Sequoia Wild Heritage Project - Rincon Proposed Wilderness Addition to Golden Trout Wilderness

The Needles in the distance, and Capitol Rock overlooking the Kern River. Western boundary of the Rincon proposed addition to the Golden Trout Wilderness.
photo: courtesy Joe Fontaine.

Managing agency: Sequoia National Forest

Size: Approximately 41,820 acres.

Location: South of the existing Golden Trout Wilderness, the proposed addition straddles the north fork of the Kern River beginning about 20 miles north of Kernville. Local conservationists recommend addition of the Freeman Creek roadless area to this proposed wilderness addition.

Description: The Rincon proposed addition to the Golden Trout Wilderness is the largest roadless area in the Sierra Nevada, as well as one of the most diverse places in the Sequoia National Forest. The area’s incredible diversity is due to its dramatic shifts in elevation, ranging from 3,000 ft. to nearly 10,000 ft.

The Kern River gorge. — Then Kern River gorge in the Rincon proposed wilderness addition.
photo: courtesy of Joe Fontaine.

This proposed wilderness addition is a critical one for wildlife protection. Pacific fisher and California spotted owl thrive within the Rincon proposed wilderness addition. The Rincon is also summer range for resident deer of the adjacent Sequoia National Park.

The area also contains portions of the Kern River, which is has been designated by Congress as a Wild River. The stretch of the Kern River within this area contains the native Kern River rainbow trout.

Lupine in the Rincon proposed wilderness. — Lupine in the Rincon proposed wilderness addition.
photo: courtesy Joe Fontaine

Protecting the Rincon area would ensure the preservation of an uninterrupted transition of ecosystems, from the drier brushy areas along the North Fork Kern River to the conifer forests of the Kern Plateau.

The Rincon area is popular for hunting, fishing, and Class V whitewater rafting starting at the forks of the Kern River.

Granite dome along the Kern River gorge. — North along the Kern River gorge, in the Rincon proposed wilderness addition.
photo: courtesy Joe Fontaine.

North fork of the Kern River. — North fork of the Kern River, Rincon proposed addition to the Golden Trout Wilderness.
photo: courtesy Joe Fontaine.

Gorge of the north fork of the Kern River. — Gorge of the north fork of the Kern River, Rincon proposed wilderness addition.
photo: courtesy Joe Fontaine.

Map of Rincon proposed wilderness. — Approximate boundaries of the Rincon proposed wilderness addition to the Golden Trout Wilderness are outlined in red. On the western side, we have also outlined on the map the adjacent Freeman Creek Grove of Giant Sequoias, which local conservationists recommend addition to Golden Trout Wilderness, but is not yet included in Senator Boxer's state-wide wilderness bill.

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