OBSTACLES: THE DEATH ROCK- IF YOU TAKE THE TRAIL OUT ON THE BIG PINE SIDE (AS OPPOSED TO BISHOP) THERE ARE SOME LARGE BOULDERS, BUT ONE IN PARTICULAR THAT HAS CAUSED LOTS PEOPLE TO GET STUCK AND A NUMBER OF ROLLOVERS.

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NAVIGATION: EASY 

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CROWDS: THIS IS A VERY POPULAR TRAIL THAT CAN GET CROWDED, ESPECIALLY ON SUMMER WEEKENDS.

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KEY COORDINATES:

• STARTING POINT- COYOTE VALLEY ROAD: 37.346551, -118.438723

• NOTEWORTHY POINTS-

  • FUNNEL LAKE: 37.19897, -118.51120

  • ROCKY BOTTOM LAKE OVERLOOK: 37.20297, -118.51910

  • THE DEATH ROCK: 37.176395, -118.418511​

• ENDING POINT- BIG PINE, CA: 37.16616, -118.289931

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OUR TAKE: COYOTE FLAT IS A GREAT PLACE TO GO TO ESCAPE THE SUMMER HEAT, AS IT IS AT A HIGHER ELEVATION AND AS SUCH MUCH COOLER THAN THE TOWNS BELOW. WHILE COYOTE FLAT HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY BUSY OVER THE YEARS, THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO GO THERE ONLY GO TO A RELATIVELY SMALL PORTION OF THE AREA- PRIMARILY COYOTE FLAT PROPER, FUNNEL LAKE, AND SANGER MEADOW. WE RECOMMEND THAT IF YOU GO TO COYOTE FLAT, YOU EXPLORE THE COYOTE RIDGE AREA AS WELL. COYOTE RIDGE SEES FAR LESS TRAFFIC AND OFFERS A MORE CHALLENGING TRAIL. THE ROAD OUT TO BIG PINE SEES EVEN LESS TRAFFIC, AS IT IS RATED "MOST DIFFICULT" BECAUSE OF A ROCK GARDEN OF LARGE BOULDERS WITH A DROP OFF ON ONE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WE HAVE FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE WITH THESE DANGERS AS WE HAVE GOTTEN STUCK ON THE DEATH ROCK AND HAD TO SPEND A NIGHT SLEEPING ON THE TRAIL UNTIL A LOCAL HERO COULD COME SET US FREE. DIRECTLY BELOW WHERE WE WERE STUCK WAS A JEEP THAT HAD NOT BEEN SO FORTUNATE AND ROLLED DOWN THE SIDE OF THE HILL.