Manter Meadow Loop

From Sherman Pass Road, take the Cherry Hill Road #22S12 to Big Meadow and then take road #23S07 to the southwest side of Big Meadow. Both Cherry Hill Road and #23S07 are dirt roads suitable for most passenger cars. The trailhead for the South Manter Trail #34E37 is about 0.6 miles south of the trailhead for the North Manter Trail. It is distinguished by a small stock ramp and pen. The South Manter Trail climbs about 100 feet over the ridge that separates the Salmon and Manter Creek drainages. It follows South Manter Creek, under a canopy of mixed conifers, until it ends at the Cabin Spur Trail #34E37A, just before Manter Meadow. Turn right on the Cabin Spur Trail and follow it around the south end of the meadow to the Woodpecker Trail #34E08. Unlike the North Manter Trail and the north part of the Cabin Spur Trail, which both stay well away from the meadow, the south part of the Cabin Spur Trail and the Woodpecker Trail skirt the edge of the south and east sides of Manter Meadow. There are great views across the meadow towards the rock formations to the north and south. The best is probably the morning view from the south side of the meadow. There are some good campsites at Manter Meadow, but you'll probably want to pump your water from the creek before you reach the meadow. The Woodpecker Trail goes up the east side of the meadow and crosses Manter Creek at the junction with the Manter Creek Trail-35E12. Farther up next to the meadow's narrow northern extension, there is a fire circle and a metal frame that was previously used for a large forest service tent. It is a few hundred yards from there to the junction with the North Manter Trail #34E14.The North Manter Trail stays well to the west of the meadow. After about 0.3 miles, it is possible to hike off trail about 0.25 miles to the west edge of the meadow where there is a beautiful view towards Church Dome. Parts of this side of the meadow are covered with blue lupine. The trail passes an old cabin and a spring and then meets the junction with the Cabin Spur Trail.From there, the trail climbs about 1,100 feet in less than 2 miles. The ridge on the North Manter Trail is about 300 feet higher than it is on the South Manter Trail. For most of the climb you can hear the creek flowing below. From the ridge the trail drops down to the trailhead on road 23S07. Just across the road there is a good view of Big Meadow. The South Manter trailhead is about 0.6 miles down the relatively level dirt road.

The Domeland Wilderness was created by the federal Wilderness Act in 1964, with additions in 1984 and 1994 so that it now has a total of 133,720 acres. The original portion of the Wilderness contains most of its many granite domes and geological formations.The higher areas are covered with forest, but as you drop towards 7,000 feet, the trees are farther apart as the land becomes semi-arid. Farther east towards the South Fork of the Kern, it drops below 6,000 feet and becomes hotter and more desert-like.The wild and scenic South Fork of the Kern crosses the wilderness. South of Rockhouse Meadow, it drops through deep and essentially inaccessible gorge. The South Fork, Fish Creek, and Trout Creek are excellent for fishing, but this often requires strenuous off-trail hiking. The river and these two creeks can be dangerous, to impossible, to cross until after the snow melt.In the northeastern section of the wilderness, the Pacific Crest Trail follows the South Fork for 9 mi