Sierra Nevada - Hockett Peak
HOCKETT PEAK LOOP TRIP
Itinerary Elevation Miles Between Points Miles
From
Start
Miles Today Grade
Feet Per
Mile
Elevation Change
TOPOGRAPHIC MAP: Hockett Peak, 15 minute (Note: Trail information is out of date)
FOREST MAP: Sequoia National Forest (Current trail information)

Drive almost to end of paved Forest Road 22S82 (Spring 1972), 45 miles North of Kernville. Look for Fish Creek Meadows Trail (32E12) which crosses the road about one mile before it ends.
Fish Creek Meadows Trail (32E12) 5700 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0
Trail 32E12 to Jerky Meadows (to junction with 33E01) 6900 2.0 2.0 2.0 +600 +1200
Trail 33E01 to Little Kern River junction at Horse Bridge with 32E15 5800 2.5 4.5 4.5 -440 -1100
Trail 33E01 to junction with 33E14 6000 0.5 5.0 5.0 +400 +200
Trail 33E14 to junction with 32E02 6400 1.3 6.3 6.3 +308 +400
Trail 33E14 to Saddle 6800 0.8 7.1 7.1 +500 +400
Trail 33E14 to Willow Meadows Campground just above (north) junction with 33E01 north of Trout Meadow 6400 1.4 8.5 8.5 -286 -400
 
Trail 33E01 North to junction with 33E06 6500 0.5 9.0 0.5 +200 +100
Trail 33E06 to Hockett Meadow and junction with 33E07 7600 2.0 11.0 2.5 +550 +1100
Trail 33E07 to Hockett Peak Ridge 8300 1.0 12.0 3.5 +700 +700
Climb Hackett Peak 8551 0.3 12.3 3.8 +837 +251
Trail 33E07 to Hockett Peak Creek 6300 3.0 15.3 6.8 -667 -2000
Trail 33E07 to Kern River Trail below footbridge - junction with 33E20 5000 2.0 17.3 8.8 -650 -1300
Trail 33E20 South to Kern Flat Campground near junction with 33E10 5000 1.0 18.3 9.8    
Trail 33E20 to vicinity Upper Pyles Camp and junction with 33E11 4900 1.8 20.1 11.6 -56 -100
 
Trail 33E20 to Forks of Kern at gauging station and junction with 33E23 4700 4.5 24.6 4.5 -44 -200
Trail 33E20 to junction 32E12 5900 3.2 27.8 7.7 +375 +1200
Trail 32E12 to Forest Rd 22S82 5700 1.8 29.6 9.5 -112 -200
 

On this Memorial Weekend trip, May 26-28, 1973, Don Deck, Gordon Lee, Andy Drollinger, Pat Lieb, Larry O'Leary, Mark Twohey, Ricky Erb, Brian Twohey, Mike Casaday, Brad Olson and Chuggy the dog climbed 8551' Hockett Peak on a 30 mile loop backpack.

We left Fletcher Hills about 6 p.m. on Friday. Fairly heavy traffic. Stopped for gas in Riverside and Four Corners. Ran into Russ Boelhauf at Four Corners and visited with him for a while before going on to Lake Isabella where we got gas and met Pat, Larry and Mark about midnight. Drove on to end of Forest Road 22382 arriving about 2 a.m. and sacking out. Should have made end of road by midnight with earlier start and less messing around.

Up at 6 a.m. Saturday and hit the Fish Creek trail for Jerky Meadows about 8 a.m. This is a two-wheel vehicle trail. Steady climb brought us to pretty Jerky Meadow. Took trail down to Horse Bridge on Little Kern River - also a two-wheel vehicle trail. Nice scenery. Shortly after leaving bridge, took Willow Meadow cutoff trail - no bikes.

Had a brunch stop on ridge top just after starting up this trail. Continued over good trail to top of ridge and then dropped into lower Willow Meadow which had a small pond and stream with no fish but lots of frogs. Went swimming and enjoyed sun and relaxation. Arrived about 2 p.m. Had nice campsite with pretty view over lake. Did some sightseeing after supper.

Sunday we were up at 6 a.m. and on trail about 8:15. Bike trail through Willow Meadow was not heavily used by bikes. Our trail to Hockett Meadow was practically unused. Arrived at Hockett Meadow with strong stream and pretty meadow. Somebody saw a bear and a deer.

2014 UPDATE: The 33E06 and 33E07 trails to Hockett Meadow and around Hockett Peak have been abandoned and no longer show on current maps. See this 2012 Bob Burd Trip Report for "some" information.

Had trouble finding Hockett Peak Trail and lost it on the way up. Made the Peak about 1:00 p.m. and ate lunch on top. Couldn't find trail down - found it and lost it - so struggled down steep slopes and through bushes. Arrived at Kern River near foot bridge around 5 p.m. and gathered everyone back together.

Continued to camp below upper Pyles Boy's Camp around 6 p.m. Had nice camp off the bike trail. Beaver were active across the river from camp. River was clear when we arrived, but rose about 6 inches and got muddy during the night.

Up at 6 a.m. Monday and on the brail about 7:30 a.m. Pleasant hike with ups and downs along the river. Had brunch stop below lower Pyles Camp before crossing Little Kern River on cable trolley. In the process a pack got dropped in, but speedy Brian Twohey managed to run down the bank and catch it.

