Onion Valley Area Recreation Outdoor recreation in the area includes hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, fishing, stargazing and wildlife viewing. Get in the loop on what to do, where to go, events not to miss and more. are mid-June during the damselfly hatch and from mid-October to the end of the The standard baitsinclude nightcrawlers and Power Bait along with flies (nymph patterns andwoolly bugers) fished fr… On the plus side, it's an excellent jumping off point for Kearsarge Pass and day hikes to several nearby lakes and mountains. The standard baits HUMBOLDT COUNTY CLOSED WATERS: All tributaries to Summit Lake. The Onion Valley to Whitney Portal section of the John Muir Trail is by FAR one of my favorite backpacking trips in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. early 1960s as an irrigation reservoir. Anglers generally catch trout ranging from 9to 16 inches. Spin fishing has been best with a small kastmaster, rooster tails, or powerbait off the bottom. About Fishing Hot Spots for Onion Valley Creek near Quincy So you're interested in fishing Onion Valley Creek. Fishing Independence Golden Trout Lake Loop is a 5.4 mile lightly trafficked loop trail located near Independence, California that features a lake and is rated as moderate. by Nevada Department of Wildlife 10-2-2019 Website. Sport fish include rainbow trout, bowcutt trout (rainbow x cutthroat trouthybrid), and tiger trout (brown x brook trout hybrid). A lifetime exploring this section of Nevada wouldn’t be enough—a weekend up here certainly promises a restorative escape. We went to Onion Valley in the Serria Nevadas near Independence and hiked up to Kearsarge Pass. hybrid), and tiger trout (brown x brook trout hybrid). Kearsarge Pass and Fishing in Onion Valley When it comes to backpacking opportunity, the Eastern Sierras is second to none. Anglers generally catch trout ranging from 9 Besides Knott Creek, a cluster of man-made reservoirs are found in this mountain range, including nearby Onion Valley Reservoir, Little Onion Reservoir, and Blue Lakes. The best times of year to fishare mid-June during the damselfly hatch and from mid-October to the end of theseason (November 15). Management making the entire area accessible to angling. Discover wild bighorn sheep and pronghorn antelope in the nearby Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge and the Black Rock, explore the other reservoirs in the Pine Forest Range, hit some natural hot springs, rockhound natural opal fields, bask in true silence, and admire the heavens above some some of the best stargazing in the USA. to 16 inches. At Knott Creek, cast a line into top notch fly fishing, spot untamed wildlife, and stake your tent beneath some of the best stargazing in the country—and world. Download area map for trail names. We booked both our wilderness permit and our Onion Valley Campground permit on the first day possible via Recreation.gov. Follow for 7 miles to the junction at Sand Pass Road, then another 7 miles to the reservoir itself. Nearby Matlock Lake, Slim Lake, and Bench Lake offer enjoyable fishing for book trout. Turn west on Market Street. This trip can be the first leg of a longer trip into Kings Canyon National Park and the Rae Lakes area. For more info on Knott Creek Reservoir and to check conditions before heading out, get in touch with the NDOW Winnemucca Office at (775) 623-6565. Rough trails lead to the high bowls containing Robinson Lake and the Golden Trout Lakes. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from July until July. This small lake absorbs much of the day-hiking impact from people camping at Onion Valley, as does Flower Lake, at the top of the next set of switchbacks. Kearsarge Pass can be accessed from the Onion Valley trailhead (elevation 9,200 feet) out of Independence by way of Hwy 395. Although there is a lot of climbing to get over Kearsarge pass, our group did fine with a night at Onion Valley Campground to get a bit acclimated. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/onion-valley-to-gardiner-lake Onion Valley Reservoir Fish Report for 10-2-2019. Tucked in the spectacular, ruggedly remote northwestern Nevada, Knott Creek Reservoir, Onion Valley and Blue Lake beckons outdoorsmen of all kinds thanks to its top notch fly fishing, crowdless hiking trails, untamed wildlife, and some of the best stargazing in the state, country, and world. Follow the Onion Valley Road for 12.8 miles to the trailhead parking area. The trail is primarily used for hiking, camping, and fishing and is best used from May until September. I had a blast on my first solo backpacking trip in Horseshoe Meadows up Mt. Note: Wet spring conditions can make for difficult driving conditions and a four-wheel drive vehicle is usually required to reach the reservoir. Depending on where you are coming from your day one is most likely going to be setting up your car shuttle from Whitney Portal to Onion Valley. Situated up beyond the Black Rock Desert and below the mighty Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge, planning and adventure to Knott Creek Reservoir promises true alone-in-nature experiences in one of the most remote places in the Lower 48. The reservoir is stocked with a handful of different trout species, like rainbow trout, and two hybrid species including bowcut