Trail Conditions

Winter conditions can occur at anytime. Be prepared by checking weather conditions and going out with good route finding skills and all of the knowledge and equipment you will need to protect yourself in the wilderness.

This website will be updated as trail conditions are reported by visitors and park staff. Conditions may be reported by e-mail using the following link: e-mail us.

During the spring, trail conditions are highly variable. Always be prepared for trails that are wet and muddy, covered with patchy snow and ice, or buried in several inches to several feet of snow. Trails may be obscured by snow. As of 4/24/2013, the snow line is at approximately 8500ft. These conditions could change rapidly.

Use caution at all stream crossings. Spring thawing conditions can result in avalanche danger and stream flows will be very high and swift. Many trails may not be snow-free until mid to late June, and mountain passes until July or later. Snow and ice bridges can also be a problem at this time of year.

NOTE: Several Road Closures are in effect.

IN KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARK
Northern Kings Canyon Park
Cedar Grove/Road's End
Grant Grove/Roaring River

IN SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK
Lodgepole/Wolverton
Foothills (Ash Mountain)/South Fork
Mineral King
Kern
East Side (Inyo National Forest)

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NORTHERN KINGS CANYON

Trail/Destination	Date	Conditions
Evolution Valley/Basin	4/24	No current conditions available.
Muir Pass	4/24	No current conditions available.
LeConte Canyon/Dusy Basin/Palisade Creek	6/6	Below ranger station: Clear, open trail. To Palisade Lakes: About a dozen trees across the trail in the burn near Deer Meadow. Golden Staircase clear and open. Palisade Lakes clear and open to the base of Mather Pass. From a distance, the north side of Mather looks like 30% snow cover in the trail area. Knapsack Pass: Couple snow patches on the north side. South side clear and open. Barrett Lakes basin about 10% snow cover.
Mather Pass	4/24	No current conditions available.
Bench Lake Area	4/24	No current conditions available.
Pinchot Pass	4/24	No current conditions available.

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CEDAR GROVE/ROAD'S END

Trail/Destination	Date	Conditions
Lewis Creek/Kennedy Pass	6/3	Hotel Lewis Loop to Frypan Meadow and Kennedy Pass Clear except for snow on North side of Pass. Estimate of 3 ft. snow.
Middle Fork Kings/Simpson Meadow/Tehipite	4/24	No current conditions available.
Granite Lakes & vicinity	4/24	No current conditions available.
Copper Creek	6/3	Copper Creek Trail Roads end to Granite Pass clear. Snow on North side of pass. Estimate of 3-4 ft. snow.
Woods Creek	6/3	Trail clear to Upper Paradise
Glen Pass	6/13	North Side: Top has approximately 200ft. snow patch. Good bott tracks. Icy in the morning. Couple of small patches further down; minor route finding necessary. South Side: No Snow
Kearsarge Pass	4/24	No current conditions available.
Bubbs Creek	6/3	Trail clear to Junction Meadow and East Lake. (Difficult crossing of Bubbs Creek to East Lake). Sphinx Creek trail to Avalanche being cleared this week. Roaring River District being cleared this week (Avalanche Pass, Deadman Canyon to Ranger Meadow, Cloud Canyon to Grand Palace, Sugarloaf Valley, Silliman Pass and Bell Canyon.)
Sphinx Creek Trail	6/5	Refer to above conditions.
Avalanche Pass	4/24	No current conditions available.

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GRANT GROVE/ROARING RIVER

Trail/Destination	Date	Conditions
Sugarloaf Valley/Roaring River	4/24	No current conditions available.
Colby Pass/Cloud Canyon	6/6	Still snow (fair amount) on Colby Pass and Elizabeth Pass but people are making it over. Use caution. Trail crew has cleared trails in Deadman Canyon and Cloud Canyon.
Elizabeth Pass/Deadman Canyon	6/6	Still snow (fair amount) on Colby Pass and Elizabeth Pass but people are making it over. Use caution. Trail crew has cleared trails in Deadman Canyon and Cloud Canyon.
JO Pass	4/24	No current conditions available.
Seville/Ranger/Lost Lakes/Belle Canyon	4/24	No current conditions available.
Redwood Canyon	4/24	The road to the trailhead is rutted. Use caution. The trail is snow free but there may be trees down across the trail.

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LODGEPOLE/WOLVERTON

Trail/Destination	Date	Conditions
Twin Lakes Trail	6/2	stream crossings low, few trees down below twin but easily passable, snow free to top of silliman pass and very little snow on north side; Lots of mosquitoes! Wildflowers are out!
Panther Gap/Alta Peak	6/1	Very few patches of snow to peak, but easily passable
Pear Lake Trail *Winter: Reservations are required at the Pear Lake Hut. Do not assume that it will be open.For more information, visit: www.sequoiahistory.org	5/24	Snow free; patchy snow in Tablelands; Watchtower trail open; Lots of mosquitoes!!!
Tablelands High Sierra Trail/Kaweah Gap	5/24 6/12	Patchy snow in Tablelands Easy to obtain water until Bearpaw; Snow-free to Hamilton Lakes; All creek crossings are rock hops until Hamilton Creek (section between the lakes) which is easy but ankle-deep in spots; trail partially washed out again near Panther Creek where trail crew fixed it a couple weeks ago; trail messy & sandy going up east side of Buck Creek but still stock passable. Remind visitors to protect themselves from sun and heat; long stretches without shade led many hikers to express surprise at the power of the the ambient temps on 6/7 & 6/8.
Lone Pine Creek/Tamarack Lake	3/21	No current conditions available.

