Near: Fresno (but not really)
Trip Type: Backpack (2-4 days)
Distance: 25 miles
Elevation: 7,300 to 10,900 feet
Vegetation: Pine Forest, Meadows, and Moonscape
Last Visit: July 2018
**Note: the Thomas A Edison Lake and Florence Lake areas were heavily impacted by the Creek Fire of 2020. Check the
Sierra National Forest website for up to date information on trail closures.**
The John Muir Trail, from Mt Whitney to Yosemite Valley along the Pacific Crest, is one of the most famous trails in the world. Much of this fabulous trail is off limits to dogs as it passes through Yosemite, Kings Canyon, and Sequoia National Parks, but not all of it. A good 70 miles of continuous trail through the heart of the high Sierra is open to dogs though, as the trail passes through the John Muir Wilderness and Ansel Adam Wilderness between Yosemite and Kings Canyon. Having already visited (and loved) some
sections of the trail in the Ansel Adams Wilderness before, we decided to check out a southerly portion of this dog-friendly section, backpacking from Florence Lake to Thomas A Edison Lake by way of Seldon Pass and Marie Lake (picture above). Ansel Adams still takes the prize on wow-factor, but this hike was almost as eye-popping and has an extra novelty factor from some optional boat rides at the start and end. We did it in 4 days (really 3 days and a couple hours) but we spend a middle day goofing off in the high terrain around Mt. Hooper overlooking Lake Marie. A fit group could do this hike as an overnight or even an epic day-hike, though making the ferries in time might be rough and leaving them out would add and extra 10 miles to the loop.
