# Silver Knapsack Trail

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Silver Knapsack Trail Length 36.2 mi (58.3 km) Location Tulare County, California, USA Trailheads Summit and Clicks Creek Trailheads above Springville, California 36°10′49″N 118°32′06″W / 36.180375°N 118.535071°W / 36.180375; -118.535071 Use Hiking, Backpacking Highest point Florence Peak, 12,438 ft (3,791 m) Difficulty Moderate to strenuous

The **Silver Knapsack Trail** is a 36.2-mile (58.3 km)[a] trail in the [Sierra Nevada](/source/Sierra_Nevada), near [Johnsondale](/source/Johnsondale%2C_California), [Springville](/source/Springville%2C_California), and [Three Rivers, California](/source/Three_Rivers%2C_California).[1] It is located in [Sequoia National Forest](/source/Sequoia_National_Forest) and the southernmost part of [Sequoia National Park](/source/Sequoia_National_Park).[2] Much of the trail lies within the [Golden Trout Wilderness](/source/Golden_Trout_Wilderness).[3][4]

## Background

There are seven glacier-carved lakes along the trail, and most of the trail is above 7,000 feet (2,100 m).[2][5] The Summit Trailhead elevation is 8,250 feet (2,510 m). The elevation of the trail ranges from 6,050 to 9,850 feet (1,840 to 3,000 m). The trail is open from July to October and is very popular with [Boy Scouts](/source/Scout_(Scouting)).[5][6] There are several intersecting and side trails that provide many options varying the exact length and path of a hike, backpacking, or camping excursion.

Starting from Summit Trailhead headed north, the landmarks on the trail are: South Mountaineer Creek, Jacobsen Meadow, Mowery Meadow, Alpine Meadow (which isn't actually alpine in nature), Griswold Meadow, Maggie Mountain, Maggie Lakes, Frog Lakes, Twin Lakes, Sheep Mountain, Quinn Patrol Cabin, Soda Spring Creek and Soda Spring (which has carbonated water), Newlywed Site, Walker Cabin (built in 1886), Mountaineer Creek, Grey Meadow Ranger Station, Clicks Creek, Clicks Creek Trailhead, and then back to Summit Trailhead.[4][5] Several of the cabins in the area were originally built by [sheepherders](/source/Shepherd); for example Quinn Patrol Cabin was built by sheepherder Harry Quinn circa 1900.[4][5]

## Segments

The trail is a circle (loop) hike, generally starting from either the Summit or Clicks Creek Trailheads, both of which are in the southwestern portion of the trail. It is composed of the following segments:[2]

- Summit Trailhead to Alpine Meadow ... 6.5 miles (10.5 km)

- Alpine Meadow to Maggie Lakes ... 6.4 miles (10.3 km)

- Maggie Lakes to Soda Spring Creek ... 9.5 miles (15.3 km)

- Soda Spring Creek to Little Kern River ... 7.5 miles (12.1 km)

- Little Kern River to Clicks Creek Trailhead ... 7.5 miles (12.1 km)

## Silver Knapsack Award

Silver Knapsack Award

Scouts and Leaders who meet the 9 requirements, can earn the **Silver Knapsack Award** patch.[7][8]

## See also

- [Silver Moccasin Trail](/source/Silver_Moccasin_Trail)

## Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-note_a_1-0)** Distances from 35 to 45 miles are listed and they can be accounted for by various trail options and slight measuring differences.

