Above tree-line dog friendly in Sierra?

Emigrant Wilderness, particularly near Sonora Pass

John Muir Wilderness: Red Mountain Basin, Lake Italy (westside), Humphreys Basin, Lake Sabrina, Little Lakes Valley (east side)

Also quite a bit of dog friendly stuff above treeline in the Golden Trout Wilderness.

I am pretty sure these are all dog friendly, but double check with the rangers before you go.

"Also quite a bit of dog friendly stuff above treeline in the Golden Trout Wilderness."

Yes, when I was there in June, there were lots of horse riders, and it seemed like each human had one horse and one dog. The dogs looked to be pretty strong if they were keeping up with horses.

–B.G.–

Keep in mind that the actual terra firma above tree line may not be so 'dog friendly'.
Dogs often having problems with splits in their pads from traveling on the rocky ground… not much soil up there to make for soft walking for them pads.

Maybe work your dog up to it… some how.

Billy

Thanks for the info you guys, and Andrew, I appreciate the suggested areas. I'll look into them. Billy, thanks for the tip on the ground. I know many people recommend running/ walking your dog a lot on pavement to prepare for the granite in the Sierra. My pooch is pretty tough, but more preparation never hurts.

I've taken the dogs to Golden Trout, so I know for a fact that Ansel Adams, Golden Trout, and Hoover are dog-friendly. I only got as far as Chick Springs lake (or something like that?) in Golden Trout, and I like how high a starting point you get with Horseshoe Meadows. My concern with that area is that it looks like if you go too far north, into the moonscape scenery, you end up in the Park behind Whitney.

Humphreys Basin is on my short list, and is a great suggestion. I'll check into Emigrant Wilderness as well. Please keep the suggestions coming.

My hound went snow blind from the granite and snow during a 10 day trip there. She was constantly staring at marmots. Had to put a bandana over her eyes and lead her the last couple of day of the trip.

Later trips made goggles from kids goggle for her. Added an extra strap that attached to the collar to keep them on.

I am heading out in a few weeks with my dog for a 5 day trip above the tree line.

Going out over Piute Pass and following the Sierra High Route to Reds Meadow then back south on the JMT.

For 4 days you could do the same thing to Mono Creek and head back on the JMT, or vise versa.

Got to "on the trail" under the SHR maps (link below), and go to the 500k overview.

http://www.onthetrail.org/shr.html

You just need to stay out of the red areas with the dog.

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David, thanks for the tip on the snow blinding for your pooch. I doubt we'll come across much snow, seeing how hot and try this winter was, but the granite can get bright and I never would have considered that. A pair of "doggles" just in case might not be a bad idea.

Aaron, I'd love to see a trip report after you get back, or even a little more detail of your route before you go, such as your start and end points. Thanks for the link to the 500k map. That helps a lot. It looks like around Mammoth (where I've already been), and perhaps off of 168 and then head north instead of west, into Kings Cyn, or the road at Toms Place are probably my best bets. My question is between those two trailheads, which would get me the best access to the moonscape lake areas? Sorry to keep using the "moonscape" description, I guess what I'm asking is I want to get to the places with no vegitation, not even little scrub brush or grass patches. One of my goals is to do some landscape photography while I'm up there and I want it to look otherworldly. 1000 Island Lakes is gorgeous, but this time I'm going for the "other planet" look. Hahaha

I would head south from 168 into Humphrey's Basin.
You have some much higher altitudes around there and tons of lakes.

Here is the loop I'm doing.
North on red SHR trail, south on white JMT.
Leaving the JMT and going over Piute Pass.

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Aaron,
Where/How are you starting the loop?

Bishop Pass, or a "secret route"?

From Piute Pass you can see where Piute Creek (CR) on the bottom of the map intersects the Red SHR Line.
It's all easy off trail hiking out there.

Humphrey's is a great basin for what you are doing/ want.
Head up Bishop Pass toward Mt Powell to stay out of Kings Canyon.

Tons of lakes and high-no vegetation land in most of the area.

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Lots of loops off trailheads along the 168. Easily the Silver Pass/Goodale/Peter Pande/Graveyard lakes area. Mono Recesses and the bear lakes basin.

Aaron –

Excellent.

Thanks.