Botany of the Sierra Hiking Loop
July 2 - 8, 2026
7 Days / 6 Nights
Cottonwood Pack Station
Golden Trout Wilderness
$3,900
Learn about the flora of the Sierra Nevada with Botanist Matt Berger, explore the vast meadows and winding creeks of the Golden Trout Wilderness, and enjoy the comforts provided by trained guides, a backcountry cook, and a pack string of mules.
This 7 day, 43+ mile trip is ideal for experienced hikers who want to see a lot of country. We will hike 5-15 miles a day, accompanied by hiking guides, a pack string of mules, wranglers, and a cook, who will set up camp at a different meadow each afternoon. There will be 2 layover days to rest, with optional day hikes, including an off-trail summit of Olancha Peak.
This trip takes us through meadows full of rare flowers, conifer forests, riparian wonderlands, and arid passes studded with high alpine plant species. Truly, a botanist’s dream.
Looking for something more mellow? Check out the Botany of the Sierra Basecamp.
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Dates
July 2 - 8, 2026
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Duration
7 Days / 6 Nights
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Location
Golden Trout Wilderness
Cottonwood Pack Station -
Operator
Rock Creek Pack Station
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Cost
$3,900
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Guides
Matt Berger - Botanist / Hiking Guide
Kelly Kate Warren - Backcountry cook -
Itinerary
Day 1:
Cottonwood Pack Station to Ash Meadow Creek (9 miles)Day 2:
Ash Meadow Creek to Bell Camp Meadow (11 miles)Day 3:
Layover Day - optional Summit Olancha Peak (15 miles)Day 4:
Bell Camp Meadow to Lewis Stringer (6.5 miles)Day 5:
Layover - optional day hikeDay 6:
Lewis Stringer to Upper Tunnel Meadow (7.5 miles)Day 7:
Upper Tunnel Meadow out to Cottonwood Pack Station (9 miles) -
Distance
Minimum of 43 miles, with 2 optional day hikes of 5-15 miles.
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What’s included
- Packers & Mules
- Backcountry Cook
- Botanist & Hiking Guides
- A backcountry camp including a kitchen, rainfly, comfy chairs, latrine, first aid kit, and a small library of maps and guidebooks
- All Meals - each day we will enjoy a hot breakfast, cowboy coffee, tea, and cocoa, a DIY lunch spread, snacks, appetizers and lemonade, a big dinner, and dessert -
What’s not included
- Travel to and from Cottonwood Pack Station
- Personal hiking and camping gear
- Staff tips (optional but appreciated)
- Booze
Difficulty - Hard
This trip covers a minimum of 43 miles, with plenty of elevation gain and loss. There will be 2 layover days with optional day hikes which can add up to 30 miles. That said, the Golden Trout is known as one of the more accessible areas in the High Sierra, and quite a bit of the hiking is on reasonably graded, well-maintained trail meandering through the meadows, and day hikes can be as challenging as folks prefer. We will be near or over 10k feet of elevation for the duration of this trip, and most folks will need to spend a few days acclimating to the elevation before they enter the Wilderness. This trip is for experienced backpackers, and if it feels outside your comfort zone, please check out The Botany of the Sierra Basecamp.
