Kirby Peak

Kirby Peak is a low-key summit in the Sierra National Forest, tucked into the hills southwest of Yosemite's south entrance near Fish Camp. At 4,619 feet with several hundred feet of prominence, it won't test your lungs the way a Sierra crest peak would — the appeal here is solitude, not elevation gain.

What to Expect

Old forest roads climb most of the way up Kirby Peak, so the on-foot approach is short. The final stretch to the summit pushes through brush and downfall rather than a groomed trail, and hikers who've made the climb report poison oak growing thick along the route, especially in new spring growth. Wear long sleeves and pants, and know what the plant looks like before you go.

Fire-Scarred Terrain

Parts of the surrounding forest burned in the 2018 Ferguson Fire, leaving standing dead snags that continue to fall in windy weather — stay alert overhead near any burned patches. Other sections of the approach escaped the fire and remain thick with live forest and chaparral, a reminder of how unevenly Sierra wildfires move through a landscape.

Who It's For

This is a destination for experienced off-trail hikers and peak-baggers comfortable with route-finding on unmarked forest roads, not a casual afternoon walk. If you want a maintained, signed trail near Fish Camp, look toward the established routes closer to Yosemite's south entrance instead.