Sierra Nevada - Kennedy Lake Exploration 1995

On July 19-25, 1995 myself and Gil Beilke backpacked 41 miles round trip from the Kennedy Meadows Resort near Sonora Pass up to the saddle above Kennedy Lake and back with a couple of side trips. Map at end of page.

On the first day, after driving over Sonora Pass, we backpacked from the Kennedy Meadows Resort trailhead to the Kennedy Creek trail junction, then up Kennedy Creek to a creekside campsite about five and a half miles from the start. This became our basecamp for several day hikes.

Stanislaus River at Kennedy Meadow Resort trailhead - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Stanislaus River at Kennedy Meadow Resort trailhead - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Kennedy Creek bridge -  Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Kennedy Creek bridge - Emigrant Wilderness 1995

Kennedy Creek above bridge - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Kennedy Creek above bridge - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Kennedy Peak over Kennedy Creek meadow - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Kennedy Peak over Kennedy Creek meadow - Emigrant Wilderness 1995

Flower bed near camp - Emigrant Wilderness1995
Flower bed near camp - Emigrant Wilderness1995
Kennedy Peak, Molo Mountain, Soda Canyon from side of Leavitt Peak - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Kennedy Peak, Molo Mountain, Soda Canyon from side of Leavitt Peak
Emigrant Wilderness 1995

The next day we did a seven mile day hike part way up onto the slope of Leavitte Peak for the views, then back down to the Kennedy Creek trail and up that trail to a point mid-way up the shore of Kennedy Lake, then back past a trail crew campsite to our creekside campsite.

Cascades on the mountain side viewed across canyon from the side of Leavitt Peak - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Cascades on the mountain side viewed across canyon from the side of Leavitt Peak
Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Cascades on the mountain side viewed across canyon from the side of Leavitt Peak - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Cascades on the mountain side viewed across canyon from the side of Leavitt Peak
Emigrant Wilderness 1995

Kennedy Peak, Molo Mountain, Soda Canyon from side of Leavitt Peak - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Kennedy Peak, Molo Mountain, Soda Canyon from side of Leavitt Peak
Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Kennedy Peak from side of Leavitt Peak - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Kennedy Peak from side of Leavitt Peak - Emigrant Wilderness 1995

Molo Mountain, Soda Canyon from side of Leavitt Peak - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Molo Mountain, Soda Canyon from side of Leavitt Peak - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Big Sam, Kennedy Peak, Lost Lake Canyon, Kennedy Lake from side of Leavitt Peak - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Big Sam, Kennedy Peak, Lost Lake Canyon, Kennedy Lake from side of Leavitt Peak
Emigrant Wilderness 1995

Kennedy Peak, Molo Mountain, Soda Canyon from side of Leavitt Peak - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Kennedy Peak, Molo Mountain, Soda Canyon from side of Leavitt Peak
Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Big Sam, Kennedy Peak, Molo Mountain, Lost Canyon, Soda Canyon, Kennedy Lake from side of Leavitt Peak - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Big Sam, Kennedy Peak, Molo Mountain, Lost Canyon, Soda Canyon, Kennedy Lake
from side of Leavitt Peak - Emigrant Wilderness 1995

Cascades across canyon from side of Leavitt Peak - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Cascades across canyon from side of Leavitt Peak - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Big Sam, Lost Creek Canyon, Kennedy Lake from side of Leavitt Peak - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Big Sam, Lost Creek Canyon, Kennedy Lake from side of Leavitt Peak
Emigrant Wilderness 1995

Kennedy Peak, Molo Mountain from side of Leavitt Peak - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Kennedy Peak, Molo Mountain from side of Leavitt Peak - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Westerly Soda Canyon cascade area from side of Leavitt Peak - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Westerly Soda Canyon cascade area from side of Leavitt Peak
Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Kennedy Peak, Relief Peak over Mule Ears garden - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Kennedy Peak, Relief Peak over Mule Ears garden - Emigrant Wilderness 1995

Mule Ears garden - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Mule Ears garden - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Mule Ears garden - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Mule Ears garden - Emigrant Wilderness 1995

Mule Ears garden - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Mule Ears garden - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Mule Ears - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Mule Ears - Emigrant Wilderness 1995

