Please note that these represents the planned itineraries. Weather or other factors may affect the choice of campsites and daily travel. All decisions are made by the Head Packer with attention to the safety and comfort of guests and stock.
4 day Trip, AP Hilton Lakes Ride from Rock Creek
Day 1: Ride to Hilton Lakes
Riders head north from the pack station (10,000ft) on the trail that switchbacks above Rock Creek Lake. It is mostly a level climb through lodge pole pine and fields of lupine and Indian paintbrush. We ride overlooking one of the most magnificent juniper groves in the west. After 1.5 hour, we have reached the top of the Hilton Creek/Rock Creek divide (10,600ft) overlooking the two lower Hilton Lakes. The descent down takes 30 minutes before we reach Lake #2 (9,900ft)
You’re deep in the heart of the backcountry…the ten Hilton Lakes and the immediate area are a photographer’s paradise. We will be at our lakeside camp on Davis Lake by lunch.
The afternoon is free to fish, rest or explore the Davis Lake area. Favorite activities include hiking to the water falls on the west-side peninsula or heading to sand covered beaches for a swim. The hike up the stream to Lake #2 is good for fishing or exploring. Fishing is excellent for brown, rainbow and brook trout.
Meals included: Lunch & Dinner
Camp at Davis Lake
Day 2 & 3: Layover
Layover days to explore the upper lakes basin. We can head up to Lake # 3. This 50-minute ride brings us to a sub-alpine lake overlooking the entire Hilton canyon. Excellent fishing for rainbow. Often, we tie the horses up and hike up to Lake #5 (a 30 minute hike). Another hour allows you to visit Lakes #6-#9. Playing in the snowbanks is fun for those that enjoy snow in the heat of summer. After lunch, ride on over to Lake #4 and enjoy the beauty of the meadows and streams near the old Indian camp. Riders generally make it back to camp by 4 pm for a shower or nap in the afternoon sun.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Camp at Davis Lake
Day 4: Ride back to Pack Station
In the morning, take 1 to 1.5 hour to ride down Hilton Creek to Turk Meadow. This ride through large aspens, limber pine and Mountain Mahogany brings us to one of the largest meadows on the eastside. The broad canyon is bordered by the red colored 13,000 ft Mt. Morgan, contrasting with the snow covered Mt. Huntington to the south. We head back to camp around noon to meet up with those that didn’t take the morning ride. The group rides out to arrive at the pack station by 4 PM.
Fishing
Fishing is excellent in the Hilton Lakes area. Davis Lake, (Hilton Lake #1) is very large with alternating meadows and lodge pole pine forests surrounding the lake. There are nice browns and rainbows in the lake.
The stream between Davis and Lake #2 is generally good in the early part of the summer for the rainbows. Hilton Creek about a 30-minute walk down canyon from Davis Lake is one of my favorite creeks in the mountains. All browns and it is generally quite productive.
In early July, Lake #3 has good fishing for the rainbows. Fish can range from 10-15”. For lots of brookies, Lake #4 and the stream coming out of it are fun to fish. Lakes #5, #6 and #7 are accessible from a short walk above Lake #3.
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5 Day Trip. Golden Trout
Day 1: Cottonwood Pack Station (Horseshoe Meadow Trailhead) to Golden Trout Creek Camp (12 miles)
Arrive at Cottonwood Pack Station by 7:00 AM where your gear will be weighed and you will be served breakfast. Your personal vehicles will be left in the Cottonwood Pack Station parking area.
Riders head out through Horseshoe Meadows and switchback up to reach Trail Pass (10,500 ft). Stunning views to the north of Mt. Langley and Sequoia National Park. The trail descends to Mulkey Meadows and riders go through Bullfrog Meadows before climbing a saddle to reach Golden Trout Creek. The trip follows Golden Trout Creek as riders skirt Tunnel Meadows before reaching camp near the confluence of the South Fork of the Kern River and Golden Trout Creek.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Camp at Golden Trout Creek Camp
Day 2: Volcano Loop and explore Little Whitney Meadows (9.5 miles)
Guests ride alongside Golden Trout Creek to reach Little Whitney Meadows. Take a swim or explore the historic cabins of the old ranchers. The ride continues through the Malpais volcanic area to ride through Volcano Meadows. This infrequently visited area of the Golden Trout Wilderness offers spectacular views and a high probability of wildlife sightings. The trail climbs over an old cinder cone before rejoining the Golden Trout Creek trail back to camp.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Camp at Golden Trout Creek Camp
Day 3: Kern Peak (11 miles)
Follow the Red Cinder trail to reach Kern Peak Stringer. We head up towards Kern Peak, one of the most prominent points in the Golden Trout Wilderness. Spectacular flowers and the flora is much like that of the John Muir Wilderness. Those that reach the top are rewarded with stunning views of the Great Western Divide and Mt. Whitney.
