Courtwright to Florence

Hike Name: Courtwright to Florence Location: central CA Length: 50 Submitted by: John Cameron Date Submitted: 0/0/00 Rating:	more California trail reviews California national parks California state parks
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Description
From Courtwright Reservoir, we hike four miles to Hobbler Lake, where the fishing is a sure thing for brook trout to 10" and there are good forested campsites on both sides of the lake. The next day, shoot a compass course back to the main trail or backtrack about a mile to meet it. From here, descend to Post Corral Meadows where you can pity the backpackers who put up with flies and no fish to camp there, then ascend to Fleming Lake and Rae Lake at around 9500 feet. If you feel up to it at this point, there is better camping, better fishing, fewer insects, and fewer people at Disappointment Lake another 3 miles or so on. If not, plan to spend the night at Rae where the scenery is outstanding but the flies are healthy. A layover at Disappointment or Hell-For Sure lake is a good bet at this point. Don't forget to visit the other lakes in Red Mountain basin, especially if you are a fly fisher. From here, ascend a few hundered feet to Hell For Sure pass, where the trail enters King's Canyon National Park. Old maps and trail guides describe the trail as descending to near Evolution Creek in Goddard Canyon. Don't pay any attention to them. The trail ascends the San Joaquin River for several miles and several uphill climbs. A side trip to the top of Red Mountain is worthwhile from Hell For Sure pass. You will be able to identify several Central Sierra massifs, including Mt. Goddard. The scenery from this trail is absolutely indescribable.
Once you finally reach the San Joaquin River, you will need to find the unsigned trail leading down it to Evolution Creek. Campsites along this trail are scarce, but so are other backpackers. If you feel up to it, a cross country trip to Martha Lake from here is worthwhile. If not, just enjoy the sure thing ishing for golden trout in the San Joaquin while you work your way down the canyon to Evolution Creek, where you meet up with the Muir Freeway... that is trail, and a whole lot of backpackers. A side trip up to Evolution Valley from here is worthwhile if you have the time and inclination. Picture Yosemite at a little higher elevation and with no roads or crowds. On down the river, you will cross Piaute Creek on a wooden bridge, luckily, since a crossing would be difficult. A couple of miles farther on, the Muir Trial forks to the right and goes on over Seldon Pass and Upper Bear Creek. At this point, a short hike to the river leads to excellent camp sites where fishing for rainbows to 14" and browns to as much as 20" is outstanding, but more difficult than hooking up with the eager little goldens in the upper river. Another 6 miles past the Muir Trail Ranch brings you to the ferry landing that will take you to the trailhead and save 5 miles of hot hiking for $8. We found it worth it. Best time for this trip is August or early September unless you really enjoy feeding mosquitoes.

Directions to Hike
From Fresno, follow highway 168 to the town of Shaver Lake. Continue to Huntington Lake, then over the Kaiser Pass (narrow, winding!) road to Florence Lake. Leave a vehicle at Florence, then backtrack all the way back to Shaver Lake. Just as you are about to leave town, turn left on Dinkey Creek road. Follow it for 13 miles to the Dinkey Ranger Station, where wilderness permits and information can be had. Backtrack 1/4 mile to the bridge over Dinkey Creek, then follow McKinley Grove Road to the Y leading to Wishon
and Courtwight reservoirs. Take the left fork to Courtwright, then turn right at the dam and cross it. You will find a nice, paved parking area on the far side of the lake. The trail follows a 4WD road for a few hundred yards before entering the wilderness. An intermediate, roadside camp is recommended as all of this entails about 6 hours of driving. Badger Flat has free campsites between Kaiser pass and Huntington Lake.

Contact Information
Dinkey Ranger Station at Shave lake or Forest Service at Prather

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