Lower altitude trips in the Sierras to avoid the higher / insane snow pack

Emigrant Wilderness out of crabtree trailhead is perfect for what you are describing. Lots of granite with pleasant lakes but at a lower elevation (6-8k feet). Great fishing and great off trail wandering to remote lakes (terrain isn’t too extreme).

Do some research on hiking up Kern Canyon from the south.  There are lots of side trails you could explore that lead up onto the rims on either side.

Don’t count on Emigrant Wilderness being open too early this year.  The trailheads can open late because they’re dirt roads and are actually higher than Glacier Point in Yosemite, for example.  And your options will be limited early on by really high water…Piute Creek can be nasty.  Emigrant Wilderness is one big granite bowl, and when the snow melts all that water fills the streams into roaring torrents lower down.  Of course at higher elevation you’ll still have snow.

I was going to do a loop near forks of the kern in the golden trout wilderness and was told the roads are pretty washed out. I’ll be doing a trip to Sespe Hot Springs instead.

One possible option would be hiking around Hetch Hetchy and up the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne River.

+1 to Ken’s suggestion. Cherry Lake is in the Hetch Hetchy area as well. Apparently you can descend from that trail to canyons around the river. A short bit of rope may be required. River levels may be a concern this year. I haven’t done this but I’ve seen exciting pictorial trip reports. Of course, you could just stay on the trail. It does go through some burn areas.

Hiking in lower elevations below big melting snowpacks trades snow stomping for dangerous river crossings.

Better have good river crossing skills and experience, and know when to give up, turn around, and play another day.

— Rex

There’s less snow on the east side so that might be better?  At least that’s how the Cascades are.