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FOOTHILLS/SOUTH FORK

Trail/Destination	Date	Conditions
Middle Fork Trail	5/27	The trail is free of snow. Be aware of poison oak, ticks, and rattlesnakes. The poison oak is thick and sometimes across the trail within the first approximate five miles. The creek crossings are high. The trail is clear to Redwood Meadow.
Garfield Grove Trail	4/24	The trail at lower elevations is snow-free and clear to Garfield Grove. You may encounter snow at higher elevations. No full reports have been received.
Ladybug Trail	4/24	The trail at lower elevations is free of snow. No full reports have been received. Be aware of poison oak, ticks, and rattlesnakes. Trail begins to disappear after Whiskey Log Camp (~ 5 miles).

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MINERAL KING

Trail/Destination	Date	Conditions
Paradise Ridge Trail	3/13	No current conditions available.
Timber Gap	3/13	No current conditions available.
Glacier Pass	6/10	85% Snow Covered - Not recommended for travel.
Little Five/Big Five Lakes	3/13	No current conditions available.
Blackrock Pass	6/10	Reports from visitors that Blackrock pass is snowy, but passable without specialized equipment
Sawtooth Pass to Columbine Lake	6/10	Sawtooth Pass is 75% Snow Covered. Last mile leading to lower Monarch Lakes 150 yards of covered trail with snow. East side is difficult to pass with snow/ Completely covered to columbine lake. Ice Axe and Crampons recommended.
Franklin Lakes/Franklin Pass	6/3	Franklin Pass covered with snow on top and side. Easy to pass if careful. Good boots and hiking poles.
Farewell Gap	3/13	No current conditions available. Summer 2011: The Franklin - Farewell junction sign is present.
White Chief/Eagle Lake/Mosquito Lakes	3/13	No current conditions available.
Hockett Meadow	5/27	Snow free as of approximately 5/15. No complete trail conditions available. Creek crossings may be very high.

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KERN

Trail/Destination	Date	Conditions
Forester Pass	4/24	No current conditions available.
Tyndall Area	4/24	No current conditions available.
Crabtree Meadow/Whitney Area	4/24	No current conditions available.
Rock Creek/Miter Basin	4/24	No current conditions available. Trail status from summer 2011: Trail from Soldier Lake to Rock Creek Lake is very hazardous for stock due to erosion.
Kern Canyon	4/24	No current conditions available.
Coyote Pass/Lakes Pass	4/24	No current conditions available.
Rattlesnake/Soda Creeks	4/24	No current conditions available.
Big Arroyo/Nine Lake Basin	4/24	No current conditions available. Summer travel information: Hikers traveling on the Big Arroyo Trail south of the Big Arroyo Patrol Cabin and on to Soda Creek and Rattlesnake Creek must be skilled in route finding and properly equipped. This trail receives little use and does not receive frequent maintenance. It is difficult to traverse, and hard to locate in many sections. Not recommended for stock travel.
Kern-Kaweah/Colby Pass	4/24	No current conditions available.

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EAST SIDE (INYO NATIONAL FOREST)

Trail/Destination	Date	Conditions
Piute Pass Bishop Pass	5/30 6/6	200 ft. snow field on east side of piute pass. Hiking poles are recommended. West side has minimal patchy snow. East: Occasional spots of snow below the switchbacks, a few spots on the switchbacks with no problem going around on foot. Not stock passable yet. About 100 yard snow patch on the flat at the top. West: About 100 yard TOTAL of snow patches on the trail in the first mile below the pass. One tree down on the Dusy switchbacks - no problem for stock.
Taboose Pass	6/5	No current conditions available. For further information, contact the Easter Sierra Interagency Visitor Center at 760-876-6222.
Sawmill Pass	6/5	No current conditions available. For further information, contact the Easter Sierra Interagency Visitor Center at 760-876-6222.
Baxter Pass	6/5	No current conditions available. For further information, contact the Easter Sierra Interagency Visitor Center at 760-876-6222. This trail is extremely difficult to follow due to damage caused by fire and flash floods in previous years. It is not recommended for most hikers. Trail is not well-maintained, but has been repaired from the mudslide in 2008.
Kearsarge Pass	6/5	No current conditions available. For further information, contact the Easter Sierra Interagency Visitor Center at 760-876-6222. The three food-storage lockers will NOT be available for use this summer.
Shepherd Pass	4/16	Patchy snow above 8,000 feet on North side of Sims Saddle,Trail clear except one large rock 1/2 mile after first stream crossing, not blocking foot or stock traffic.
Mount Whitney Trail	6/13	East Side: Patchy snow on switchbacks from Trail Crest to Whitney, some snow on west side; can get icy depending on time of day (in which case visitor might want some microspikes); use caution. Otherwise passable without equipment West Side: Crabtree to summit is snow free
New Army Pass	6/10	Snow free on the trail, patches off to the side of the trail at the pass. One patch of snow on the trail just East of the pass. Impassable to stock
Army Pass	6/13	100 ft. stretch of snow at top; ice axe and crampons recommended
Cottonwood Pass	6/10	Snow free

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New Army Pass

Photo by N. Ver