Bearpaw High Sierra Camp In Sequoia National Park To Open In Late June

The Bearpaw High Sierra Camp in Sequoia National Park will open for the season in late June. Delaware North Company Parks & Resorts photo.

With the National Park Service once again allowed to issue permits to commercial horse packers, the folks who run the Bearpaw High Sierra Camp in Sequoia National Park say the camp will be open for business beginning June 29.

The camp is managed by Wuksachi Lodge under Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts. It lies at the end of an 11.5-mile hike along the High Sierra Trail in the backcountry of Sequoia National Park.

Bearpaw has been pampering seasoned and novice campers alike for almost eight decades with six tent cabins, warm beds, flush toilets, hot showers and home-cooked gourmet meals. Historically, all supplies have been transported in and out of Bearpaw via pack mules.

Places as special and remote as Bearpaw present unique challenges. In response to a lawsuit filed against Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, a previous court ruling on Jan. 24, 2012, had stated that the Park Service did not have the authority to issue any commercial use authorization permits, including the use of pack mules to bring supplies into camp and other wilderness areas in the park. As a result, Wuksachi Lodge had to cancel guest reservations for Bearpaw booked between June 15 and June 30.

“We are very pleased that the court has allowed the National Park Service to issue permits for commercial pack stock in the wilderness now, so our local operators can begin their busy operating season without further delay,” said Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Superintendent Karen Taylor-Goodrich.

“We appreciate our loyal guests bearing with us and the National Park Service as we navigate this unusual situation,” said Wuksachi Lodge Assistant General Manager Brandy Frederich. “We are dedicated to providing outstanding customer service and creating memorable guest experiences that are as unique as Sequoia National Park itself.”

To inquire on reservations for Bearpaw High Sierra Camp, call 866-807-3598 (international callers dial 801-559-4930). For permit information, trail maps and conditions information, call 559-565-3766.