Best backpacking trips near Tulare, CA
Ranked by straight-line distance from Tulare (population ~68,875) to each trip's trailhead. Drive times are rough estimates — mountain roads are slower than they look.
Tulare backpacking at a glance
Middle Fork Trail is the closest documented backpacking trip to Tulare — the Middle Fork Trailhead (Buckeye Flat) trailhead sits roughly 40 miles away, about 44 minutes by car. Of the 12 closest routes, 12 are within a two-hour drive of town, spanning Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks and Sequoia NF backcountryTrailheads for these trips sit between 3,291 and 11,634 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.If you want the gentlest introduction, Monarch Lakes climbs only 4,162 feet over 7.1 miles; the biggest single-trip climb nearby is Black Rock Pass at 8,954 feet of total gain over 13.7 miles.
| # | Trip | Miles away | Est. drive | Distance | Gain | Difficulty | Permit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 40 mi | ~44 min | 7 mi | — | Required | ||
| 2 | 41 mi | ~46 min | 20 mi | — | Required | ||
| 3 | 41 mi | ~46 min | 6 mi | — | Required | ||
| 4 | 43 mi | ~48 min | 10 mi | — | Required | ||
| 5 | 44 mi | ~49 min | 6 mi | — | Required | ||
| 6 | 45 mi | ~50 min | 6.8 mi | — | Required | ||
| 7 | 45 mi | ~50 min | 8 mi | — | Required | ||
| 8 | 45 mi | ~50 min | 8.2 mi | — | Required | ||
| 9 | 45 mi | ~50 min | 9.7 mi | 4,780 ft | 32 | Required | |
| 10 | 45 mi | ~50 min | 13.7 mi | 8,954 ft | 54 | Required | |
| 11 | 45 mi | ~50 min | 7.1 mi | 4,162 ft | 30 | Required | |
| 12 | 45 mi | ~50 min | 12 mi | — | 25 | Required |
Three ways to start backpacking from Tulare
- Closest trailhead: Middle Fork Trail — about 40 miles / 44 minutes from town.
- Gentlest outing: Bullfrog Lakes Trail — difficulty 25/100 (Moderate), 2–2 days.
- Biggest adventure: Black Rock Pass — 13.7 miles and 8,954 ft of climbing.
Distances are great-circle miles from Tulare 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 Tulare: common questions
What is the closest backpacking trip to Tulare?
Middle Fork Trail is the closest documented trip to Tulare at roughly 40 miles (about 44 minutes of driving) from the Middle Fork Trailhead (Buckeye Flat) trailhead.
Do I need a permit to backpack near Tulare?
Many routes near Tulare, including Middle Fork Trail, require a wilderness permit from Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (NPS). Always check the managing agency before you go.
When is the best season to backpack near Tulare?
For Middle Fork Trail — the closest trip to Tulare — the best months are March, April, May, October, November.