Around Kearsarge, a trail reaching great heights and diverse traces of regional history come together. The Kearsarge Pass Trail offers a clearly identified starting point and a destination with a specified difficulty rating; museums, gardens, and places connected to mining history offer other ways to explore the area. You can plan your outings around your interests in nature and culture.
Elevation and Nature
The Onion Valley Campground in the Kearsarge area sits at an elevation of 9,200 feet beside a stream and a lake. The bodies of water and the elevation give this place a distinct landscape. Black bears, mountain lions, mule deer, pikas, fish, and numerous bird species live in the area.
From Onion Valley to Kearsarge Pass
The Kearsarge Pass Trail leads from Onion Valley at 9,200 feet to Kearsarge Pass at 11,700 feet. The pass is therefore 2,500 feet above the stated starting elevation; the climb is rated moderate.
Beyond Kearsarge Pass, the trail leads into Kings Canyon National Park. It connects with the John Muir Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail and provides access to the Rae Lakes Loop. The Rae Lakes Loop is 41.4 miles long and climbs to 11,978 feet at Glen Pass.
There are also specific reference points for overnight stays along the route. Flower Lake is the first campsite on the route to Kearsarge Pass and is 3.5 miles from the trailhead. Camping at Kearsarge Lakes is limited to two nights. If you plan to stay overnight there, take the limit into account and check the applicable park rules in advance.
Museums, Gardens, and Regional History
The Eastern California Museum in the Kearsarge area features exhibits on the history of Inyo County and the diverse natural and cultural heritage of the Owens Valley and the Eastern Sierra. The museum includes the Mary DeDecker Native Plant Garden, with numerous plants native to the Eastern Sierra. County history and regional plant life are thus showcased in two distinct areas of the museum.
The Manzanar National Historic Site includes historic orchards as well as numerous Japanese gardens and ponds. A restored auditorium from the former camp is used as a visitor center and park administration headquarters. The gardens and buildings offer distinct, specifically identified points of interest for a visit. Visitors are permitted in some areas of the Mount Whitney Hatchery; this restriction is worth bearing in mind when planning to include the hatchery.
Mining History
The mining history around Kearsarge can also be traced through several sites from different periods. The Kearsarge Mining District was named after a Union battleship. In the spring of 1867, an avalanche destroyed eleven cabins in the Kearsarge mining camp. Mining activity in the district continued until around 1870. The Rex Montis Mine was later worked on a larger scale, from 1875 to 1883. The chronology makes clear that the stated end of activity in the district should not be equated with the mine's later operating period. Historically, the Kearsarge mining facilities were connected to Camp Independence by a wagon road.
Discover more destinations: Stovepipe Wells, Lone Pine, Big Pine, Death Valley Junction, Olancha, Independence, Tecopa, Bishop.
For the broader travel overview: Inyo.
