There is even a campground right by the trailhead if you arrive late. Historical Weather. Trails from Onion Valley provide acces to the John Muir Wilderness and Kings Canyon National Park. The campground is usually booked out pretty far in advance. Onion Valley is about 15 miles west of in downtown Independence, at an elevation of about 9,600 feet. Inyo National Forest Onion Valley Road. Where: Inyo National Forest; Onion Valley trailhead to Kearsarge lakes via the Kearsarge pass with a side trip to Bullfrog Lake. 16 miles round trip. Onion Valley Road is rated the most difficult bike climb in California. Situated at an elevation of 9,200 feet, the campground is surrounded by the towering peaks of the John Muir Wilderness and immersed in shrubs, lodgepole pine and aspens. Bullfrog Lake Sunrise. Onion Valley Trail Map . Not a good experience. Onion Valley is a valley in Placer County and has an elevation of 4511 feet. See how your fees have made a difference! For more information about traveling in bear bear country,  click here... Map showing recreational areas. At the trailhead, all food, trash and scented items must be removed from vehicles and placed in the bear proof lockers and trash cans that are located in parking areas. Elevation: 10,535′ Elevation Gain: 1,335′ Mountain Range: Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains Length: 6 miles Duration: 3 hours. The road delivers hikers to one of the quickest access points to the John Muir Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail, making Onion Valley a favorite spot for multi-day hikers to come out of the hills to re-supply. Onion Valley Trail Map . Onion Valley Road & Campground (7,500' elevation), Inyo National Forest, Independence Region, Eastern Sierra Nevada. Maple Valley is a city in King County, Washington, United States.The population was 22,684 at the 2010 census, and is estimated to be 27,202 as of 2019. Distance: 16 miles round trip (with side exploration), probably just 14 if you’re just going to Kearsarge lakes. Or the drying out or the horses with bells all night around our tents. If you are flying into the area, it’s probably faster to fly into Reno or Southern California and drive from there. Continuing westward, we will then junction with the Pacific Crest Trail, and from there hike south to our first camp near Vidette Meadows, elevation 9532'. Onion Valley is about 15 miles west of in downtown Independence, at an elevation of about 9,600 feet. In the spring, Onion Valley is popular with backcountry skiers and snowboarders. A 13.2-mile paved road connects Onion Valley to the tiny town of Independence (elevation 3,930 feet; population 669) on Highway 395, the major transportation route on the eastern side of the Sierra. Interagency Visitor Center (760) 876-6200. New and Preliminary Washington Flood Maps. The road is usually open from May to November, depending on snow conditions. If you have visited Onion Valley Reservoir before, please tell us about it with a comment below. Lovely wildflowers color the landscape in late spring and early summer. Many who choose Onion Valley Campground enjoy photography, fishing, and simply soaking in the magnificent scenery.. Onion Valley Campground has 30 campsites. Add Images to Onion Valley to Kearsarge Pass Trail: Upload New Attach Existing. Accumulated elevation gain Elevation: 10,535′ Elevation Gain: 1,335′ Mountain Range: Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains Length: 6 miles Duration: 3 hours. Onion Valley Overview Onion Valley Campground has 30 single-family campsites and sits at an elevation of 9,200 feet offering breathtaking views of the mountain peaks of the Sierra Nevada. Onion Valley Creek The Onion Valley Creek is a gold mine located in Plumas county, California at an elevation of 3,609 feet. A bear-proof locker is located at each site at Onion Valley Campground. About halfway up is Gilbert Lake / Flower lake which can make a good point for a mid morning break. Bishop, CA 93514. Continue south deviating from the main trail onto a side trail, eventually passing Matlock Lake. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Trailhead: Onion Valley, near the town of Independence. Firewood for sale in campground. Charlotte Hated it. Historically, there has been a high level of bear activity in the Onion Valley area. Onion Valley/Kearsarge Pass Trailhead. into the High Sierra Photo by Becky Wright Inyo National Forest Wilderness Food Storage Requirements, Forest Service Home | USDA.gov | recreation.gov | Recreation Customer Service Standards | USA.gov | Whitehouse.gov, Plug-Ins | FOIA | Accessibility Statement | Privacy Policy | Important Notices | Information Quality, https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/inyo/recarea/?recid=20682, This site can be reserved by calling Toll Free 1-877-444-6777 (International 518-885-3639 or TDD 877-833-6777) or on-line at. Fill up your water at the running spring