Best backpacking trips near Delano, CA

Ranked by straight-line distance from Delano (population ~51,428) to each trip's trailhead. Drive times are rough estimates — mountain roads are slower than they look.

Delano backpacking at a glance

Freeman Creek Trail is the closest documented backpacking trip to Delano — the Freeman Creek Trail Trailhead trailhead sits roughly 49 miles away, about 54 minutes by car. Of the 12 closest routes, 12 are within a two-hour drive of town, spanning Sequoia NF backcountry and Sequoia & Kings Canyon National ParksTrailheads for these trips sit between 3,291 and 10,000 feet, so you can pick a low, warm-season start or a high alpine route depending on the month.

Every one of these 12 routes requires a wilderness permit, so plan ahead — reservation windows open months before the season. Across the twelve closest trips, the months hikers rate best are July, September, August.

#	Trip	Miles away	Est. drive	Distance	Gain	Difficulty	Permit
1	Freeman Creek Trail Sequoia NF backcountry	49 mi	~54 min	10.4 mi	—	25	Required
2	Lewis Camp Trail Sequoia NF backcountry	50 mi	~55 min	43.6 mi	—	60	Required
3	Liebel Peak Trail Sequoia NF backcountry	51 mi	~56 min	16.2 mi	—	40	Required
4	Fish Creek Trail Sequoia NF backcountry	51 mi	~57 min	20 mi	—	40	Required
5	Fish Creek Trail (aka Jerkey Trail and aka Lloyd Meadow Trail) Sequoia NF backcountry	51 mi	~57 min	23.2 mi	—	50	Required
6	Bullfrog Lakes Trail Sequoia NF backcountry	58 mi	~64 min	12 mi	—	25	Required
7	Atwell-Hockett Trail Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks	58 mi	~64 min	20 mi	—		Required
8	Paradise Ridge Trail Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks	58 mi	~64 min	6 mi	—		Required
9	Domeland Trail Sequoia NF backcountry	58 mi	~65 min	17.6 mi	—	40	Required
10	Middle Fork Trail Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks	59 mi	~66 min	7 mi	—		Required
11	Eagle Lake Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks	59 mi	~66 min	6.8 mi	—		Required
12	Mosquito Lakes Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks	59 mi	~66 min	8 mi	—		Required

Three ways to start backpacking from Delano

Closest trailhead: Freeman Creek Trail — about 49 miles / 54 minutes from town.
Gentlest outing: Freeman Creek Trail — difficulty 25/100 (Moderate), 2–2 days.

Distances are great-circle miles from Delano to trailhead coordinates; actual road distances will be longer. Town data: Wikidata SPARQL (CC0), population values derived from U.S. Census Bureau estimates.

Backpacking near Delano: common questions

What is the closest backpacking trip to Delano?

Freeman Creek Trail is the closest documented trip to Delano at roughly 49 miles (about 54 minutes of driving) from the Freeman Creek Trail Trailhead trailhead.

Do I need a permit to backpack near Delano?

Many routes near Delano, including Freeman Creek Trail, require a wilderness permit from Sequoia National Forest (USFS). Always check the managing agency before you go.

When is the best season to backpack near Delano?

For Freeman Creek Trail — the closest trip to Delano — the best months are May, June, July, August, September, October.