| Jennie Lakes Wilderness | |
|---|---|
 Jennie Lake in August 2021 | |
  | |
| Location | Tulare County, California |
| Nearest city | Fresno |
| Coordinates | 36°41′00″N 118°40′00″W / 36.68333°N 118.66667°W |
| Area | 10,556 acres (42.72 km2) |
| Established | 1984 |
| Governing body | U.S. Forest Service |
| Website | Jennie Lakes Wilderness |
Jennie Lakes Wilderness is a protected area in the Sierra Nevada, in Tulare County, California. It is located 60 miles (97 km) 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,[1] and added to the National Wilderness Preservation System.
The Jennie Lakes Wilderness is a classic high Sierra landscape. It is a 10,500 acre area with a mixture of lakes, mountain peaks, forests, meadows and streams, most of which is above 7,000 feet (2,100 meters) in elevation. The wilderness contains variations of alpine and sub-alpine forest. Lodgepole Pines, Red and White Firs and White (Mountain) Pine dominate the area, while Jeffrey Pines and a few juniper are also present. In the summer, wildflowers are common.[2] Jennie Lake sits about 9,000 feet (2,700 meters) 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 (3,159 meters) 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 (especially holidays). 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. 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.[3] Jennie Lake was named by Sam Ellis for his wife, Jennie (Cortney) Ellis. Sam Ellis "discovered" the lake in 1890. He became the Chief Game Warden for Fresno County and led the initiative, beginning in 1914, to stock Golden trout in lakes and streams in the Sierra Nevada Bullard Family History.