Kennedy Meadows California

General Store at Kennedy Meadows, on the Kern Plateau, California

There are 2 different places in the Sierra Nevada mountains called Kennedy Meadows. This one photographed above is on the Kern Plateau, located in the Southern Sierra in between Dome Land Wilderness & Golden Trout Wilderness. The infamous Pacific Crest Trail (the PCT) passes through this region. Sequoia National Forest spans most of the land to the south and west of Kennedy Meadows. Inyo National Forest sits directly to the east. Monache Meadows and Olancha Peak are to the north side

kennedy meadows on the kern plateau - 

High elevation Sherman's Pass Road leads uphill from the west, where the steep turn off, next to the Kern River is often gated. Way north of Kernville, CA. Shermans Pass Rd is a paved back road that closes annually for snow, so call the local ranger for up to date weather & road conditions.

Access to Kennedy Meadows from the east side, Inyo County Road # J41 off of Eastern Sierra Highway 395, switchbacks steeply up the paved road to this outdoor recreation mecca. This mountain community is a collection of cabins & campgrounds; open sage meadows, pinyon pines & the South Fork of the Kern River. Many wildfires have scared this area in the recent decades.  Southern Sierra means high desert, sagebrush and minimal water so fire safety is always a big concern over here.

Up behind Troy Meadows Campground, Black Rock station may only be seasonal summer office, if at all. USFS just restructured its ranger offices recently and this one might be cut completely. Kernville rangers should be readily available year round to answer any questions. See Sequoia National Forest for more ranger info and phone numbers.

Leavitt Falls from viewpoint on Sonora Pass, Highway 108 California

kennedy meadows on the sonora pass - 

The other Kennedy Meadows is way further north in the High Sierra on Sonora Pass, Highway 108. Surrounded by Emigrant Wilderness, Carson Iceberg Wilderness and positioned within the Stanislaus National Forest. Known as Kennedy Meadows Resort, it serves as a seasonal horse pack station that is open primarily in the summer months w/ an alpine resort and cabins. The closest town is Dardanelle, CA where you can find rustic lodging accommodations, campgrounds and a general store.

Dense forests and scenic landscapes in Stanislaus National Forest