fountain there too as there's no running water at Onion Valley. Onion Valley Reservoir is displayed on the Onion Valley USGS quad topo map. The city functions as a commuter town for residents, though there is an increasing amount of commercial activity in the area. National Forests in California are using recreation fee revenues to improve and enhance recreation opportunities. Starting from 395 is mentally challenging, as you climb up a (nearly) unchanging desert floor for nearly 2,000 ft of elevation gain. Inyo County, CA The swimming hole that draws the crowds to North Fork is easily accessible from Onion Valley. Onion Valley has a campground (no amenities), parking area, pit toilets and several bear-proof food boxes. There is even a campground right by the trailhead if you arrive late. Sport fish include rainbow trout, bowcutt trout (rainbow x cutthroat trouthybrid), and tiger trout (brown x brook trout hybrid). Suite 200 This magnificent climb is located in the the heart of the Owens Valley which, with a base elevation of 4,500' and surrounded by multiple 14,000', peaks is one of the deepest valleys in the U.S. Active bear area, bear boxes are provided and must be used (typical bear box size 48" x 30" x 36"). The trail is primarily used for hiking, camping, and fishing and is best used from May until September. Onion Valley Road Photos: John Salmon Start: 3,994 feet Finish: 9,163 feet Length: 12.5 miles Total Elevation: 5,169 feet Rating: Hors Catégorie 4.68 (Beyond Category) More stats: Average Grade: 7.8% Steepest Mile: 9.2% avg Steepest 3 Miles: 8.5% avg Steepest 10 Mile Climbing Section in California (8.3% avg) #1 Most Difficult Road Bike Climb in California #3 Most Difficult Road Bike… Onion Valley is in the Valleys category for Sierra County in the state of California. See other rides. Trip statistics for Kearsarge Pass Trail to North Face: 3.8 miles one-way, 4400 feet total elevation gain with negligible gain on the return. Where: Inyo National Forest; Onion Valley trailhead to Kearsarge lakes via the Kearsarge pass with a side trip to Bullfrog Lake. TRAILHEAD ELEVATION - 9,200 feet HIGHEST ELEVATION - 11,823 feet @ Kearsarge Pass TRAIL DIFFICULTY - The Kearsarge Pass trail is moderate. Onion Valley Campground is at the end of Onion Valley Road in the Inyo National Forest, 14 miles west of Independence. PCT (Section 120) - Pacific Crest Trail - Located 6.9 miles away, on the Onion Valley Topo Map: Madora Lake Loop Trail - Plumas Eureka SP - Located 8.6 miles away, on the Johnsville Topo Map: ... Gain (cumulative elevation gain) is the sum of every gain in elevation. Elevation Gain: about 3,000 up to Kearsarge Pass. Rae Lakes Basin. Park in the lot, where you can fill up on water and use the toilets. For more information check out the facility details on the Recreation.govwebsite when making reservations. Duration: ~5:20 total, for reasonably in-shape hikers that live at 6,500 feet. Please consider becoming a member Elevation: 2,500 feet of elevation gain. Although there is a lot of climbing to get over Kearsarge pass, our group did fine with a night at Onion Valley Campground to get a bit acclimated. Trailhead: Onion Valley, near the town of Independence. Getting up there at 9,200 feet, the campground itself is protected by majestic, granite peaks, and perfumed sweetly by lodgepole Pine and Aspen trees. Hiking Trail or Trailhead. The ONION VALLEY TRAILHEAD is 15 miles west of Independence. Map showing recreational areas. Trailhead: Onion Valley Trailhead (you could technically start at Whitney Portal, but its much harder to get permits to, so most people start at Onion Valley) Trailhead Elevation: 9,600 feet if … The road is usually open from May through November. Elevation Gain: about 3,000 up to Kearsarge Pass. The standard baitsinclude nightcrawlers and Power Bait along with flies (nymph patterns andwoolly bugers) fished fr… Below are weather averages from 1971 to 2000 according to data gathered from the nearest official weather station. The road to Onion Valley is usually open from May to November. The road is usually open from May to November, depending on snow conditions. Shortly after the trailhead the trail to Golden Trout Lake separates from the Kearsarge Pass Trail marked by an old wooden sign. Onion Valley Food Boxes. Anglers generally catch trout ranging from 9 to 16 inches. Inyo National Forest Wilderness Food Storage Requirements, Forest Service Home | USDA.gov | recreation.gov | Recreation Customer Service Standards | USA.gov | Whitehouse.gov, Plug-Ins | FOIA | Accessibility Statement | Privacy Policy | Important Notices | Information Quality, https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/inyo/recarea/?recid=21407, Eastern Sierra Interagency Visitor Center. Onion Valley has a campground (no amenities), parking area, pit toilets and several bear-proof food boxes. Onion Valley Campground to Flower Lake is a 4.3 