Strawberry Meadow to Monache Trail

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From the base of Templeton Mountain, the trail heads east and crosses Fat Cow Meadow. Olancha Peak is very prominently ahead of you in the distance. Paralleling Strawberry Creek, you soon reach the expansive Strawberry Meadow and continue east. After approximately 2 miles, the trail drops steeply into a canyon with the South Fork Kern River at the bottom. There are a few rocks across, but you'll likely need to ford the river.

On the other side, the trail heads steeply uphill and into pine forest. About a mile ahead, you reach Brown Meadow and hike along its western edge. At 4 miles, you pass by Brown Cow Camp, a historic summertime headquarters for cattle ranchers. The trail heads gently uphill towards a saddle east of Brown Mountain that is also the boundary of Golden Trout Wilderness. On the other side of the saddle, the trail rapidly descends towards Monache Meadow, passing along Hessian Meadow to your left.

Before you reach the open meadow, the trail bends east and reaches a forest service administrative site just on the edge of Monache Meadow. The trail ends at a dirt road next to the site.