• Giant Sequoia Trees

    Sequoia & Kings Canyon

    National Parks California

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  • Changes to Some Opening/Closing Dates for Services and Facilities – Check Back for Updates

    Some of the opening/closing dates for facilities and visitor services in the parks have changed due to weather and/or other circumstances. See link for details and match to locations on the park map (under "Park Tools," bottom left, this page). More »

  • Road Conditions (Entire Park) and Road Construction Delays (if Entering/Exiting Hwy. 198)

    Expect 20-minute to 1-hour construction delays on main road through parks (Generals Hwy) until Memorial Day weekend (7 a.m.-6 p.m.). See link for schedule. Call for 24-hour road conditions info: 559-565-3341 (press 1, 1, 1). More »

  • Vehicle Length Limits Have Changed in Sequoia NP (if Entering/Exiting Hwy 198)

    Planning to see the "Big Trees" in Sequoia National Park? If you enter/exit via Hwy. 198, please pay close attention to new vehicle length advisories for your safety and the safety of others. More »

  • You May Have Trouble Calling Us. Use the "Contact Us" Link (Bottom Left) to Send an E-mail.

    We are experiencing technical problems receiving some incoming phone calls at the parks. We apologize for the inconvenience. Please keep trying to reach us or check this website for frequently-asked questions. The search box (top, right) may be helpful.

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)


 

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 4/24 No current conditions available.
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 4/24

No current conditions available.

Middle Fork Kings/Simpson Meadow/Tehipite 4/24 No current conditions available.
Granite Lakes & vicinity 4/24 No current conditions available.
Copper Creek 4/24 No current conditions available.
Woods Creek 4/24

No current conditions available.

Glen Pass 4/24 No current conditions available.
Kearsarge Pass 4/24

No current conditions available.

Bubbs Creek 4/24

No current conditions available.

Sphinx Creek Trail 4/24 No current conditions available.
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 4/24

No current conditions available.

Elizabeth Pass/Deadman Canyon 4/24 No current conditions available.
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 4/24

No current conditions available.

Panther Gap/Alta Peak 4/24

No current conditions available.

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

4/24

From the trail head to the Hump the trail is snow free. The Hump consists of packed snow and may require some post hole. From the Hump to Heather Lake and beyond will still require over snow travel. It is not reported what kind of snow to expect in this area. The North face is solid snow.

Tablelands

High Sierra Trail/Kaweah Gap

4/24

4/24

No current conditions available.

Trail will have patchy snow in shady areas but is hikeable to Bearpaw Meadow. There may be trees across the trail. Panther Creek, Mehrten Creek, and Buck Creek all have water. Use caution on all water crossings.

There is no water at Bearpaw Meadow.

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 4/24 The trail is free of snow. Be aware of poison oak, ticks, and rattlesnakes.
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 3/13

No current conditions available.

Little Five/Big Five Lakes 3/13

No current conditions available.

Blackrock Pass 3/13

No current conditions available.

Sawtooth Pass to Columbine Lake 3/13

No current conditions available.

Franklin Lakes/Franklin Pass 3/13 No current conditions available.
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 3/13

No current conditions available.

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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
Bishop Pass 11/20 Winter conditions exist. For further information, contact the Easter Sierra Interagency Visitor Center at 760-876-6222.
Taboose Pass 11/20

Winter conditions exist. For further information, contact the Easter Sierra Interagency Visitor Center at 760-876-6222.

Sawmill Pass 11/20

Winter conditions exist. For further information, contact the Easter Sierra Interagency Visitor Center at 760-876-6222.

Baxter Pass 11/20

Winter conditions exist. 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 8/20

Winter conditions exist. 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 7/4

Winter conditions exist. For further information, contact the Easter Sierra Interagency Visitor Center at 760-876-6222.

The trail is dangerous for stock travel due to poor trail conditions.

Reminder: As with all areas of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, no dogs or goats are allowed.

Mount Whitney Trail 8/12

Winter conditions exist. For further information, contact the Easter Sierra Interagency Visitor Center at 760-876-6222.

New Army Pass 7/12

Winter conditions exist. For further information, contact the Easter Sierra Interagency Visitor Center at 760-876-6222.

Army Pass 7/12

Winter conditions exist. For further information, contact the Easter Sierra Interagency Visitor Center at 760-876-6222.

Cottonwood Pass 6/15

Winter conditions exist. For further information, contact the Easter Sierra Interagency Visitor Center at 760-876-6222.

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New Army Pass
New Army Pass
Photo by N. Ver

Did You Know?

Sign indicating no pets allowed.

Dogs are not permitted on any park trails or on the summer shuttle, except  service dogs. This allows for more frequent wildlife sightings, ensures that other visitors and wildlife will not be annoyed or frightened by dogs, and saves cleanup on trails. You can take dogs on leashes on US Forest Service trails.