South Sierra Wilderness
Encyclopedia
The South Sierra Wilderness is a federally designated wilderness protected area
located 65 miles (104.6 km) northeast of Bakersfield, California
.
Created with the passage of the California Wilderness Act of 1984
by the U.S. Congress, it is 62700 acres (253.7 km²) in size, is within both the Sequoia
and Inyo
national forests and is managed by the U.S. Forest Service
.
The South Sierra Wilderness is the most southern Forest Service
managed section of a continuous chain of wilderness areas protecting the Sierra Nevada crest from Walker Pass
to Lake Tahoe
. Elevations range from about 6100 feet (1,859.3 m) near Kennedy Meadows, up to 12132 feet (3,698 m) at Olancha Peak
. The Wild and Scenic
South Fork Kern River
bisects the wilderness in a north - south direction on the east side.
, red fir and lodgepole pine
. The northern portion is more mountainous with Olancha Peak
and Round Mountain.
Wildlife includes the large Monache deer herd
, the sensitive Sierra Nevada Red Fox
, pine marten
s, cougars, and black bear
s.
Native rare plants observed in the area are Kern ceanothus (Ceanothus pinetorum), an edemic shrub found on slopes in pine and red fir forests at elevations between 5000 feet (1,524 m) and 9000 feet (2,743.2 m). The Kern ceanothus is not rare enough to be state or federally listed under the Endangered Species Act
, but is considered by the California Native Plant Society
"uncommon enough that their status should be monitored regularly". Rare wildflowers include
Kern Canyon clarkia (Clarkia xantiana ssp. parviflora) and goosefoot yellow violet (Viola pinetorum ssp. grisea), both endemic to California.
, day hiking
, fishing
, rock climbing
, mountaineering
, skiing
and snowshoe
ing.
.
The Wildrose Trail is nine miles (14 km) in length and travels through Pinyon pine
forests.
The Olancha Pass Trail starts at the Sage Flat Trailhead on the eastside and is six miles (10 km) in length.
The majority of trail users are hunters in autumn and the grazing allotment permittees.
Protected area
Protected areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognised natural, ecological and/or cultural values. There are several kinds of protected areas, which vary by level of protection depending on the enabling laws of each country or the regulations of the international...
located 65 miles (104.6 km) northeast of Bakersfield, California
Bakersfield, California
Bakersfield is a city near the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley in Kern County, California. It is roughly equidistant between Fresno and Los Angeles, to the north and south respectively....
.
Created with the passage of the California Wilderness Act of 1984
California Wilderness Act of 1984
The California Wilderness Act of 1984 is a federal law , passed by the United States Congress on September 28, 1984, that authorized the addition of over within the state of California to the National Wilderness Preservation System....
by the U.S. Congress, it is 62700 acres (253.7 km²) in size, is within both the Sequoia
Sequoia National Forest
Sequoia National Forest is located in the southern Sierra Nevada mountains of California. The U.S. National Forest is named for the majestic Giant Sequoia trees which populate 38 distinct groves within the boundaries of the forest....
and Inyo
Inyo National Forest
Inyo National Forest is a federally administered forest in the United States. The forest covers parts of the eastern Sierra Nevada of California, and the White Mountains of California and Nevada. It contains two wilderness areas: the John Muir Wilderness and the Ansel Adams Wilderness...
national forests and is managed by the U.S. Forest Service
United States Forest Service
The United States Forest Service is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands, which encompass...
.
The South Sierra Wilderness is the most southern Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service may refer to:* Canadian Forest Service* Indian Forest Service* New Zealand Forest Service* United States Forest Service* Forestry Commission in the United Kingdom...
managed section of a continuous chain of wilderness areas protecting the Sierra Nevada crest from Walker Pass
Walker Pass
Walker Pass is a mountain pass by Lake Isabella in the southern Sierra Nevada mountains. It is located in northeastern Kern County, approximately 53 mi ENE of Bakersfield and 10 mi WNW of Ridgecrest...
to Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe is a large freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada of the United States. At a surface elevation of , it is located along the border between California and Nevada, west of Carson City. Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America. Its depth is , making it the USA's second-deepest...
. Elevations range from about 6100 feet (1,859.3 m) near Kennedy Meadows, up to 12132 feet (3,698 m) at Olancha Peak
Olancha Peak
Olancha Peak is located in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California. The mountain rises to an elevation of on the Tulare-Inyo county line in the South Sierra Wilderness...
. The Wild and Scenic
National Wild and Scenic River
National Wild and Scenic River is a designation for certain protected areas in the United States.The National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act was an outgrowth of the recommendations of a Presidential commission, the Outdoor Recreation Resources Review Commission...
