Jennie Lake via Fox Meadows

Jennie Lake is a beautiful subalpine lake located in the Jennie Lakes Wilderness just outside of Sequoia National Park. There are no backpacking quota restrictions making this a perfect trip that requires little planning.

Your journey starts at the Fox Meadows trailhead on paved Forest Service Road 14S11 located just off the Generals Highway. The hike to Jennie Lakes is ~6.5 miles and takes around 3 hours. Once you begin your hike you start with some tough climbing up the west slope of Shell Mountain where you come to the Jennie Lake/Weaver Lake junction. You will want to take the trail toward Jennie Lake and you soon enter the Jennie Lakes Wilderness. After ascending through the forest on the southern slope of Shell Mountain you soon gradually ascend to the oddly named Poop Out Pass. After going over the pass you descend on a exposed stony hillside and make your way down to Jennie Lakes!

Upon arrival you will be so relieved and amazed by how beautiful the lake is! Once you have taken in all its beauty you will want to find a campsite. Campsites are most plentiful along the north and west sides of the lake. After you have found a campsite you should do yourself a favor and hike to the peak above the lake. You will be rewarded with a 360 degree view from around 10,000 feet elevation.

My favorite way to spend my time at Jennie Lake is fishing. Most people don't know, but Jennie Lake is an incredible wild trout fishing spot, where you can catch Rainbow and Brook Trout. Fishing on the north and west sides of the lake seem to be best and I have never been to this lake and caught less than 10 fish. Most people that fish here like to catch and release to ensure excellent fishing for generations to come.