Jennie Lakes Wilderness is a protected area in the Sierra Nevada, in Tulare County, California. It is located east of Fresno and managed by the US Forest Service. Jennie Lakes Wilderness is about nine square miles within the Sequoia National Forest, that was established by the California Wilderness Act of 1984, and added to the National Wilderness Preservation System. The Jennie Lakes Wilderness is a classic high Sierra landscape. A 10,500 acre area with a mixture of lakes, mountain peaks, forests, meadows and streams, most of which is above 7,000 feet in elevation. The wilderness contains variations of alpine and sub-alpine forest. Lodgepole Pines, Red and White Firs and White Pine dominate the area, while Jeffrey Pines and a few juniper are also present. In the summer, wildflowers are common. Jennie Lake sits about 9,000 feet above sea level and Weaver Lake is slightly lower. The summit of Mitchell Peak is the highest point in the wilderness at 10,365 feet and features views of the surrounding area and of Kings Canyon National Park. In the Jennie Lakes Wilderness, there are two principal lakes, Jennie Ellis Lake and Weaver Lake. Both lakes tend to be busy on weekends. Weaver Lake attracts many day hikers as it lies close to the trailhead. Jennie Lake is often a stop for hikers coming from or going into Sequoia National Park to the south. Campers are expected to avoid camping within 100' of either of the main lakes. Due to growing overuse, a Forest Order is in effect during the busy summer season to help protect the riparian areas near the lakeshores. Smaller and more remote, there is also a pond above JO Pass about a mile east of Jennie Lake and "Poison Pond" sits about a half-mile south of Weaver Lake. Both have a few campsites around them. There are four trailheads that give access to 26 miles of trails as well as connecting walkers to the epic Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park's backcountry - Big Meadow, Rowell Meadow, Marvin Pass and Stony Creek.
Geography
Jennie Lakes Wilderness is situated immediately north of Sequoia National Park and west of Kings Canyon National Park. The wilderness area is bisected by the Boulder Creek canyon that is deep. The eastern half is a high plateau bounded by a ridge and the western half is dominated by Shell Mountain as well as Weaver Lake. Elevations range from to at Mitchell Peak. There are six lakes within the wilderness, with Jennie Lake the largest and highest in elevation at. Boulder Creek flows from Jennie Lake and is a major tributary to the South Fork Kings River. Stony Creek begins south of Shell Mountain and flows into the North Fork Kaweah River.
