Road to Mineral King Starts Here! Traditional Cache
Road to Mineral King Starts Here!
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
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Related Web Page
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Stop and grab this pill bottle (as of 5/21/16) cache then head up the road for a few more...and some amazing scenery! Please bring your own pen/pencil.
Additionally, check road conditions in the winter for closures due to snow.
There is no cell service in the valley, bring all of the cache info with you.
Check on road conditions for winter travel.
Click on the "Related Web Page" above for more info!
THE ROAD
We put out a series of caches along Mineral King Road. This is a beautiful drive and a great way to spend a lazy day. This area also has a rich history. The Mineral King road corridor was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 24, 2003.
The Mineral King Road passes through two groves of giant sequoias, the Redwood Creek Grove and the Atwell Grove. In 1890 the groves were included in the boundaries of the newly established Sequoia National Park, encompassing the central portion of the road. Mineral King itself was excluded from the new park. The Mineral King entrance was the most heavily-used gateway to the park until 1903.
The Mineral King Valley is accessed by a long, narrow, winding mountain road that leads 25 miles (40 km) generally southeast from the junction with Highway 198 near Three Rivers. At the end of the road is the Mosquito-Eagle Trailhead, which allows hikers to access trails leading out of the south end of the valley. There are also hiking trails leading north out of the valley through Timber Gap.
There are no commercial services available in the Mineral King Valley and visitors must bring food, camping supplies, firewood and other essentials with them. None of the cabins have electricity and most use propane for lighting, cooking and fireplaces providing heat. There are a few public telephones scattered throughout the Mineral King Valley, notably at the Cold Springs campground, a trail head parking lot and at the end of the road. Cell phones do not work in the valley due to the remote location and steep terrain.
No gasoline is available after leaving State Route 198, 25 miles down the winding Mineral King road (a 90-minute drive). The National Park Service charges fees for using campsites at Cold Springs and Atwell Mill. Bears, marmots and other wild animals abound so campers take precautions to protect their food and vehicles.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Ernpu hc
Treasures
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