Onion valley to flowers lake: Immediate kick to the butt with the switchbacks (they seemed never ending on the way back yesterday). Onion Valley has a campground (no amenities), parking area, pit toilets and several bear-proof food boxes. We went up the night to help acclimate with the elevation before a hike to Kearsarge Pass/Lakes (11,700ft)- we'd be carrying heavy packs so thought it'd smart. Sport fish include rainbow trout, bowcutt trout (rainbow x cutthroat trouthybrid), and tiger trout (brown x brook trout hybrid). Onion Valley Reservoir is a reservoir in Nevada and has an elevation of 7067 feet. Onion Valley Road is rated the most difficult bike climb in California. Onion Valley Campground is at the end of Onion Valley Road in the Inyo National Forest, 14 miles west of Independence. Anyone who is interested in visiting Onion Valley Reservoir can print the free topographic map and street map using the link above. 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. 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. Duration: ~5:20 total, for reasonably in-shape hikers that live at 6,500 feet. Our first day setting up car shuttles and staying overnight at Onion Valley Campground. The main trail rises gently for some one and a half miles to the first lake, Little Pothole Lake. Map showing recreational areas. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Onion Valley Reservoir covers 101 acres when full and has a maximum depth of 24 feet. Score: 89.39% Views: 3185. The campground is usually open mid-May to mid-October and is very close to Independence Creek and the John Muir Wilderness. The Onion Valley Creek is a gold mine located in Plumas county, California at an elevation of 3,609 feet. Hiking Trail or Trailhead. A bear-proof locker is located at each site at Onion Valley Campground. Elevation: 9,200′ Number of Sites: 29; Vehicle Accessibility: no RVs; Camp Fee: Yes; Campsites Reservation: Yes; Toilet: Vault; Water: Piped; Length of Stay: 14 Days; Season: June – Sept; Trailhead Parking; Inyo National Forest Mount Whitney Ranger District 760-876-6200. A few people came late on the 4th, but still was pretty quiet. Many who choose Onion Valley Campground enjoy photography, fishing, and simply soaking in the magnificent scenery.. Onion Valley Campground has 30 campsites. Leave early to avoid the crowds, as the first basin is within easy reach of day hikers. Suite 200 See how your fees have made a difference! No pets allowed in John Muir Wilderness, which is on the other side of Kearsarge Pass; Permit Required: No for hiking. All food and scented items must be stored in the lockers. Go west from Independence 15 miles to the road-end parking lot. The trail is very high quality and very steady. Anglers generally catch trout ranging from 9to 16 inches. Yes for overnight backcountry camping. 16 miles round trip. 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. 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. 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). JMT Mile 37 - Rae Lakes Sunset. – Paul Fretheim. Onion Valley is about 15 miles west of in downtown Independence, at an elevation of about 9,600 feet. Lovely wildflowers color the landscape in late spring and early summer. 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). Recreation Map Best season mid to late. Firewood for sale in campground. Historical Weather. 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. 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. Premium members have access to Google dynamic maps. The Onion Valley (2804 m) trail head. A few stats from Summerson’s book: The nearest weather station for both precipitation and temperature measurements is LEONARD CREEK RA which is approximately 12 miles away and has an elevation of 4,224 feet (2,843 feet lower than Onion Valley Reservoir). Trails from Onion Valley provide acces to the John Muir Wilderness and Kings Canyon National Park. Altitudes about 9800 feet at the parking lot. Our wilderness permits are still good to … For more information about traveling in bear country. Do not store food, trash or scented items in your vehicle. Below are weather averages from 1971 to 2000 according to data gathered from the nearest official weather station. National Forests in California are using recreation fee revenues to improve and enhance recreation opportunities. Elevation and ascent statistics with customisable elevation graph. Onion Valley Reservoir covers 101 acres whenfull and has a maximum depth of 24 feet. Created: Sep 09, 2013 Marcsoltan. The campground is usually booked out pretty far in advance. Inyo National Forest Suite 200 Bullfrog Lake Sunrise. Onion Valley Food Boxes. 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 … Fill up your water at the running spring fountain there too as there's no running water at Onion Valley. As you hike up, you will pass several waterfalls, alpine lakes and fantastic peaks. Onion Valley campground has 29 campsites and is located next to a stream. Onion Valley is about 15 miles west of in downtown Independence, at an elevation of about 9,600 feet. Onion Valley Food Boxes. 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. Map Information, Onion Valley Area Campgrounds Guide (pdf). Where: Inyo National Forest; Onion Valley trailhead to Kearsarge lakes via the Kearsarge pass with a side trip to Bullfrog Lake. Distance: 16 miles round trip (with side exploration), probably just 14 if you’re just going to Kearsarge lakes. Onion Valley Campground is at the end of Onion Valley Road in the Inyo National Forest, 14 miles west of Independence. TRAILHEAD ELEVATION - 9,200 feet HIGHEST ELEVATION - 11,823 feet @ Kearsarge Pass TRAIL DIFFICULTY - The Kearsarge Pass trail is moderate. The hike to Flower Lake is a gradual incline of switchbacks and at any view point, you have 360 degrees of epic scenery. So onion valley campground is closed and they cancelled my permits. Don’t know if it was the rain or the fact that we lost about 300 ft. in elevation gain. The Onion Valley (2804 m) trail head. Onion Valley is displayed on the Sierraville USGS quad topo map. The road is usually open from May through November. Onion Valley is in the Valleys category for Sierra County in the state of California. 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