California · Hiking

Whiskey Flat

Whiskey FlatPhoto: inkknife_2000 (7.5 million views +), CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
24.8 mi
round trip
2,118 ft
climb
4,101 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Feb–May, Oct–Nov
best months

Caution at last check

Agency alerts are in effect for this area; weather is good · USFS, OpenWeather · checked 16 h ago

Is Whiskey Flat open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Sequoia National Forest. It doesn't name Whiskey Flat, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · Sequoia National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Whiskey Flat is a hard hike in California's Sequoia National Forest, within the Kern River Ranger District and along the Kern, California Wild and Scenic River. The trail is an out-and-back of about 24.8 miles, with a one-way elevation gain of 2,118 feet, taking you from a low point of 2,732 feet to a high of 4,101 feet. The Forest Service manages the land, and the route is natural-surfaced and open to horses but not to bikes. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show May highs around 80°F and October highs around 81°F, while July and August average near 100°F. That station sits well below the trail, so temperatures on the route run cooler. The hike is open from about April 15 to November 15. Fairview Campground is just 0.2 miles away, and the Packsaddle and Tobias Creek hikes are each about 0.4 miles off. For climbing, Sherman Pass lies about 5.3 miles away.