Jennie Lakes Wilderness
| Jennie Lakes Wilderness | |
|---|---|
  | |
| Location | Tulare County, California |
| Nearest city | Fresno |
| Coordinates | 36°41′00″N 118°40′00″W / 36.68333°N 118.66667°W |
| Area | 10,556 acres (42.72 km2) |
| Established | 1984 |
| Governing body | U.S. Forest Service |
Jennie Lakes Wilderness is a protected area in the Sierra Nevada, in Tulare County, California. It is located 60 miles (97 km) east of Fresno and managed by the US Forest Service.
Jennie Lakes Wilderness is about nine square miles within the Sequoia National Forest, that was established by the California Wilderness Act of 1984,[1] and added to the National Wilderness Preservation System.
Geography
Jennie Lakes Wilderness is situated immediately north of Sequoia National Park and west of Kings Canyon National Park.
The wilderness area is bisected by the Boulder Creek canyon that is 1,000 feet (300 m) deep. The eastern half is a high plateau bounded by a ridge and the western half is dominated by Shell Mountain 9,594 feet (2,924 m) as well as Weaver Lake. Elevations range from 6,640 feet (2,020 m) to 10,365 feet (3,159 m) at Mitchell Peak.
There are six lakes within the wilderness, with Jennie Lake the largest and highest in elevation at 9,000 feet (2,700 m). Boulder Creek flows from Jennie Lake and is a major tributary to the South Fork Kings River. Stony Creek begins south of Shell Mountain and flows into the North Fork Kaweah River.
Ecology
Red fir and lodgepole pine are the primary forest cover with granitic outcroppings typical of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Black bears are common in the area.
Recreation
Recreational activities include day hiking, backpacking, horsepacking, fishing, and cross-country skiing.
There are four trailheads providing access with Big Meadows and Stony Creek the most heavily used. Jennie Lakes Wilderness is also a portal into the backcountry of Sequoia-Kings Canyon Wilderness. The Forest Service encourages the practice of Leave No Trace principles of outdoor travel to minimize human impact on the environment.
See also
References
Adkinson, Ron Wild Northern California. The Globe Pequot Press, 2001