Winter conditions can occur at any time. 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 not be updated until Spring 2010.

Use caution at all stream crossings. Water levels can make crossings impassable especially after rainstorms or weather events. Streams generally peak between the late afternoon and evening hours with safer crossings in the morning hours.

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)

Northern Kings Canyon

TRAIL/DESTINATION	CONDITIONS
Evolution Valley/Basin	Winter conditions may exist.
Muir Pass	Winter conditions may exist.
Le Conte Canyon/Dusy Basin/Palisade Creek	Winter conditions may exist.
Mather Pass	Winter conditions may exist.
Bench Lake Area	Winter conditions may exist.
Pinchot Pass	Winter conditions may exist.

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TRAIL/DESTINATION	CONDITIONS
Lewis Creek/Kennedy Pass	Per staff report 7/21 the Kennedy Loop trail including Kennedy Canyon and Deadpine Ridge should only be attempted by hikers with strong map and routefinding skills. Winter conditions may exist.
Middle Fork Kings/Simpson Meadow/Tehipite	Winter conditions may exist.
Granite Lakes & vicinity	Winter conditions may exist.
Copper Creek	Trail is steep, and dry for at least first 2 miles. Take plenty of water. Winter condtions may exist.
Woods Creek	Winter conditions may exist.
Glen Pass	Winter conditions may exist.
Kearsarge Pass	Winter conditions may exist.
Bubbs Creek	Per staff report 9/26 East cr crossing to Lake Reflection trail was calf deep. Hiking poles recommended. Crossing on a log and rocks may be possible.
Forester Pass	Winter conditions may exist.
Sphinx Creek Trail	Winter condtions may exist.
Avalanche Pass	Winter conditions may exist.

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Grant Grove/Roaring River

TRAIL/DESTINATION	CONDITIONS
Sugarloaf Valley/Roaring River	Winter conditions may exist.
Colby Pass/Cloud Canyon	Winter conditions may exist.
Elizabeth Pass/Deadman Canyon	Winter conditions may exist.
JO Pass	Winter conditions may exist.
Seville/Ranger/Lost Lakes/Belle Canyon	Winter condtions may exist.
Redwood Canyon	Winter conditions may exist.

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Lodgepole/Wolverton

TRAIL/DESTINATION	CONDITIONS
Twin Lakes Trail	Per staff report 8/23 Siliman Cr and East fork had plenty of water. Clover Creek was not running near the Clover Cr campsite but had a few pools remaining but not for much longer. 1 of 2 food storage boxes at Ranger Lakes was crushed by treefall on 8/18 and not yet replaced as of 8/23. Winter conditions may exist.
Panther Gap/Alta Peak	Winter conditions may exist.
Pear Lake Trail	Winter conditions may exist.
High Sierra Trail/Kaweah Gap	Winter conditions may exist.
Lone Pine Creek/Tamarack Lake/Elizabeth Pass	Winter conditions may exist.
Bearpaw to Blackrock Pass (via Redwood Meadow & Cliff Creek)	Winter conditions may exist.

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Ash Mountain

TRAIL/DESTINATION	CONDITIONS
Middle Fork Trail	Brush is slightly overgrown at the lower elevations. Watch for poison oak, ticks, and rattlesnakes. Water should be available at Panther Cr, Mehrton Cr, Buck Cr, and Redwood Meadow area as of 8/23. Winter conditions may exist.
Garfield Grove Trail	Brush is slightly overgrown at the lower elevations. Watch for poison oak, ticks, and rattlesnakes on the lower portion of the trail. Winter conditions may exist.
Ladybug Trail	Trail begins to disappear after Whiskey Log Camp at about 5 miles. Watch for poison oak, ticks, and rattlesnakes.

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Mineral King

TRAIL/DESTINATION	CONDITIONS
Paradise Ridge Trail	Winter conditions may exist.
Timber Gap	Winter conditions may exist.
Glacier Pass	Spring lake thru Hands and Knees Pass is a cross-country route and is NOT recommended for average hiker. Winter conditions may exist.
Little Five/Big Five Lakes	Winter conditions may exist.
Blackrock Pass	Winter conditions may exist.
Monarch Lakes/Sawtooth Pass	Winter conditions may exist. Please stay on established switchbacks on south side of Sawtooth Pass to avoid erosion. Stock are not allowed on Sawtooth Pass.
Franklin Lakes/Franklin Pass	Winter conditions may exist.
Farewell Gap	Winter conditions may exist.
White Chief/Eagle Lake/Mosquito Lakes	Winter conditions may exist.
Atwell/Hockett/Tar Gap	Per staff report 10/6 the lightning caused Horse Fire is being managed for resource benefits and is producing some smoke. Trails remain open but a firefighter escort or slight detour may be necessary. The fire is expected to go out with the first few major precipitation events Fall of 2009. Winter conditions may exist.

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TRAIL/DESTINATION	CONDITIONS
Forester Pass	Winter conditions may exist.
Tyndall Area	Winter conditions may exist.Trail over Shepherd pass from east is unmaintained and not stock passable. John Dean cutoff is also not recommended for stock.
Crabtree Meadow/Whitney Area	Winter conditions may exist. Last water source from east access is Trail Camp. Last water source from west access is Guitar Lake area.
Rock Creek/Miter Basin	Winter conditions may exist. As of 9/09 No water on PCT between Rock Creek and Chicken Spring Lake.
Kern Canyon	Winter conditions may exist.
Coyote Pass/Lakes Pass	Hikers within the National Forest lands in this area have reported difficulty following the trails in this area. Good map and compass skills necessary.
Rattlesnake/Soda Creeks	Winter conditions may exist.
Big Arroyo/Nine Lakes Basin	Winter conditions may exist. Hikers travelling on the Big Arroyo Trail below(south)of the Big Arroyo Patrol Cabin and on to Soda Cr and Rattlesnake Cr 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	Winter conditions may exist.

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East Side (Inyo National Forest)

TRAIL/DESTINATION	CONDITIONS
Bishop Pass	Winter conditions may exist. Rock slides continue to be active at the "rock glacier" on the eastern approach to Bishop Pass. Hikers should enter at their own risk and keep moving (i.e. do not stop for breaks) as they pass through the area. Expect such conditions throughout the year.
Taboose Pass	Winter conditions may exist.
Sawmill Pass	Winter conditions may exist.
Baxter Pass	Winter conditions may exist. Trail has been repaired from 2008 mudslide.
Kearsarge Pass	Winter conditions may exist.
Shepherd Pass	Winter conditions may exist. Not recommended for stock. Reminder: Due to Bighorn sheep in the area no dogs or goats are allowed.
Mount Whitney Trail	Winter conditions may exist.
New Army Pass	Winter conditions may exist.
Army Pass	Winter conditions may exist.
Cottonwood Pass	Winter conditions may exit. There is limited if any camping at Guoyt Cr so hikers should plan to camp at Rock Cr.

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