Sequoia National Park - Pear Lake Hike

on July 01, 2024

Introduction:

What? :

If you want to enjoy the high Sierra Mountain view in Sequoia National Park than probably Pear Lake hike is your best day-hike option.

This challenging 13-mile out-and-back trail, with 3,100 ft elevation gain, pass near 4 alpines lakes on its way up into to the high mountains area. The trail does not climb a mountain top but you will be able to enjoy the amazing panoramic view of the high Sierra Mountains, exposed granite walls and deep canyons.

You can do this hike as a day hike that will probably takes 7-8 hours or if you want to get a wilderness permit and spend the night near one of the lakes.

Even though it is challenging day-hike this is a popular area for backpacking, camping, and fishing, so you'll likely encounter other people while on the trail.

The Lakes Trail, one of the most popular hikes in Sequoia National Park, climbs through dense forest to a landscape of polished granite dotted with four beautiful lakes and set amid a backdrop of rugged ridges anchored by Alta Peak (11,204-ft.).

Where? :

Sequoia National Park is in the heart of California central Sierra mountains, adjusted South of Kings Canyon National Park.

It is about six hours to drive from Los Angeles and six hours to drive from San Francisco.

The hike to Pear Lake begins at the Lakes Trailhead in Sequoia National Park in the Wolverton parking lot.

The large parking lot has plenty of parking, when arriving to the lot turn left and you can see the trailhead on the first level on your left. Here you can find several bear boxes at the start of the trail for you to store any scented items so you don’t leave them in your car.
you can also find restrooms in the parking lot.

This is the same trailhead that also led to Alta Peak Trailhead.

Google Map Link

When? :

The trail covered by deep snow and ice conditions during the late Fall and Winter months, the best time to hike this trail is during late spring and early summer.

The Watchtower Trail section is closed in the winter and all the trails can be covered with snow well into summer. Check the park’s trail conditions web page before hiking.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National parks are open year-round although not all roads are clear of snow during winter (see below). The best time to visit here is during the summer months, from May to September.

Summer month can introduce hot days even in high elevation. At mid-late summer you can have forest fires and smoke that cover the view during that season.

During the summer month you may start your day with clear blue skies, but weather conditions can change quickly and by midday, you may find yourself in a strong summer storm with wind, rain and thunderstorm.

Lightning activity in the Sierra during summer months is common (can cause forest fire). Thunder clouds buildup seen far off in the distance can be an indicator of incoming lightning activity, you should evaluate your location and if you are in high and expose area you need to seek shelter or lower ground.

Winter months are very cold and stormy, and the area and trails are covered by snow. Tire chains may be required on park roads any time it snows, usually late fall, winter, and through spring.

The recommended and safe enter to the park during winter, when the roads are covered with snow and ice is via highway 180 coming up from Fresno.

Winter roads closer:

· General Highway coming from the south (coming from Visalia, CA) in it steep and narrow switchbacks section can be close.

· Highway 180 road in heading down into Kings Canyon is closed during winter month when deep snow covers the road, usually between Jan to March.

· Crescent Meadow Rd leading to Moro Rock is close during the winter months.

Due note 1:

This is in a national park, so it requires an America the Beautiful yearly pass or paying the $35 entrance fee, which is valid for up to seven days.

Due note 2:

I did this hike as a day hike. Day hikers do not need permits.

Overnight camping permits can be harder to obtain because it’s a popular hike and there’s designated campsites, but the entire trail can easily be done as a day hike, just give yourself a full day.

Please check at the park website if overnight backpacking reservation is based only first-come-first serve and doesn’t accept reservations.

Due note 3:

Please note that as in any other trail in the park pets are not allowed on the trail.

Due note 4:

There are no gas stations within the national parks. Be sure to fill your tanks before you enter the park or ensure that you have enough gas to reach one of the two gas stations in the neighboring national forest:

· You can find gas stations on highway 180 before entering the park

· Hume Lake (open year-round)

· On the road leading to Sequoia National Park at Stony Creek Resort & Gas Station (open summer only).

· In Three Rivers not so far from Visalia.

There are no charging stations for electric vehicles.

Due note 5:

You may encounter high temperatures during the summer and early fall months. Please carry and drink plenty of water. Bring hats and use sunscreen. Along this hike you will find many places to fill water, you do need to filter or treat the water before drinking them.

Due note 6:

Even during the summer months be prepared for sudden changes in weather conditions. Pack an extra layer of clothing that reflects the most extreme conditions you could encounter.

Salty and easy to digest snacks work well for outdoor activities.

Due note 7:

Black bears, though not always black, are found throughout Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Never touch or feed ANY wild animals. View animals at safe distances (the length of two city buses from more dangerous animals like bears).

Rattlesnakes are common in the Sequoia foothills and in the Kings Canyon at low elevation.

Due note 8:

This is one of the most popular long day trails and backpacking in Sequoia National Park; do expect to see many people here on summer weekends. If you want to avoid the crowds, I’d recommend arriving before 8:30am.

Due note 9:

This trail doesn’t have any viewing of sequoias trees.

