals Highway. Follow it through Sequoia National Park and into Sequoia National Forest. Soon after the sign for Montecito Sequoia Camp, watch on your right for Big Meadows Forest Service Road (14S11). Take this road for about 5 miles to the Big Meadows trailhead (hiking trail 29E03) for a moderate to strenuous hike into the Jennie Lakes Wilderness. For the Rowell Meadows Trailhead (12 miles off of the Generals Highway), follow Big Meadows Road (14S11) and turn right onto Forest Road 13S14 for 2.5 miles to the trailhead (trail 30E08) providing an easy to moderate hike into the Wilderness. For the Marvin Pass trailhead (13 miles off of Generals Hwy), follow Big Meadows Road (14S11) and turn right onto Forest Road 13S12 for 2 miles to the trailhead (trail 30E06) providing an easy to moderate hike into the Wilderness.

Alternatively, from Visalia, take Hwy 63 north to go east (right) on Hwy 180 to the Big Stump entrance station (fee) to Kings Canyon National Park. At the upcoming “Y” junction, go right onto the Generals Highway, and then left (east) onto Big Meadows Forest Service Road (14S11). Proceed per directions above to the 3 trailheads.

The fourth trailhead (Stony Creek, trail 29E06), which is significantly the steepest, is located off the Generals Highway at the far end of Upper Stony Creek campground, which is located just a bit north of the small Stony Creek development near the south end of the Generals Highway segment in Sequoia National Forest. Turn east off the Generals Highway to access Upper Stony Creek campground and the trailhead.

 

Site Details & Activities:

Environment:  Mountains, elevations about 7,000′ to 10,365′ (on Mitchell Peak), mixed conifer forests, six lakes, meadows, perennial streams, deep Boulder Creek canyon, 26 miles of trails
Activities:  backpacking, birdwatching, botanizing, camping (free campfire permit required for gas lanterns, stoves, and campfires), dogs must be kept on 6′ leash under your control and must not harass wildlife , fishing (with valid licenses and in compliance with Federal, state, and local regulations), hiking, horseback riding and packing (maximum 15 people and 25 head of stock allowed on overnight trips), hunting (with valid licenses and in compliance with Federal, state, and local regulations), photography, rock climbing, wildflower and wildlife viewing (NOTE: hunting is NOT allowed in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, and dogs are NOT allowed in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Wilderness areas.)
Open:  The Wilderness is always open, depending on weather, except when closed due to emergency conditions. NOTE: A Wilderness permit is not required to enter Jennie Lakes Wilderness, but IS required to enter Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Wilderness areas. Permit (free) required for campfires (campfires may be prohibited, depending on fire danger). All mechanized/motorized vehicles and equipment are prohibited in the Wilderness. Maximum group size: 15 people/25 head of stock per party. Leave No Trace.
Site Steward:  USDA, Sequoia National Forest, Hume Lake Ranger District, 559-338-2251
This Wilderness can be accessed from four Sequoia National Forest trailheads, and also from trailheads in Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park.
Opportunities for Involvement:  Visit volunteer.gov or reach out to your local National Forest office for information on opportunities near you.
Links: Jennie Lakes Wilderness Detailed Information: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/sequoia/recreation/jennie-lakes-wilderness