South Fork Kern River
Kern River
The Kern River is a river in the U.S. state of California, approximately long. It drains an area of the southern Sierra Nevada mountains northeast of Bakersfield. Fed by snowmelt near Mount Whitney, the river passes through scenic canyons in the mountains and is a popular destination for...
bisects the wilderness in a north - south direction on the east side.
Ecology
Two very different landscapes are within the boundaries; the Kern Plateau occupies the southern portion with low, forested ridges, narrow meadows, and woodlands of Jeffrey pineJeffrey Pine
The Jeffrey Pine, Pinus jeffreyi, named in honor of its botanist documenter John Jeffrey, is a North American pine related to Ponderosa Pine.-Distribution and habitat:...
, red fir and lodgepole pine
Lodgepole Pine
Lodgepole Pine, Pinus contorta, also known as Shore Pine, is a common tree in western North America. Like all pines, it is evergreen.-Subspecies:...
. The northern portion is more mountainous with Olancha Peak
Olancha Peak
Olancha Peak is located in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California. The mountain rises to an elevation of on the Tulare-Inyo county line in the South Sierra Wilderness...
and Round Mountain.
Wildlife includes the large Monache deer herd
Mule Deer
The mule deer is a deer indigenous to western North America. The Mule Deer gets its name from its large mule-like ears. There are believed to be several subspecies, including the black-tailed deer...
, the sensitive Sierra Nevada Red Fox
Red Fox
The red fox is the largest of the true foxes, as well as being the most geographically spread member of the Carnivora, being distributed across the entire northern hemisphere from the Arctic Circle to North Africa, Central America, and the steppes of Asia...
, pine marten
American Marten
The American marten is a North American member of the family Mustelidae, sometimes referred to as the pine marten. The name "pine marten" is derived from the common but distinct Eurasian species of Martes...
s, cougars, and black bear
American black bear
The American black bear is a medium-sized bear native to North America. It is the continent's smallest and most common bear species. Black bears are omnivores, with their diets varying greatly depending on season and location. They typically live in largely forested areas, but do leave forests in...
s.
Native rare plants observed in the area are Kern ceanothus (Ceanothus pinetorum), an edemic shrub found on slopes in pine and red fir forests at elevations between 5000 feet (1,524 m) and 9000 feet (2,743.2 m). The Kern ceanothus is not rare enough to be state or federally listed under the Endangered Species Act
Endangered Species Act
The Endangered Species Act of 1973 is one of the dozens of United States environmental laws passed in the 1970s. Signed into law by President Richard Nixon on December 28, 1973, it was designed to protect critically imperiled species from extinction as a "consequence of economic growth and...
, but is considered by the California Native Plant Society
California Native Plant Society
The California Native Plant Society is a California not-for-profit organization that seeks to increase understanding of California's native flora and to preserve that flora. Its "paramount purpose is to preserve wild plants".-History:...
"uncommon enough that their status should be monitored regularly". Rare wildflowers include
Kern Canyon clarkia (Clarkia xantiana ssp. parviflora) and goosefoot yellow violet (Viola pinetorum ssp. grisea), both endemic to California.
Recreational activities
Recreational activities include backpackingBackpacking (wilderness)
Backpacking combines the activities of hiking and camping for an overnight stay in backcountry wilderness...
, day hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
, fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
, rock climbing
Rock climbing
Rock climbing also lightly called 'The Gravity Game', is a sport in which participants climb up, down or across natural rock formations or artificial rock walls. The goal is to reach the summit of a formation or the endpoint of a pre-defined route without falling...
, mountaineering
Mountaineering
Mountaineering or mountain climbing is the sport, hobby or profession of hiking, skiing, and climbing mountains. While mountaineering began as attempts to reach the highest point of unclimbed mountains it has branched into specialisations that address different aspects of the mountain and consists...
, skiing
Skiing
Skiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....
and snowshoe
Snowshoe
A snowshoe is footwear for walking over the snow. Snowshoes work by distributing the weight of the person over a larger area so that the person's foot does not sink completely into the snow, a quality called "flotation"....
ing.
Hiking trails
There are six trailheads leading into the wilderness, and one campground, Kennedy Meadows, providing access to the Pacific Crest TrailPacific Crest Trail
The Pacific Crest Trail is a long-distance mountain hiking and equestrian trail on the Western Seaboard of the United States. The southern terminus is at the California border with Mexico...
.
The Wildrose Trail is nine miles (14 km) in length and travels through Pinyon pine
Pinyon pine
The pinyon pine group grows in the southwestern United States and in Mexico. The trees yield edible pinyon nuts, which were a staple of the Native Americans, and are still widely eaten...
forests.
The Olancha Pass Trail starts at the Sage Flat Trailhead on the eastside and is six miles (10 km) in length.
The majority of trail users are hunters in autumn and the grazing allotment permittees.