Today's day ride we will travel leisurely down Golden Trout Creek. The trail parallels the creek cascading to the side of the route and contains endemic Golden trout. There are a wide variety of flowers and shrubs as we descend. Before and after lunch, we will discuss the mixed conifer forests, trees, succession, and dendrochronology, the study of tree rings and what they can tell us.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Camp at Goden Trout Creek Camp
Day 4: Golden Trout Camp to Cottonwood Pack Station via Ramshaw Meadows (14 miles)
The route to Templeton Meadows begins by skirting a basalt cinder cone, Red Hill, and ends at a rhyolite cinder cone, Templeton Mountain. In between, the trail follows the South Fork of the Kern River through Ramshaw Meadows, passes the ruins of a cabin set used in the filming of The Virginian, and ends at the Templeton Cow Camp.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Camp at Templeton Cow Camp
Day 5: Ride back to Pack Station
Riders head over Red Hill and ride through Ramshaw Meadows to meet the Templeton Trail. After climbing up through mixed forest and meadows the group will reach Mulkey Meadows. Crossing Trail Pass the group will descend to Horseshoe Meadows and end up at the pack station.
Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch
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4 day Trip, AP Mulkey Meadows Trail
Day 1: Cottonwood Pack Station to Kern Peak Stringer (11 miles)
The path drops 100’ from the pack station to the Cottonwood Pass trail. Continue straight to cross Horseshoe Meadow toward Trail Pass. In one mile, the path will merge with a trail running along the east side of the meadow as it continues up 600’ through forest to 10,500’ Trail Pass and the junction with the Pacific Crest Trail. Enjoy views of the Golden Trout Wilderness before continuing straight, to drop 1,150’ in 2.3 miles through open forest to the trail junction at Mulkey Meadow, a favorite lunch spot.
Continue straight across the Mulkey Pass/Tunnel Meadow trail toward Templeton Meadows. The trail stays close to the stream for 1.6 miles as it crosses Mulkey Meadow, before climbing 300’ over a low ridge through open forest in 1.1 miles. The path drops 800’ over the next 1.5 miles to the eastern end of Ramshaw Meadows. Leave the Mulkey/Templeton Meadows trail, turning right to follow the north side of Ramshaw Meadows toward Red Hill. Finally, cross the South Fork of the Kern River to the west side of the meadow as you approach Red Hill to find the Ramshaw/Templeton Meadows Trail. Turn right to follow the trail north for a mile to Junction 89.
Meals included: Lunch & Dinner
Camp near Kern Peak
Day 2: Layover
Today, we ride to Little Whitney Meadows. This a relatively short day of riding as we climb out of Ramshaw Meadows and ride to cross Golden Trout Creek below Tunnel Meadows. The trail follows Golden Trout Creek past Groundhog Meadow and past the Cinder Cone and ancient lava flows before arriving at Little Whitney Meadows.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Camp near Kern Peak
Day 3: Layover
We can go on a day ride to Templeton Meadows.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Camp near Kern Peak
Day 4: Out to Cottonwood Pack Station (Horseshoe Meadows)
Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch
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4 day Trip, AP Fourth of July Ride from Rock Creek
Day 1: Ride to Hilton Lakes
Riders head north from the pack station (10,000ft) on the trail that switchbacks above Rock Creek Lake. It is mostly a level climb through lodge pole pine and fields of lupine and Indian paintbrush. We ride overlooking one of the most magnificent juniper groves in the west. After 1.5 hour, we have reached the top of the Hilton Creek/Rock Creek divide (10,600ft) overlooking the two lower Hilton Lakes. The descent down takes 30 minutes before we reach Lake #2 (9,900ft)
You’re deep in the heart of the backcountry…the ten Hilton Lakes and the immediate area are a photographer’s paradise. We will be at our lakeside camp on Davis Lake by lunch.
The afternoon is free to fish, rest or explore the Davis Lake area. Favorite activities include hiking to the water falls on the west-side peninsula or heading to sand covered beaches for a swim. The hike up the stream to Lake #2 is good for fishing or exploring. Fishing is excellent for brown, rainbow and brook trout.
