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Activities | Camp | Camping | Destinations | Mountains

seqnp.mineral king

franklin creek

cabin
The historic Honeymoon Cabin


Mineral King is a glaciated valley located in the western Sierra Nevada mountain range and is part of the southern Sequoia National Park


 Mineral King Road closes for winter months
& is only accessible a few months a year

Nearby cities & towns:

Fresno
Three Rivers
Visalia
mineral king California

Helpful Phone Numbers:
Sequoia National Park
P.O. Box 789
Three Rivers, CA 93271
559/561-3341
Park Info
559/565-3134

government web site
Wilderness Permits
559/565-3306
Wilderness office
559-565-3708
Mineral King
559-561-3411
Mineral King
Entrance Station
559-565-3768

horse pack outfitters
Horse Pack Trips are popular as well as Backpacking into the high Sierra

franklin

Mineral King is a spectacular alpine valley with hundreds of miles of trails into the high Sierra. The road leading here has many, sharp curves & takes over an hour to go the 25+ twisty miles. One lane road most of the way, you must be prepared for a tight squeeze on some parts & on coming traffic at all times. No trailers or RV campers are allowed on Mineral King Rd.

marmot wire
be warned: local evil marmots can cause radiator hose damage. Come prepared. Mostly a nuisance in the Springtime.

marmot crossing

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mineral king

Mineral King Backpacking

This place is a back packers dream. Where else can you drive right up to the doorstep of 11,000-12,000 foot Sierra peaks & climb right up into alpine back country in just a few hours.

  • fire permits are required
  • permits are required for overnight back country camping
  • check with the correct ranger district for all back country camping restrictions

Trail head parking spots located at:

 

Mineral King Campgrounds
click on campground name for photos & more descriptions

campground  elev.

spots
 veg toilet water fee comments recreation
Atwell Mill Campground 6650' 23 pines pit piped yes 7 mi. from
Mineral King
fish hikes
Cold Springs Campground 7500' 37 pines pit piped yes end of road location fish hikes

Primitive Camping

The National Park does not allow dispersed car camping anywhere along the Mineral King Rd. Other remote camping options are to the south in the Sequoia National Forest. A small section in between Kings Canyon & Sequoia National Parks - located just next door, features Jennie Lakes & Monarch Wilderness.

Forest Service Rds.#

  • 19S36 - The dirt roads from Sequoia National Forest, Mountain Home State Forest & Balch Park do not connect through the mountains (via Grouse Pk. / Case Mtn) through the western valleys due to private land communities with locked gates.
  • Crunigan Creek Rd up to Milk Ranch Peak doesn't go very far. It is gated one mile up due to private property.

Mineral King Hiking

The majority of day hikes out of Mineral King tend to be moderately strenuous up & over passes into the high Sierra Wilderness.
A nice meadow hike along creeks via Cold Springs campground.

FOOTBRIDGE HIKE: A great short day hike to Kaweah River bridge from Atwell Mill campground.

Crystal Lake: 10 miles RT; no maintained trail beyond Crystal Lake.

Franklin Lakes: 10.8 miles RT

Monarch Lakes: a long day hike/ one of the easier hikes in Mineral King valley. 8.4 miles RT

Timber Gap: 4 miles RT

White Chief Trail: 6 miles RT ; scenic hike up west side of Mineral King Valley.

Eagle / Mosquito Lakes: 11 miles RT; good fishing



Crystal Cave Sequoia

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