Mule Ears - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Mule Ears - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Mule Ears - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Mule Ears - Emigrant Wilderness 1995

Mule Ears - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Mule Ears - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Mule Ears - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Mule Ears - Emigrant Wilderness 1995

Flowers - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Flowers - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Flowers - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Flowers - Emigrant Wilderness 1995

Kennedy Peak and Creek - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Kennedy Peak and Creek - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Cabin and Kennedy Meadow below Kennedy Lake - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Cabin and Kennedy Meadow below Kennedy Lake - Emigrant Wilderness 1995

Cabin below Kennedy Lake - Emigrant Wilderness 1993
Cabin below Kennedy Lake - Emigrant Wilderness 1993
Kennedy Creek - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Kennedy Creek - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Flower garden - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Flower garden - Emigrant Wilderness 1995

Kennedy Lake, Big Sam - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Kennedy Lake, Big Sam - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Kennedy Lake, Big Sam - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Kennedy Lake, Big Sam - Emigrant Wilderness 1995

The next day we did a ten mile day hike past the trail crew campsite to the Soda Spring trail. We hiked up that trail past Soda Spring to upper Soda Canyon then down a little and contoured over to the upper part of the westerly fork and a cascade, then back down past Soda Spring to the main trail and past the trail crew campsite to our creekside campsite.

Snow Plant - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Snow Plant - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Snow Plant - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Snow Plant - Emigrant Wilderness 1995

Soda Canyon area map - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Soda Canyon area map - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Soda Canyon - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Soda Canyon - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Soda Canyon - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Soda Canyon - Emigrant Wilderness 1995

Soda Canyon Creek - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Soda Canyon Creek - Emigrant Wilderness 1995

Soda Canyon toward west cascade - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Soda Canyon toward west cascade - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Soda Canyon Creek - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Soda Canyon Creek - Emigrant Wilderness 1995

Soda Canyon toward west cascade - Emigrant Wilderness 1993
Soda Canyon toward west cascade - Emigrant Wilderness 1993
Molo Mountain, Soda Canyon - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Molo Mountain, Soda Canyon - Emigrant Wilderness 1995

Molo Mountain, upper Soda Canyon - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Molo Mountain, upper Soda Canyon - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Molo Mountain, upper Soda Canyon - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Molo Mountain, upper Soda Canyon - Emigrant Wilderness 1995

Looking down Soda Canyon, Gil Beilke - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Looking down Soda Canyon, Gil Beilke - Emigrant Wilderness 1995

Upper Soda Canyon cascade - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Upper Soda Canyon cascade - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Upper Soda Canyon cascade - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Upper Soda Canyon cascade - Emigrant Wilderness 1995

Upper Soda Canyon cascade - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Upper Soda Canyon cascade - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Upper Soda Canyon cascade - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Upper Soda Canyon cascade - Emigrant Wilderness 1995

Upper Soda Canyon cascade - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Upper Soda Canyon cascade - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Upper Soda Canyon cascade - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Upper Soda Canyon cascade - Emigrant Wilderness 1995

Bent trees in Soda Canyon - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Bent trees in Soda Canyon - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
West Soda Canyon cascade - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
West Soda Canyon cascade - Emigrant Wilderness 1995

West Soda Canyon cascade - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
West Soda Canyon cascade - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
West Soda Canyon cascade - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
West Soda Canyon cascade - Emigrant Wilderness 1995

West Soda Canyon cascade - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
West Soda Canyon cascade - Emigrant Wilderness 1995

West Soda Canyon cascade - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
West Soda Canyon cascade - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
West Soda Canyon cascade - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
West Soda Canyon cascade - Emigrant Wilderness 1995

West Soda Canyon cascade - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
West Soda Canyon cascade - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Leavitt Peak (Gil Beilke's route) - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Leavitt Peak (Gil Beilke's route) - Emigrant Wilderness 1995

Willow cotton - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Willow cotton - Emigrant Wilderness 1995

The next day I took a lay over day and took flower pictures while Gil Beilke climbed Leavitt Peak.

