Hey, was thinking of booking a stay at a cabin near bishop pass/Sabrina lake for mid october. Keeping aside the unpredictable weather - is this a good option to have as a base to do maybe 2-3 days of day hikes in the area, including bishop pass and sabrina lake trails? Any other advice for being in that area?

I've been out of hiking for a bit while getting my puppy his shots, and this was his first trail. I've done it numerous times but 3 years ago, before I was with my ex. I wanted a short and easy trail for him with some sun, some shade and a killer view. Few people was also something I was hoping for. I know the trail had a fewa areas with thorn bushes and spots where it was hard to follow, but didn't think it would be bad.

It's so bad. I don't know which fire it was but it tore that place up. 90% of the trees that are standing are basically poles, all their bark and branches are on the ground. It gets worse as you go up with the worst situation near the top, where there's so many fallen trees the trail, or what remains of it, is impossible to follow and you have to bushwhack for most of it. Said bushwhacking is tough because the thorn bushes have absolutely taken over and overgrown both on and off the trail, and where they aren't there is a ton of chaparral. You are walking on bark or bush or branches more than you are walking on dirt near the top. The most disappointing thing though is that the trail has not been well maintained. Like, these things happen and usually a crew comes through and clears a path, but you can tell they just couldn't handle it all. They tried, but likely funding and time are limited.

It's so sad because this was one of the best trails in the SNF if not the state imo. Mile and a half to a gorgeous view, mildly strenuous but totally doable by all ages and pets, with lots of shade besides the small burnt area at the gap and at the bald top. From the top you have a 360 view as Sunday peak is one of the tallest in the area and permits great sunset views due to few tall peaks to the West. Now, its hard to even reach the top and don't stay for sunset because getting down in the dark is a nightmare. I genuinely would have gotten lost without AllTrials gps.

I don't know if the fire that did this was started by a human, but if so, that person should be incarcerated until the forest regrows (forever).

Hello all.

I have hiked the Watchtower trail once, in the Summer of 2017. It is the most beautiful trail I have hiked, and I would like to do a 3 or 4 day backpacking trip and camp up around Pear Lake. I know there can still be snow up in the mountains even when it is quite warm down in the valley, but I am Texan born and raised.

For anyone who has done this trip, or something similar, what is the best time of the year to camp at Pear Lake? I'm pretty sure it's around 9k ft elevation. I don't remember what month I hiked it, but I know it was in the summer, and it was hot enough for me to hike most of it with my shirt off. Preferably I'd like to hike it in a month where the highs are no more than the low 80s. I'm thinking July would be the best time for these temps, but I am concerned about potential burn bans.

Any tips, concerns, or advice would be greatly appreciated!

Hi everyone! I have permits to backpack up to Rae Lake via Kearsage Pass this weekend into next week and also Big Pine Lakes. I see an alert on the NPS page for King's canyon for the Coffee Pot Fire in the Mineral King area and was wondering if any of you have been out there recently and could comment on the air quality and safety in the area. I'm coming from the East Coast and do not have experience with wildfires. Thank you!

Planning on doing an overnight backpacking trip somewhere in Mammoth Lakes at the end of the month. Looking for good recommendations thank you!

Looking for a last min no permit backpacking trail with great views. Seems like a lot of places are fully booked:(

Hey guys! Looking for some summer hiking recommendations for this summer. This is my third summer here in the Central Valley and as we all know it can get HOT. Anyone have any good recommendations for either shady, or cooler hikes for the summer?

Hey guys, I'm looking to take a group of 40-50 hikers on a backpacking trip during August. I'm looking for a moderate 15-20 mile 2-day backpacking trail that has great scenery and is within a 4-5 hour drive radius from the Bay Area. Most of the backpacking trails I've hit have pretty limited first-come-first-serve camp spots and have a tough time with permits for larger groups. All suggestions are appreciated.

Hi, I have a campsite booked at Vermillion campground at the end of kaiser pass road in july. I noticed there are a lot of spots open but all the other campgrounds that way, including mono springs and mono creek campground, they are booked up. Is there something I'm missing about vermillion campgrounds? the only compalints I can find is one person didn't like the generator noise from the VVR next door, and then there were some older posts from drought years where the lake was severely low. But I have a feeling I'm missing something for there to be such a difference in availability?

Looking to do this starting tomorrow afternoon. If someone could confirm I’ll be able to find hammock spots easy enough that would be great! Any other tips also appreciated

Hi, I'm planning on taking a day hike in the Ansel Adams wilderness on the rush creek trail in about a week, on November 18th. I was planning on bringing micro spikes but was wondering if I would need to bring snowshoes as well.

Headed from LA to Monterey in early December for a surf/hike/camp trip for 4 days. Would love any and all suggestions. Was considering staying around Morro Bay night 1 and then 2 nights around Big Sur. Any and all suggestions are welcome.