Golden Trout Creek Loop

Dogs Unknown

Features Commonly Backpacked · Fishing · River/Creek · Views

Bypassing the more popular Sequoia National Park trails, this loop takes you west from Horseshoe Meadow over Cottonwood Pass and down into Big Whitney Meadow, then south along Golden Trout Creek to Tunnel Meadow. The return trip east is via Bullfrog and Mulkey Meadows and then north over Trail Pass back to Horseshoe Meadow.

Once you leave Tunnel Meadow there is no more water until you return to the Cottonwood Pass trailhead.

From the Cottonwood Pass trailhead head west from Horseshoe Meadow and up to Cottonwood Pass via the Cottonwood Pass Trail #3505. From Cottonwood Pass continue west down into Big Whitney Meadow. At the western end of Big Whitney Meadow the trail intersects the Siberian Pass trail. Head south along this trail. Near the southern end of Big Whitney Meadow a number of campsites along Golden Trout Creek are available and the creek is large enough for fishing (the beautiful, but small, Golden Trout are in this creek).

Continue south along the Siberian Pass trail until it intersects the Trail Pass trail #3504 at Tunnel Meadow. Follow Trail Pass trail #3504 east along Tunnel Meadow (lots of nice campsites and water is available from the South Fork Kern River). Continue east from Tunnel Meadow through Bullfrog Meadow and then Mulkey Meadow. Near the end of Mulkey Meadow, Trail Pass trail #3504 intersects the Mulkey Pass trail #3528. You can either continue along the Trail Pass trail #3504 (shorter but steeper) or take the Mulkey Pass trail #3528 (longer but gentler climb). Both trails end at the Cottonwood Pass trailhead.

Note: Once you leave Tunnel Meadow there is no more water until you return to the Cottonwood Pass trailhead.

Golden Trout are beautiful if you can catch them (check state fishing regulations).