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The Needles (Sequoia National Forest)

Hike

Needles Lookout

Summits The Magician
Inside Sequoia National Forest
1,530 ft of climbing

4.1 mi out & back · 1,530 ft gain · 8,252 ft high point · Moderate

In Sequoia National Forest · California · U.S. Forest Service

About Elevation Highlights Map Camp near here More hikes

About this hike

Needles Lookout is a 4.1-mile out-and-back trail in Sequoia National Forest reaching The Magician and Djin peaks among The Needles formations.

Elevation

1,530 ft of gain round trip.

Camp near here

The closest places to sleep, measured from the trailhead.

See all on the map

2.0 mi from the trailhead
Quaking Aspen
Campground · California

More hikes nearby

Ranked the same way, within twenty-five miles.

20 mi from you
Farewell Gap
- Ends at Farewell Gap
- Inside Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
- 3,121 ft of climbing
10.0 mi out & back · 3,121 ft gain · Very hard
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks · Camp 1 mi away

Out: 900 ft up, returns the same way. Source: USGS 3DEP.

Highlights

What the trail reaches, measured from the start.

The MagicianDestination · 2.1 mi in
DjinDestination · 2.1 mi in
The CharlatanNearby · 2.1 mi in
The SorcererNearby · 2.1 mi in
The WizardNearby · 2.1 mi in
The Sorcerer's ApprenticeNearby · 2.1 mi in
The BlockheadNearby · 2.1 mi in
The NecromancerNearby · 2.1 mi in
The WitchNearby · 2.1 mi in
The WarlockNearby · 2.1 mi in

Nearby reading

The Needles (Sequoia National Forest)

Map

The route at the trailhead. Drag with two fingers, or hold a key to zoom.

Trail data: USFS, NPS, © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Elevation: USGS 3DEP via Mapzen terrain tiles. Nearby reading: Wikipedia. Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors, licensed as shown on each photo. Download the trail and feature data.

At a glance

Length: 4.1 mi
Shape: Out & back
Gain: 1,530 ft round trip
High point: 8,252 ft
Low point: 7,768 ft
Difficulty: ModerateFrom 4.1 mi and 1,530 ft of climbing
Managed by: U.S. Forest Service
State: California
Camps within 15 mi: 12
Trailhead: 36.1201° N · 118.5081° W

Get directions Open the map

2.0 mi from the trailhead

Quaking Aspen Cabin

Campground · California

2.7 mi from the trailhead

Upper Peppermint Dispersed Area

Dispersed camping · California

19 mi from you

Kern Peak

Summits Kern Peak
Inside Golden Trout Wilderness
3,080 ft of climbing

10.6 mi out & back · 3,080 ft gain · Very hard

Golden Trout Wilderness

Eagle Lake

Ends at Eagle Lake
Inside Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
2,380 ft of climbing

6.6 mi out & back · 2,380 ft gain · Hard

Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks · Camp under a mile away

Sawtooth Pass

Ends at Columbine Lake
Inside Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
6,292 ft of climbing

14.0 mi out & back · 6,292 ft gain · Very hard

Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks · Camp under a mile away

Timber Gap

Ends at Timber Gap
Inside Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
1,802 ft of climbing

4.0 mi out & back · 1,802 ft gain · Moderate

Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks · Camp under a mile away

Franklin Pass - Franklin Lakes

Ends at Franklin Lakes
Inside Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
3,447 ft of climbing

6.8 mi loop · 3,447 ft gain · Very hard

Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks · Camp 1 mi away

More like this

Hikes that read like this one, wherever they are.

The Needles Trail
- Summits The Magician
- Inside Sequoia National Forest
- 1,457 ft of climbing
4.1 mi out & back · 1,457 ft gain · Moderate
Sequoia National Forest · Camp 2 mi away
Jordan Lookout
- Summits Jordan Peak
- Inside Sequoia National Forest
- Camp 3 mi away
1.2 mi out & back · 620 ft gain · Easy
Sequoia National Forest · Camp 3 mi away
Lookout Peak
- Summits Lookout Peak
- Inside Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
- 4,150 ft of climbing
10.8 mi out & back · 4,150 ft gain · Very hard
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks · Camp under a mile away
Needles
- Near Edith Lake
- Camp 3 mi away
4.4 mi out & back · 816 ft gain · Moderate
Montana · Camp 3 mi away

Weather

7-day forecast

Today60°41°Sunny
Sun61°41°Sunny
Mon58°39°Mostly Sunny
Tue59°41°Sunny
Wed62°40°Sunny
Thu58°38°Sunny
Fri52°37°Mostly Sunny

Today: Sunny · wind 0 to 5 mph SW

National Weather Service · refreshed hourly

Signal

Cell coverage here

No carrier reports signal at this spot.

FCC coverage data · signal varies in remote terrain