WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Take a load off! Let our sure-footed horses and mules help you and your gear make it to a beautiful camp in the High Sierra . Tell us how you would like to spend your time in the mountains and we can advise you on the perfect camping trip without the burden of carrying heavy packs.
Whether you are a seasoned backcountry traveler or a first-time camper, we can help you plan a memorable vacation in the spectacular Sierra Nevada and John Muir Wilderness. These pack trips are an ideal get away for friends, families & groups.
Our experienced packers and guides will get you and your gear to camp safely. Your camping gear and food is carefully packed on our sturdy mules (150lb maximum per mule) to a remote and picturesque camp of your choice. Guests may ride or hike into camp . Escape for a quick weekend getaway, or plan an epic backcountry adventure. Our guides will pack your gear into camp and return at a pre-determined date to pack you back out to the pack station.
We can also help you arrange one-way trips (you backpack out), backpack drops (McGee Pass & other locations), and resupplies along the Pacific Crest Trail or John Muir Trail.
WHERE WE CAN TAKE YOU
PLEASE SELECT AN AREA FOR FURTHER DETAILS AND RATES
McGEE & BALDWIN CANYONS range 5-8 miles
HILTON LAKES BASIN range 6-9 miles
CONVICT BASIN range 4-6 miles
FISH CREEK BASIN range 13-16 miles
SEQUIOIA-KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARK
East Side Access
ALL PRICES ARE ONE-WAY
MCGEE & BALDWIN CANYONS
Colorful McGee Canyon – known for jaw-dropping geological color, unequaled displays of wildflowers in season, and stunning fall colors. Dozens of campsites along creeks, meadows and numerous lakes.
Baldwin Canyon is known for its history, stunning metamorphic rock and privacy.
This area is full of lakes, streams and color, day hiking options abound, stunning summits and peaks to climb and explore.
Along McGee Creek: a stretch of stream from 4 – 8miles into the John Muir Wilderness offering campsites in various terrain and opportunity for either campfires, base camping, day hikes or photography. Stunning campsites near Martins Meadow offer unmatched views of the Sierra Crest.
-
Round & Grass Lakes – Small ‘off the track’ lakes ideal for families, centrally located for numerous day hikes. Good jump off points for Meadow, Gold & Crocker lakes.
-
Steelhead Lake – Steel blue lake fed by glacial melt, dramatic granite peaks and spires rise behind this secluded lake. Good fishing and perfect base camp.
-
Big McGee Lake – Large lake offering campsites in numerous locations for base camp, lake fishing, summitting Red Slate Mountain or Hopkins Pass.
RANGE: 5 – 8 miles
▪ Packer $400.00 (each packer can handle up to 5 animals)
▪ Riding Horses or Mules $250.00 each
▪ Pack Mules $250.00 each
Ten Lakes known for fabulous fishing, easy access and excellent campsites along the first four.
Ride in from McGee Creek or hike via Hilton Lakes trailhead or Rock Creek trailhead.
Davis Lake is a large lake with excellent fishing and boundless exploring.
Hilton Lake #2 with lakeside access and day hiking options to lakes further up the stringer of ten lakes.
Hilton Lakes #3, 4 & 5 are alpine lakes along the creek with short hikes and good fishing. Spend the day lakeside and viewing the mountains.
RANGE: 6 – 9 miles
▪ Packer $400.00 (each packer can handle up to 5 animals)
▪ Riding Horses or Mules $250.00 each
▪ Pack Mules $250.00 each
Hikers can access via Convict Canyon trail or via four-wheel-drive to Laurel Pass trailhead. First access and best camping at Genevieve, Edith and Cloverleaf lakes. Stunning lakes with fabulous fishing for Golden, Brook and Rainbow Trout. Day hikes include options to Dorothy, Mildred, Constance and Bright Dot. High & wild, don’t miss the classic old west stories and history of Convict Canyon.
RANGE: (From Trailhead reached by 4WD) 4 – 6 miles
▪ Packer $400.00 (each packer can handle up to 5 animals)
▪ Riding Horses or Mules $250.00 each
▪ Pack Mules $250.00 each
▪ Hauling Fee $200.00 each way
We do have a two-mule minimum for Spot and Dunnage Trips over Laurel Pass.
Upper Fish Creek, known for fly fishing with every variety of stream terrain. Not to miss Horse Heaven and Tully Hole, the seven lakes of the upper basin offer stunning day hikes, incredible views of the the Sierra Crest and the Izaak Walton Range. Lakes include:
-
Hortense Lake – catch a 4 lb Brook trout at 10,000’!
-
Izaak Walton Lake – one of the few remaining high country lakes with pure Golden trout.
-
Tully Lake – a pocket lake where you can spend the day fishing or idling. Glorious scenery.
-
Lee & Cecil Lakes – fabulous Rainbow fishery, backed up by Red Slate Mountain, the highest in the Mammoth Lakes region.
Range: 13 – 16 miles
Dunnage Trips Only
▪ Packer $650.00 (each packer can handle up to 5 animals)
▪ Pack Mules $450.00 each
Upper Fish Creek is a two-day ride for our packers. We do have a two-mule minimum for all Dunnage Trips over McGee Pass.
SEQUOIA-KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARK
Eastside access provides pack stock support to the many remote areas of these dramatic National Parks. Sequoia-Kings Canyon is a testament to size, beauty & diversity – huge mountains, deep canyons, vast plateaus and giant trees.
McGee Creek Pack Station is an authorized provider of Commercial Services in Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park.
HIKER SUPPORT AND RESUPPLY FOR PCT & JMT
We provide pack stock support to guided hikers, thru trail hikers of the John Muir Trail (JMT) and Pacific Crest Trail, (PCT). Continuous hire, multi-day trips can be arranged. As well, re-supplies for PCT & JMT hikers are available.
MT. WHITNEY PACK MULE SUPPORT
One of only 4 providers of service to the Mt. Whitney Management area, McGee Creek Pack Station has the expertise to transport your gear along the backside of Mt. Whitney leaving Horseshoe Meadows. For transport of re-supplies for thru hikers via other Eastside trailheads, it is best to join together with other hikers so as to share cost.
Contact us for pricing, dates and organizing service.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
A 20% non-refundable deposit is required for all Pack Trips.
Upon receipt of deposit, confirmation information will be sent to help you prepare for your trip!
Our pack stock can carry up to 150 pounds of gear. Bulk, volume and dimensions of load may require an additional mule, regardless of weight
Note that each packer can travel with up to 5 head of pack stock.
Bear proof containers are required for safe food storage in the wilderness.
We rent aluminum bear boxes (14″x18″x24″) and 52QT. bear resistant coolers for $10/day.
We encourage you to purchase trip insurance if you do not want to risk the loss of your payment due to illness or family emergency. Here is one source of trip insurance. There are many others.