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Independence, California that features a waterfall and is rated as moderate. Don’t know if it was the rain or the fact that we lost about 300 ft. in elevation gain. Onion Valley to Kearsarge Pass Trail. Sport fish include rainbow trout, bowcutt trout (rainbow x cutthroat trout hybrid), and tiger trout (brown x brook trout hybrid). Leave early to avoid the crowds, as the first basin is within easy reach of day hikers. All trash must be disposed of in the bear proof trash receptacles. This data provide the public an early look at a home or community’s projected risk to flood hazards. Sunset on Flower Lake. Fri 09/16 (52.8 miles) Rose Summit North Sun 09/11 (30.4 miles) Nebo Loop Road North Fri 09/09 (10.1 miles) Hicks Rd / Mt. Sites up to 25 feet long. Onion Valley Rd & Campground (7,500' elevation), Inyo National Forest, Independence Region, Eastern Sierra Nevada. Map Information, Onion Valley Area Campgrounds Guide (pdf). The Onion Valley (2804 m) trail head. Lots of scenery lots of water one major waterfall that we hiked to the river was flowing very nicely down the mountain great scenery. Walla Walla is the largest city and county seat of Walla Walla County, Washington, United States. Our first day setting up car shuttles and staying overnight at Onion Valley Campground. JMT Mile 37 - Rae Lakes Sunset. Onion Valley to Kearsarge Pass Trail . You'll be taking the Kearsarge Pass trail when you set off in the morning, so if you want to see something else, I recommend taking one of the other trails. The main trail rises gently for some one and a half miles to the first lake, Little Pothole Lake. Recreation Map Onion Valley campground has 29 campsites and is located next to a stream. Onion Valley Reservoir is a reservoir in Nevada and has an elevation of 7067 feet. Our party was planning on camping there the night before to acclimate to elevation, then head over kearsarge pass to climb Charlotte Dome (1 day approach, 1 day climb, 1 day return). Begin hiking at the trailhead sign on the north end of the parking lot. Onion Valley Campground is at the end of Onion Valley Road in the Inyo National Forest, 14 miles west of Independence. Historical Weather. Created: Aug 31, 2013 Marcsoltan. Park in the lot, where you can fill up on water and use the toilets. Go west from Independence 15 miles to the road-end parking lot. Go west from Independence 15 miles to the road-end parking lot. Suite 200 See how your fees have made a difference! Just up the road Onion Valley's sites (all walk-in / first come, first served) were wide open. The latitude and longitude coordinates of Onion Valley Reservoir are 39.7931718, -120.8792227 and the approximate elevation is 6,273 feet (1,912 meters) above sea level. Kearsarge Pass also is the quickest way to go “over the top” of the Sierra Nevada, from east to … Onion Valley Campground. Created: Sep 09, 2013 Marcsoltan. National Forests in California are using recreation fee revenues to improve and enhance recreation opportunities. Potable water is readily available at abundant faucets and the facilities are well maintained. Below are weather averages from 1971 to 2000 according to data gathered from the nearest official weather station. However, if you want credit for conquering Onion Valley, you’ll have to start at the bottom at 395 (which I did on my first ascent of Onion Valley). Once at Onion Valley Campground, if time permits I recommend getting acclimated by taking a short day hike along one of the many trails that begin from here. The elevation gained is very impressive. The trail is very high quality and very steady. This tool allows you to look up elevation data by searching address or clicking on a live google map. The road is usually open from May to November, depending on snow conditions. Depending on where you are coming from your day one is most likely going to be setting up your car shuttle from Whitney Portal to Onion Valley. Once you have your permit in hand, drive to the Onion Valley Trailhead (see map), which is about 15 miles west of the town of Independence, CA and sits at an elevation of 9185 feet. Onion Valley is a smallish campground with difficult tent sites carved out of rough terrain; there is very little level ground to be had. The campsites themselves are a bit on the crunchy side, but provide all the basics as well as jaw-dropping mountain vistas. The Robinson and Golden Trout Lakes trails are infrequently maintained and strenuous. Onion valley to flowers lake: Immediate kick to the butt with the switchbacks (they seemed never ending on the way back yesterday). Onion valley to flowers lake: Immediate kick to the butt with the switchbacks (they seemed never ending on the way back yesterday). The campground is adjacent to a creek and lake. The hike to Flower Lake is a gradual incline of switchbacks and at any view point, you have 360 degrees of epic scenery. 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