trout (rainbow and cutthroat hybrid), tiger trout (brown and brook hybrid.) Unfortunately, that browser is no longer updated or supported by Microsoft and simply can't handle the kind of high-resolution Nevada inspiration our website has to offer. When traveling Nevada backroads, be sure to live by the Dirt Road Code by traveling with 4×4 access and spare tire. This ride, however, is all about Onion Valley. Get To Know Elko's 51 New Murals, And How To Find 'Em. Knott Creek Reservoir lies about 2.5 hours northwest of Winnemucca, and getting there means traveling on both paved and dirt roads. lake. The loop hike described below is an ascent to the pass and Mt … Aspen stringers make this area a Onion Valley Campgroundis at the end of Onion Valley Road in the Inyo National Forest, 14 miles west of Independence. Flows on the Carson are about 80 cfs and fishing has been good. The road is usually open from May to … A trail from the Onion Valley Campground climbs a little over a mile to Robinson Lake with fishing for rainbow and brook trout. As fishermen, we know there are times when our favorite spots are just not active so we built our Hot Spots feature to show you where the fish are biting in the area of Onion Valley Creek. Langley, a California fourteener, and I knew that there needed to be… full and has a maximum depth of 24 feet. There are several trailheads that allow you easy access to high elevation lakes and peaks. Whether you’re baitcasting, fly fishing … Along this road, towed trailers, cab over campers and tent trailers are not recommended. Carry plenty of snacks and water, be sure to let someone know where you’re headed and when you plan to return, and practice Leave No Trace methods whenever possible. Onion Valley Campground to Flower Lake is a 4.3 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Independence, California that features a waterfall and is rated as moderate. The campground is near Kearsarge Pass, Robinson Lake and Golden Trout Lakes Trailheads, which access several alpine lakes and mountain peaks within the John Muir Wilderness, as well as Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park. Many who choose Onion Valley Campgroundenjoy photography, fishing, and simply soaking in the magnificent scenery. Fishing has been great. Onion Valley Reservoir covers 101 acres when After getting up early on Saturday morning, Callie and I found ourselves at the Onion Valley trailhead at 10:30AM with a permit to go up to Matlock Lake for the night. The road to Onion Valley is usually open from May to November. Camping For the most up to date info on Knott Creek Fishing Regulations and a current fishing report, click here. woolly bugers) fished from float tubes. This one map shows the entire route. By continuing to use the site, you agree to our cookie policy. Onion Valley Reservoir covers 101 acres whenfull and has a maximum depth of 24 feet. The land surrounding the reservoir is managed by the Bureau of Land All waters of the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge (within Humboldt County) except Big Springs Reservoir and Dufurrena Ponds. Onion Valley is a smallish campground with difficult tent sites carved out of rough terrain; there is very little level ground to be had. Fly fisherman in float tubes are doing well with sheep creek specials and midge larva under an indicator or fishing small streamers slowly trolled behind a float tube. Poor-from-overuse camp sites dot the shores of this fine swimming lake, and fishing for rainbow and brook trout is good in early season. For more information check out the facility details on the Recreation.govwebsite when making reservations. Fly fisherman using small streamer have done equally as well. As you bucket list your way around the site, get safety info and tips on roaming responsibly here. Oct 26, 2015 - When it comes to backpacking opportunity, the Eastern Sierras is second to none. A vessel must be operated at a speed that leaves a flat wake, but in no case may a vessel be operated at a speed in excess of 5 nautical miles per hour. If you are flying into the area, it’s probably faster to fly into Reno or Southern California and drive from there. Copyright © Nevada Department of Wildlife, James Lathrop and Wayne Capurro Memorial Internship, Wayne E Kirch Nevada Wildlife Conservation Award. Majestic scenery and challenging trails draw campers to the Onion Valley area for hiking and horseback riding. Knott Creek Reservoir is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Knott Creek Reservoir is managed by the Nevada Department of Wildlife, making free public access available to all. Part of what makes the Southern Sierra so special is how easy it is to access from Los Angeles. Grab one in advance at NDOW’s website and if you’re already here, grab one at one of the state’s many license agents. