Jennie Lakes Wilderness
Encyclopedia
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
, and added to the National Wilderness Preservation System
.
and west of Kings Canyon National Park
.
The wilderness area is bisected by the Boulder Creek canyon that is 1000 feet (304.8 m) deep. The eastern half is a high plateau bounded by a ridge and the western half is dominated by Shell Mountain 9594 feet (2,924.3 m) as well as Weaver Lake. Elevations range from 6640 feet (2,023.9 m) to 10365 feet (3,159.3 m) at Mitchell Peak
.
There are six lakes within the wilderness, with Jennie Lake the largest and highest in elevation at 9000 feet (2,743.2 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
.
and lodgepole pine
are the primary forest cover with granitic outcroppings typical of the Sierra Nevada Mountains
. Black bears
are common in the area.
, 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.
Protected area
Protected areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognised natural, ecological and/or cultural values. There are several kinds of protected areas, which vary by level of protection depending on the enabling laws of each country or the regulations of the international...
in the Sierra Nevada, in Tulare County, California
Tulare County, California
Tulare County is a county located in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California, south of Fresno. Sequoia National Park is located in the county, as are part of Kings Canyon National Park, in its northeast corner , and part of Mount Whitney, on its eastern border...
. It is located 60 miles (97 km) east of Fresno
Fresno
Fresno is the fifth largest city in California.Fresno may also refer to:-Places:Colombia* Fresno, TolimaSpain* Fresno, a ghost village in Nidáliga, Valle de Sedano, Burgos* Aldea del Fresno, Madrid* Fresno de la Vega, Ribera del Esla, León...
and managed by the US Forest Service.
Jennie Lakes Wilderness is about nine square miles within the Sequoia National Forest
Sequoia National Forest
Sequoia National Forest is located in the southern Sierra Nevada mountains of California. The U.S. National Forest is named for the majestic Giant Sequoia trees which populate 38 distinct groves within the boundaries of the forest....
, that was established by the California Wilderness Act of 1984
California Wilderness Act of 1984
The California Wilderness Act of 1984 is a federal law , passed by the United States Congress on September 28, 1984, that authorized the addition of over within the state of California to the National Wilderness Preservation System....
, and added to the National Wilderness Preservation System
National Wilderness Preservation System
The National Wilderness Preservation System of the United States protects federally managed land areas designated for preservation in their natural condition. It was established by the Wilderness Act upon the signature of President Lyndon B. Johnson on September 3, 1964...
.
Geography
Jennie Lakes Wilderness is situated immediately north of Sequoia National ParkSequoia National Park
Sequoia National Park is a national park in the southern Sierra Nevada east of Visalia, California, in the United States. It was established on September 25, 1890. The park spans . Encompassing a vertical relief of nearly , the park contains among its natural resources the highest point in the...
and west of Kings Canyon National Park
Kings Canyon National Park
Kings Canyon National Park is a National Park in the southern Sierra Nevada, east of Fresno, California. The park was established in 1940 and covers...
.
The wilderness area is bisected by the Boulder Creek canyon that is 1000 feet (304.8 m) deep. The eastern half is a high plateau bounded by a ridge and the western half is dominated by Shell Mountain 9594 feet (2,924.3 m) as well as Weaver Lake. Elevations range from 6640 feet (2,023.9 m) to 10365 feet (3,159.3 m) at Mitchell Peak
Mitchell Peak
Mitchell Peak is a solitary peak 13 nautical miles west of Birchall Peaks on the south side of Guest Peninsula in Marie Byrd Land. It was sighted by R. Admiral Byrd, December 5, 1929, while on an airplane flight over this coast. Named by Byrd for Hugh C. Mitchell, mathematician of the U.S...
.
There are six lakes within the wilderness, with Jennie Lake the largest and highest in elevation at 9000 feet (2,743.2 m). Boulder Creek flows from Jennie Lake and is a major tributary to the South Fork Kings River
Kings River (California)
The Kings River is a major river of south-central California. About long, it drains an area of the high western Sierra Nevada and the Central Valley. A large alluvial fan has formed where the river's gradient decreases in the Central Valley so the river divides into distributaries...
. Stony Creek begins south of Shell Mountain and flows into the North Fork Kaweah River
Kaweah River
The Kaweah River in the U.S. state of California flows westward from the foothills of the Sierra Nevada into the Central Valley. It rises in forks in the southern Sierra Nevada inside Sequoia National Park, the longest of which is the Middle Fork, about long...
.
Ecology
Red firRed Fir
Abies magnifica, the Red Fir or Silvertip fir, is a western North American fir, native to the mountains of southwest Oregon and California in the United States. It is a high altitude tree, typically occurring at altitude, though only rarely reaching tree line...
and lodgepole pine
Lodgepole Pine
Lodgepole Pine, Pinus contorta, also known as Shore Pine, is a common tree in western North America. Like all pines, it is evergreen.-Subspecies:...
are the primary forest cover with granitic outcroppings typical of the Sierra Nevada Mountains
Sierra Nevada (US)
The Sierra Nevada is a mountain range in the U.S. states of California and Nevada, between the California Central Valley and the Basin and Range Province. The Sierra runs north-to-south, and is approximately across east-to-west...
. Black bears
American black bear
The American black bear is a medium-sized bear native to North America. It is the continent's smallest and most common bear species. Black bears are omnivores, with their diets varying greatly depending on season and location. They typically live in largely forested areas, but do leave forests in...
are common in the area.
Recreation
Recreational activities include day hikingHiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
, backpacking
Backpacking (wilderness)
Backpacking combines the activities of hiking and camping for an overnight stay in backcountry wilderness...
, horsepacking, fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
, and cross-country skiing
Skiing
Skiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....
.
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
Leave No Trace
Leave No Trace is both a set of principles, and an organization that promotes those principles. The principles are designed to assist outdoor enthusiasts with their decisions about how to reduce their impacts when they hike, camp, picnic, snowshoe, run, bike, hunt, paddle, ride horses, fish, ski or...
principles of outdoor travel to minimize human impact on the environment.