Shorty Lovelace Historic District

The Shorty Lovelace Historic District consists of nine preserved mountain cabins scattered across several high valley locations in the Sierra Nevada. Each structure measures roughly five by seven feet with simple dirt floors, representing basic shelter built for survival in remote canyons and meadows.

A trapper named Joseph Walter Lovelace built these shelters between 1910 and 1940 as bases for his mountain journeys throughout Kings River Canyon. The district was officially recognized in 1978 as a historic site due to its importance in showing early mountain habitation.

The cabins reflect how early mountain dwellers adapted to harsh Sierra Nevada conditions with minimal resources and shelter. Walking among them shows the self-reliant lifestyle of those who chose to stay year-round in these remote valleys.

The cabins are spread across remote high-altitude locations, so reaching them requires hiking and a good understanding of mountain trails. Visitors should come prepared for alpine conditions and steep terrain, as snow blocks access during winter months.

Lovelace actually built up to thirty-six shelters across the Kings River area, though fewer survive today at their original locations. The nine preserved cabins represent a careful selection of his handiwork that reveals how he managed shelter across multiple high valleys.

Location: Fresno County

Location: Tulare County

GPS coordinates: 36.74060,-118.51800

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:45