Old men climbed hill on trail while boys dried pack and messed around in river. Arrived at top of hill (hot trail) about 1:00 p.m. - waited until 2 p.m. for boys - and found dirt side road. Hitched ride to cars and came back to pick up the crew. Saved about 2 miles of hiking. Packed cars and headed out about 3 p.m. and arrived home about 10 p.m. Nice spring trip. Warm.

Hockett Peak Loop Trip Route Map

Hockett Peak Loop Trip Profile
NOTE: The steepness of the route is exaggerated by the compressed distance scale.
The gang - Don Deck (behind camera), Gordon Lee, Andy Drollinger, Pat Lieb, Larry O'Leary, Mark Twohey, Ricky Erb, Brian Twohey, Mike Casaday, Brad Olson and Chuggy the dog
The gang - Don Deck (behind camera), Gordon Lee, Andy Drollinger, Pat Lieb, Larry O'Leary, Mark Twohey, Ricky Erb, Brian Twohey, Mike Casaday, Brad Olson and Chuggy the dog
Jerky Meadow trail junction
Jerky Meadow trail junction

Jerky Meadow
Jerky Meadow
Snow Plant
Snow Plant

Approaching Little Kern River
Approaching Little Kern River
Bike and Foot trail junction - we take the foot trail
Bike and Foot trail junction - we take the foot trail

Little Kern River
Little Kern River
Little Kern River Bridge
Little Kern River Bridge

Little Kern River
Little Kern River

Little Kern River
Little Kern River

Little Kern River below the bridge
Little Kern River below the bridge
Little Kern River below the bridge
Little Kern River below the bridge

Little Kern River
Little Kern River
Willow Meadow Cutoff Trail Sign - note the nails in the sign to discourage bears from chewing on the sign
Willow Meadow Cutoff Trail Sign - note the nails in the sign to discourage bears from chewing on the sign

Willow Meadow Trail Junction
Willow Meadow Trail Junction

Lower Willow Meadow
Lower Willow Meadow
Larry O'Leary and Giant Sequoia tree
Larry O'Leary and Giant Sequoia tree

Lower Willow Meadow
Lower Willow Meadow
Lower Willow Meadow
Lower Willow Meadow

Willow Meadow camp
Willow Meadow camp
Willow Meadow camp
Willow Meadow camp

Lower Willow Meadow
Lower Willow Meadow
Evening - Willow Meadow
Evening - Willow Meadow

Morning - Willow Meadow
Morning - Willow Meadow
Morning - Willow Meadow
Morning - Willow Meadow

Morning - Willow Meadow - Chuggy the dog
Morning - Willow Meadow - Chuggy the dog
Hitting the trail at Willow Meadow
Hitting the trail at Willow Meadow

Upper Willow Meadow
Upper Willow Meadow
Forest at Upper Willow Meadow
Forest at Upper Willow Meadow

Water stop at Upper Willow Meadow
Water stop at Upper Willow Meadow
Little used Hockett Meadow trail. This trail is now abandoned and un-marked. Local users apparently do 'some' maintenance
Little used Hockett Meadow trail. This trail is now abandoned and un-marked. Local users apparently do 'some' maintenance

Scene across the valley from the Hockett Meadow trail
Scene across the valley from the Hockett Meadow trail
Looking toward the Kern Canyon from Hockett Meadow trail
Looking toward the Kern Canyon from Hockett Meadow trail

Looking back on Willow Meadow from Hocket Meadow trail
Looking back on Willow Meadow from Hocket Meadow trail
Hockett Meadow
Hockett Meadow

Looking toward the Kern River from Hockett Peak
Looking toward the Kern River from Hockett Peak
Looking toward the Kern Canyon from Hockett Peak
Looking toward the Kern Canyon from Hockett Peak

Looking toward Olancha Peak and Nine Mile Creek from Hockett Peak
Looking toward Olancha Peak and Nine Mile Creek from Hockett Peak

Looking south over the Flat Iron from Hockett Peak
Looking south over the Flat Iron from Hockett Peak
Kern Flat
Kern Flat

Camp at Kern Flat
Camp at Kern Flat
Gordon Lee admires the Kern River
Gordon Lee admires the Kern River

Kern River
Kern River

Gordon Lee admires the Kern River
Gordon Lee admires the Kern River
Flower along the trail next to Kern River
Flower along the trail next to Kern River

Tunerville Trolley over the Little Kern River. While transporting the packs across the river, one fell off and Brian Twohey manage to chase it down the river and retrieve it
Tunerville Trolley over the Little Kern River. While transporting the packs across the river, one fell off and Brian Twohey manage to chase it down the river and retrieve it
Tunerville Trolley over Little Kern River
Tunerville Trolley over Little Kern River

Tunerville Trolley over the Little Kern River
Tunerville Trolley over the Little Kern River
Tunerville Trolley over the Little Kern River
Tunerville Trolley over the Little Kern River

Dog Chuggy rides the Tunerville Trolley across the Little Kern River
Dog Chuggy rides the Tunerville Trolley across the Little Kern River