Due note 10:

There are few restaurant options nearby, near Lodgepole Visitor Center you can find Lodgepole Market & Grill, the Wuksachi Lodge offers pizza and sandwiches with outdoor seating

Due note 11:

Lodgepole Campground is located not so far but as in many other campgrounds in the National Parks reservations can be hard to come by.

There are other camping options in the park: Dorst Creek and Sunset Campground. Another option is Azalea Campground in the nearby Grant Grove in Kings Canyon NP.

My thoughts:

I did this hike early-summer and started early in the morning when the temperatures were not high, on the way back, mid-day, it was hot. The first section of the trail is shaded by large pine trees but the middle high section near the lakes is fully exposed to the sun.

This is one of the fun hikes I did in Sequoia National Park even if you do not see here Sequoia trees. The view of the high Sierra Granite mountains, sheer granite cliffs, open and exposed landscape, four secluded alpine lakes and the deep canyon of Tokopah Falls reword your long hike effort.

Links to my Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Blogs:

The Hike:

I arrived at the parking lot at 7:30am and I already saw two dozen other car over there, probably most were for people that did this hike as overnight backpacking.

When I started to hike, I saw only one or two other hikers heading up.

As I progress there were plenty of hikers heading down from their overnight stay.

Although you can do a loop in the trail overall, this is out and back.

The trail begins at around 7,000 feet elevation and all the lakes are at about 9,000 feet so do expect to climb, this is mainly all the way down on your way back.

The trail is clear and well-shaded, soon after starting to hike you will turn right on the main trail.

From here there is a gradual incline through a nice tall trees forest and at about 1.7 miles you reach the junction for the Alta Peak trail. Here you need to turn left to stay on the Lakes Trail.

Keep walking through the forest and slowly gained more elevation.

Shortly after that, about 0.3 mile, the trail splits again.

The left fork led to the direction of Watchtower, and it is more gradual incline although 0.4 mile longer.

The right fork follows the Hump Trail and is the recommended route in winter and bad weather. Hump Trail is less exposed to the weather elements and does not have a cliff hanging section.

This trail section might be close during winter snowstorm.

Both routes meet up later, just before Heather Lake.

I think that most people take here left and heading to the Watchtower but because I want to explore both trails, I decided to do the Watchtower trail on my way back.

The trail keep climbing in the forest following a forest cover ridgeline (from that its name, Hump Trail) until you reach to it high point.

From here you will have the first view of the high Sierra Mountains and exposed granite landscape in front of you. This is a good place to have a short break, or you can keep hiking and have a rest in the lake below you.

If you will look down, you will see below you the lower trail that you will hike back to Watchtower.

The trail turn left and descend in the direction of the first lake, soon after you will reconnect to the main trail, this will be 1.5 miles from the split trail junction.

Keep hiking and head to Heather Lake.

Heather Lake is small, nice lake surrounded by trees on one side and mountain cliffs on the far side.

From Heather Lake it was only a mile more until you will reach Emerald Lake.

The trail climb at first and then level up, you will see Aster Lake below you and the trail keep heading to the right eventually descended in the direction of Emerald Lake.

Just before reaching the lake, you will see a left short trail leading to a restroom.

Near Emerald Lake you can see few campgrounds and even bear lockers.

From Emerald Lake to Pear Lake there is additional one mile of hiking, here the trail pass through an open rocky landscape.

Maybe because I was tired, the high elevation or the hot temperatures, for me, this was the hardest part of the trail. The trail climb up the exposed rocks, go around a bend and after some time start descending in the direction of Pear Lake.

As you are walking down in the direction of Pear Lake you will enjoy the view of the tops surrounding mountains cliffs. Pear Lake set in lower section of glacially carved granite bowl where mountain ragged cliffs surrounding it.

In total, the hike up to Pear Lake took me around 5 hours, which included plenty of stops to take photos and to rest. This was about 6 miles from the trailhead.

At both Emerald and Pear Lake, you are only allowed to camp in numbered sites and there are also decent vault toilets and bear boxes at both.

It was noon and the sun was out in full force, I rest, drink a lot of water and enjoyed the view.

I was not the only one out there, but it was not crowded, and you can find your quite place on the lake.

After resting and filling up my water bottles (filtering) I started my way back.

From Pear Lake you need to climb back up, cercle the cliff and head down in the direction of Emerald Lake, then you need to climb up again and later descend into Heather Lake.

After that I reach the trail junction this time I was heading in the direction of Watchtower (right on the trail junction).

The trail here turn right and follow the cliff egad above the deep canyon below you, in this section the trail narrow and hugs the side of the cliff, cut the rocky section above the deep canyon below.

This section of the trail provide amazing view of the surrounding mountains and below you the Marble Fork Kaweah River and the Tokopah waterfalls.

The trail follow the edge of a large cliff and after a short walk you will reach Watchtower.

Watchtower is a huge granite with shire cliff over watching the river canyon below.

If you look down, you can see the end of Tokopah waterfalls trail.

This is a nice resting point with insane view of the mountain range in the distance and deep drop off canyon below you.

From here the trail is entirely downhill through the green forest that provide shade back to the trailhead.

Additional Pictures:

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