Spanish Mountain: One of the Worst Hikes in the Sierra? Summer in the Sierra Ep. 81

Spanish Mountain might be one of the most unique places in the Sierra Nevada, but getting there was a different story. For my final hiking trip of 2026, I headed into the Sierra to climb Spanish Mountain, a peak overlooking the spectacular depths of Kings Canyon. The summit delivers incredible views of the High Sierra, including Mount Goddard and the Palisades, but the approach was one of the roughest hikes I've experienced all year. Between wildfire impacts, poor trail maintenance, and seemingly endless downed trees, stretches of trail were difficult to follow—or barely existed at all. After roughly 15 miles and more than 4,000 feet of elevation gain, I was left wondering whether the views were worth the slog. One of the most interesting features of Spanish Mountain is its position above Kings Canyon. The mountain rises more than 8,200 feet above the Kings River over a horizontal distance of just a few miles, showcasing the extraordinary relief of the Sierra Nevada. This trip also marks the end of my 2026 hiking season. I'll be back with rock climbing videos in February before returning to Sierra hiking and peakbagging when summer rolls around. Thanks for following along this season, and I'll see you on the next adventure! #SpanishMountain #SierraNevada #Peakbagging