Meals included: Lunch & Dinner
Camp at Davis Lake
Day 2 & 3: Layover
Layover days to explore the upper lakes basin. We can head up to Lake # 3. This 50-minute ride brings us to a sub-alpine lake overlooking the entire Hilton canyon. Excellent fishing for rainbow. Often, we tie the horses up and hike up to Lake #5 (a 30 minute hike). Another hour allows you to visit Lakes #6-#9. Playing in the snowbanks is fun for those that enjoy snow in the heat of summer. After lunch, ride on over to Lake #4 and enjoy the beauty of the meadows and streams near the old Indian camp. Riders generally make it back to camp by 4 pm for a shower or nap in the afternoon sun.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Camp at Davis Lake
Day 4: Ride back to Pack Station
In the morning, take 1 to 1.5 hour to ride down Hilton Creek to Turk Meadow. This ride through large aspens, limber pine and Mountain Mahogany brings us to one of the largest meadows on the eastside. The broad canyon is bordered by the red colored 13,000 ft Mt. Morgan, contrasting with the snow covered Mt. Huntington to the south. We head back to camp around noon to meet up with those that didn’t take the morning ride. The group rides out to arrive at the pack station by 4 PM.
Fishing
Fishing is excellent in the Hilton Lakes area. Davis Lake, (Hilton Lake #1) is very large with alternating meadows and lodge pole pine forests surrounding the lake. There are nice browns and rainbows in the lake.
The stream between Davis and Lake #2 is generally good in the early part of the summer for the rainbows. Hilton Creek about a 30-minute walk down canyon from Davis Lake is one of my favorite creeks in the mountains. All browns and it is generally quite productive.
In early July, Lake #3 has good fishing for the rainbows. Fish can range from 10-15”. For lots of brookies, Lake #4 and the stream coming out of it are fun to fish. Lakes #5, #6 and #7 are accessible from a short walk above Lake #3.
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3 day Trip, AP Parent and Child Ride from Rock Creek
Day 1: Ride to Davis Lake
Riders head north from the pack station (10,000ft) on the trail that switchbacks above Rock Creek Lake. It is mostly a level climb through lodge pole pine and fields of lupine and Indian paintbrush. We ride overlooking one of the most magnificent juniper groves in the west. After 1.5 hour, we have reached the top of the Hilton Creek/Rock Creek divide (10,600ft) overlooking the two lower Hilton Lakes. The descent down takes 30 minutes before we reach Lake #2 (9,900ft)
You’re deep in the heart of the backcountry…the ten Hilton Lakes and the immediate area are a photographer’s paradise. We will be at our lakeside camp on Davis Lake by lunch.
The afternoon is free to fish, rest or explore the Davis Lake area. Favorite activities include hiking to the water falls on the west-side peninsula or heading to sand covered beaches for a swim. The hike up the stream to Lake #2 is good for fishing or exploring. Fishing is excellent for brown, rainbow and brook trout.
Meals included: Lunch & Dinner
Camp at Davis Lake
Day 2: Layover
A day to explore the upper lakes basin. Mid-morning, the group heads up to Lake # 3. This 50-minute ride brings us to a sub-alpine lake overlooking the entire Hilton canyon. Excellent fishing for rainbow. Often, we tie the horses up and hike up to Lake #5 (a 30 minute hike). Another hour allows you to visit Lakes #6-#9. Playing in the snowbanks is fun for those that enjoy snow in the heat of summer. After lunch, ride on over to Lake #4 and enjoy the beauty of the meadows and streams near the old Indian camp. Riders generally make it back to camp by 4 pm for a shower or nap in the afternoon sun.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Camp at Davis Lake
Day 3: Ride back to Pack Station
In the morning, take 1 to 1.5 hour to ride down Hilton Creek to Turk Meadow. This ride through large aspens, limber pine and Mountain Mahogany brings us to one of the largest meadows on the eastside. The broad canyon is bordered by the red colored 13,000 ft Mt. Morgan, contrasting with the snow covered Mt. Huntington to the south. We head back to camp around noon to meet up with those that didn’t take the morning ride. The group rides out to arrive at the pack station by 4 PM.
Fishing
Fishing is excellent in the Hilton Lakes area. Davis Lake, (Hilton Lake #1) is very large with alternating meadows and lodge pole pine forests surrounding the lake. There are nice browns and rainbows in the lake.
The stream between Davis and Lake #2 is generally good in the early part of the summer for the rainbows. Hilton Creek about a 30-minute walk down canyon from Davis Lake is one of my favorite creeks in the mountains. All browns and it is generally quite productive.
In early July, Lake #3 has good fishing for the rainbows. Fish can range from 10-15”. For lots of brookies, Lake #4 and the stream coming out of it are fun to fish. Lakes #5, #6 and #7 are accessible from a short walk above Lake #3.
PLEASE NOTE:
The camp for this ride may be moved to the East Fork of Rock Creek near Dorothy Lake.