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-three_2-0)** ["Hiking Trails Near 'Wishon Campground' (Springville, CA)"](http://alltrails.com/nearby/us/california/wishon-campground/hiking). All Trails. Retrieved October 28, 2010.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-gorp_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-gorp_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-gorp_3-2) ["Sequoia National Forest: Hiking - Silver Knapsack Trail"](https://web.archive.org/web/20101211225354/http://www.gorp.com/parks-guide/travel-ta-sequoia-national-forest-hiking-and-backpacking-sidwcmdev_116326.html#). Gorp. Archived from [the original](http://www.gorp.com/parks-guide/travel-ta-sequoia-national-forest-hiking-and-backpacking-sidwcmdev_116326.html) on December 11, 2010. Retrieved October 28, 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-trout_4-0)** ["Golden Trout Wilderness Hiking"](http://www.trails.com/activity.aspx?area=14767). Trails.com. Retrieved October 28, 2010.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-hiketrout_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-hiketrout_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-hiketrout_5-2) Swedo, Suzanne (2004). ["4,12"](https://books.google.com/books?id=d9JncpYEwS4C&q=Silver+Knapsack+Trail&pg=PA43). *Hiking California's Golden Trout Wilderness*. A Falcon Guide. Guilford, CT: Globe Pequot Press. pp. 43-€"47, 82-€"84. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-7627-2655-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-7627-2655-5). Retrieved October 28, 2010.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-sierra_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-sierra_6-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-sierra_6-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-sierra_6-3) Jenkins, J. C.; Jenkins, Ruby Johnson (1995). [*Exploring the Southern Sierra, West Side*](https://books.google.com/books?id=Cksp-wOzLZUC&q=Silver+Knapsack+Trail&pg=PA133). Vol. 2. Berkeley, CA: Wilderness Press. pp. 133–136. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-89997-181-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-89997-181-4). Retrieved October 28, 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-trail2_7-0)** ["Silver Knapsack Trail"](http://www.trails.com/tcatalog_trail.aspx?trailid=HGS457-012). Trails.com. Retrieved October 28, 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-miracosta_8-0)** ["Silver Knapsack"](http://www.miracosta.edu/home/bpickett/FinalProject/Activities/Silver_Knapsack.html). Mira Costa College. Retrieved October 28, 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-wlacchat_9-0)** ["Silver Knapsack Trail"](http://www.wlacchat.org/silverknapsackaward.htm). Western LA County Council High Adventure Team. Retrieved October 28, 2010.

## External links

- ["Boy Scout Area 4 High Adventure Awards (2018)"](http://www.highadventureawards.com).

- ["Boy Scout Troop 484 on the Golden Trout Wilderness"](https://web.archive.org/web/20021107144026/http://www.geocities.com/troop484.geo/camping/maggie.html). Archived from [the original](http://www.troop484.com/camping/maggie.html) on November 7, 2002.

- ["*Boys' Life* article from 1976 that mentions the Silver Knapsack Trail"](https://books.google.com/books?id=ObxX2yagdyUC&q=Silver+Knapsack+Trail&pg=PA36). September 1976.

- ["Lake Isabella and Silver Knapsack Trail"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110722200551/http://lakeisabella.net/hiking/file/schedule.pdf) (PDF). Archived from [the original](http://lakeisabella.net/hiking/file/schedule.pdf) (PDF) on July 22, 2011.

- ["Memories, Photos, and Patches"](https://web.archive.org/web/20101204025518/http://whitsett.org/oldstuff/oldstuff.htm). Archived from [the original](http://whitsett.org/oldstuff/oldstuff.htm) on December 4, 2010.

- ["Silver Knapsack Trail map and detailed trip guide"](https://goldentroutwilderness.wordpress.com/sequoia-nf-trips/up-to-7-days/silver-knapsack-trail). November 15, 2011.

v t e Hiking trails in California Interstate American Discovery Trail Great Western Loop Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail Pacific Crest Trail Tahoe Rim Trail Tahoe–Pyramid Trail Bay Area Alameda Creek Regional Trail Barbary Coast Trail Bay Area Ridge Trail Contra Costa Canal Coyote Creek Trail Guadalupe River Trail Iron Horse Regional Trail John W. Christian Greenbelt Lafayette-Moraga Regional Trail Los Gatos Creek Trail Ohlone Greenway Philosopher's Way Richmond Greenway San Francisco Bay Trail Santa Cruz Trail Sawyer Camp Trail Spur Trail Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail Stevens Creek Trail Three Creeks Trail Sierra Nevada Four Mile Trail Hetch Hetchy to Lake Vernon Trail High Sierra Trail Independence Trail John Muir Trail Lower Sagehen Creek Hiking Trail Mist Trail Mount Whitney Trail Sierra High Route Silver Knapsack Trail Tahoe Rim Trail Tahoe–Yosemite Trail Theodore Solomons Trail Trail of 100 Giants Southern California Backbone Trail Cactus to Clouds Trail Gabrielino Trail Lost Palms Oasis Trail Mount Wilson Toll Road Sam Merrill Trail Bradshaw Trail Santa Clara River Trail Silver Moccasin Trail Trans-Catalina Trail Ventura River Parkway Trail Windy Gap Trail Other Bigfoot Trail Brad Freeman Trail California Coastal Trail Hammond Trail Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail Joe Rodota Trail Kortum Trail MacKerricher Coastal Trail Nobles Emigrant Trail Pine Ridge Trail Pinnacle and Shorttail Gulch Coastal Access Trails Prince Greenway

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Silver Knapsack Trail](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_Knapsack_Trail) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_Knapsack_Trail?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.