Getting Oriented
Lloyd Meadow Road leaves Mountain 99 (the Kern River Highway) at Johnsondale Bridge, about 25 miles north of Kernville on Sequoia NF's Kern River Ranger District. The road runs north along the canyon, climbing the Greenhorn Mountains' east flank, and ends at the Lloyd Meadow trailhead complex at 7,000 feet. The Western Divide Highway (SR-Mtn-99 north section) runs roughly parallel a few miles east of the road, paved.
Trail Overview
Twenty-five miles out-and-back, graded gravel. The road climbs gradually through the canyon, with several USFS-developed campgrounds at the lower elevations and the giant sequoia groves at the upper end. The Lloyd Meadow trailhead is the start of the Forks of the Kern Trail, a steep 1,500-foot drop to the river. The road has no technical obstacles; the draw is the sequoias and the river access.
Points of Interest
- Freeman Creek Grove. Giant sequoia grove off Lloyd Meadow Road; the easternmost natural sequoia grove and home to the Bush Tree, planted (or marked) for President George H.W. Bush in 1992.
- Long Meadow Grove. Smaller sequoia grove north of Freeman Creek.
- Forks of the Kern. Trailhead at the road's end leading 1,500 feet down to the North Fork / Little Kern confluence. Wild-trout fishing and a Class V whitewater put-in.
- Lloyd Meadow. A wet meadow at the road's high point with seasonal wildflower display.
- Domeland Wilderness. Northeast of the road; granite domes and bouldering.
- Golden Trout Wilderness. Northwest of the road; California state-fish habitat and high-Sierra hiking.
Where to Camp
Limestone Campground (USFS-developed, on Mountain 99) sits near the road's lower end with primitive sites. Other developed campgrounds along the Kern River corridor include Headquarters, Hospital Flat, and Camp 3. Dispersed camping is allowed on Sequoia NF land off the main road with the standard 14-day stay limit. The corridor has many turnouts that work as primitive sites.
Tips for a Safe and Enjoyable Trip
- Plan around the season. Snow closes the road from December through April; spring melt extends impassability into May.
- The Forks of the Kern hike requires a wilderness permit (free, self-issue at the trailhead).
- Carry water and a spare tire. The road is washboarded under heavy summer use.
- Cell service drops fast. Carry an offline map or USFS MVUM.
- The Kern River Ranger District (760-376-3781) handles current conditions.
- The paved Western Divide Highway runs parallel and pairs with the road for a half-paved, half-dirt loop.