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. A lifetime exploring northwestern Nevada wouldn’t be enough—a weekend here certainly promises an unforgettable escape. Sport fish include rainbow trout, bowcutt trout (rainbow x cutthroat trout Onion Valley Campgroundhas 30 campsites. Within Independence, turn left (west) on the Market Street, signed for the Onion Valley. Enjoy the video! Onion Valley Reservoir was constructed in the Grays Meadow Campground ( Upper & Lower ) is about 7 miles down the road from Onion Valley Campground. The best fishing season window is from June to October each year, with the most productive fly patterns during the early season. Nestled in the pristinely beautiful Pine Forest Mountains, Knott Creek Reservoir fishing is so great because the lake is managed and stocked by the Nevada Department of Wildlife. This time, since I was camped at the Onion Valley Campground (the top of Onion Valley Road), my plan was to descend down to Gray’s Meadow Campground (situated right where the road finishes climbing the valley floor and starts climbing the mountain itself), then climb back up. Travel north out of Winnemucca 31 miles, turning left onto SR 140 and on to Denio Junction (100 miles from Winnemucca) before turning left again for another 9 miles. beautiful place to camp. Fishing Has Been Good & Continues To Get Better Onion Valley Reservoir - Denio, NV (Humboldt County) Photo Credit: Courtesy of NDOW. Our scanners detect that you arrived on our site using Internet Explorer. Follow the signs to the top of the hill, another 20 miles. include nightcrawlers and Power Bait along with flies (nymph patterns and The map we used to plan our route was the Tom Harrison Kearsarge Pass Rae Lakes Loop Map.. For day hikers, Kearsarge Pass is the main destination (4 miles), and the four scenic lakes en route, with other options being to descend a little way into Kings Canyon National Park to the Kearsarge Lakes, to climb the nearby summit of Mt Scott (off-trail), or to take a much less traveled path to Golden Trout Lake, in a side canyon north of Onion Valley. Tucked in the spectacular, ruggedly remote northwestern Nevada, Knott Creek Reservoir, Onion Valley and Blue Lake beckons outdoorsmen of all kinds thanks to its top notch fly fishing, crowdless hiking trails, untamed wildlife, and some of the best stargazing in the state, country, and world. Onion Valley Reservoir Fishing Report Spin fishing has been best with a small... more » Nevada Department of Wildlife: 7-1-2019: Onion Valley Reservoir Fishing Report The opener at Onion was excellent. Onion Valley Reservoir. Knott Creek covers 200+ surface acres with a maximum depth of 24 feet, which makes for ideal float tube fishing or fly fishing from the shoreline. Our first day setting up car shuttles and staying overnight at Onion Valley Campground. season (November 15). From Winnemucca, drive 33 miles on US 95, then make a left onto State Route 140. Knott Creek is closest to the tiny border town of Denio—you’ll find that Winnemucca, which lies to the southeast of Knott Creek, is the closest community with all services available. As temperatures continue to drop, the trout metabolism decreases making slow moving lures and flies more productive. occurs at primitive sites and a restroom is located at the south end of the The only thing preventing you from getting outside here would be a seasonal, weather-related closure. Before casing a line into any bodies of water in the Silver State, get yourself legal with a proper Nevada Fishing License. 5 trout. Trails from Onion Valley provide acces to the John Muir Wilderness and Kings Canyon National Park. Travel for 9 miles and then turn left (or south) onto Knott Creek Road. There are several trailheads that allow you easy access to high elevation lakes and peaks. Planning the Trip. 401 N. Carson StreetCarson City, NV 89701, We use cookies to help us improve, promote, and protect our services. You will have to pick up your permit at one of the Inyo National Forest Visitor Centers before you begin.Once you have your permit in hand, drive to the Onion Valley Trailhead (see map), which is about 15 miles west of the town of Independence, CA and sits at an elevation of 9185 feet. More Information. Protected by its remoteness and proper management plan, the fish population here are sizable, growing up to 30 inches. Onion Valley Dam is a dam located just 68.8 miles from Burning Man, in Humboldt County, in the state of Nevada, United States, near Dyke, NV. Fishermen will find a variety of fish including brook trout and rainbow trout here. Onion Valley is about 15 miles west of in downtown Independence, at an elevation of about 9,600 feet. But trust us—you'll be glad you did! In the spring, Onion Valley is popular with backcountry skiers and snowboarders. Fishing has been good and will continue to get better with the falling temperatures. Other Featured Trips Near Gilbert Lake Big Pine Lakes - … At a Glance Spin fisherman using small spinners slowly retrieved in deeper pools have caught a few good fish. Season is open the second Saturday in June through November 15, any hour of the day or night. Market Street turns into the Onion Valley Road in 0.2 miles. The best times of year to fish Trailers are not recommended, though primitive tent camping is available all along the shoreline. Make sure to obtain an overnight permit up to 6 months in advance. A 3 hour drive gets you to some of the best hiking in the world. ONION VALLEY INYO NATIONAL FOREST Once an Indian trading route, the Kearsarge Pass trail provides access to a lovely east-side lake basin and the spectacular backcountry of Kings Canyon National Park. Most of the sites have good privacy and shade from trees. We recommend returning on any other browser. 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