Willow cotton - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Willow cotton - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Lost Lake cascades upper end of Kennedy Creek - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Lost Lake cascades upper end of Kennedy Creek - Emigrant Wilderness 1995

Looking back on Kennedy Lake and meadow - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Looking back on Kennedy Lake and meadow - Emigrant Wilderness 1995

The next day we did a thirteen mile day hike past the trail crew campsite to the upper end of Kennedy Lake, then past the "Hollywood Bowl" area to the Kennedy Saddle and the Pacific Crest Trail. We then backtracked to our creekside campsite.

Kennedy Lake and Leavitt Peak - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Kennedy Lake and Leavitt Peak - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Lost Lake cascades - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Lost Lake cascades - Emigrant Wilderness 1995

Lost Lake cascades - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Lost Lake cascades - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Lost Lake cascades - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Lost Lake cascades - Emigrant Wilderness 1995

Kennedy Lake - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Kennedy Lake - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Kennedy Lake - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Kennedy Lake - Emigrant Wilderness 1995

Cascades - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Cascades - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Flowers - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Flowers - Emigrant Wilderness 1995

Flowers - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Flowers - Emigrant Wilderness 1995

Flowers - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Flowers - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Flowers - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Flowers - Emigrant Wilderness 1995

Cascade above Kennedy Lake - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Cascade above Kennedy Lake - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Tree Moss - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Tree Moss - Emigrant Wilderness 1995

Tree Moss - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Tree Moss - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Cascade above Kennedy Lake, Gil Beilke - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Cascade above Kennedy Lake, Gil Beilke - Emigrant Wilderness 1995

Cascade above Kennedy Lake - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Cascade above Kennedy Lake - Emigrant Wilderness 1995

Below 'Hollywood' Bowl, Gil Beilke - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Below "Hollywood" Bowl, Gil Beilke - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Cascade near 'Hollywood' Bowl - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Cascade near "Hollywood" Bowl - Emigrant Wilderness 1995

Avalanche debris - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Avalanche debris - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Avalanche debris - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Avalanche debris - Emigrant Wilderness 1995

Avalanche debris, Kennedy Lake - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Avalanche debris, Kennedy Lake - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Gil Beilke photographing plant - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Gil Beilke photographing plant - Emigrant Wilderness 1995

'Hollywood Bowl', BIg Sam - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
"Hollywood Bowl", BIg Sam - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
'Hollywood Bowl', BIg Sam - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
'Hollywood Bowl', BIg Sam - Emigrant Wilderness 1995

Old mine road on Kennedy Saddle, start of climb to Big Sam - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Old mine road on Kennedy Saddle, start of climb to Big Sam - Emigrant Wilderness 1995

Kennedy Peak from Kennedy Saddle - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Kennedy Peak from Kennedy Saddle - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Big Sam from Kennedy Saddle, old mine road half way up on left - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Big Sam from Kennedy Saddle, old mine road half way up on left
Emigrant Wilderness 1995

Big Sam from Kennedy Saddle - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Big Sam from Kennedy Saddle - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Looking toward route over ridge to Leavitt Lake - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Looking toward route over ridge to Leavitt Lake - Emigrant Wilderness 1995

Kennedy Peak from Kennedy Saddle area - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Kennedy Peak from Kennedy Saddle area - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Kennedy Peak from Kennedy Saddle area - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Kennedy Peak from Kennedy Saddle area - Emigrant Wilderness 1995

Kennedy Creek cascade on way back down to camp - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Kennedy Creek cascade on way back down to camp - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Kennedy Creek cascade on way back down to camp - Emigrant Wilderness 1995
Kennedy Creek cascade on way back down to camp - Emigrant Wilderness 1995

The next day we took a lay over day and rested.

The final day of the trip we backpacked five and a half mies out to the Kennedy Meadows Resort trailhead and drove home after a great trip.

For my climb of Big Sam and more about the Kennedy Saddle area see Sierra Nevada - Hoover/Emigrant Wilderness - Sonora Pass Loop trip.

Kennedy Lake Exploration Map 1995
Kennedy Lake Exploration Map 1995
Kennedy Lake Exploration Itinerary 1995
Kennedy Lake Exploration Itinerary 1995
Kennedy Lake Exploration Itinerary 1995
Kennedy Lake Exploration Itinerary 1995