Cedar Grove and Roads End
The road into Cedar Grove and Roads End is open.
Lewis Creek and Kennedy Pass
6/20 - Expect snow pack above 10,000 ft on North facing slopes.
6/6 - The Trail on both sides of Comb Creek is currently being rerouted, stepping stones available to cross. Lewis Creek crossing is approximately 2 ft deep.
Copper Creek and Granite Pass
6/17 - Trail clear of fallen trees and snow from Roads End North to the middle of Granite Basin. North side of Granite Pass is holding a snow field ~50ft in length and there are a few trees down toward State Lakes. North of Shorty's Meadow there are three large snow banks and one large tree down across the trail. Some route finding may be necessary through snow. Stock is not recommended to inexperienced riders at this time. Bugs are out in Granite Basin!
6/2 - Intermittent deep drifts of snow on trail in Granite Basin.
5/24 - Heavy snow beginning at about 9,900ft. The trail is exceedingly difficult to follow after The Lip.
Woods Creek, Bubbs Creek, and Glen Pass (Rae Lakes Loop)
6/20 - South side of Glen Pass is snow free. The top two switchbacks on the North Side of the pass are 100% snow covered 1-2ft deep and large patches persist on trail further down. Hard packed boot tracks make it so traction devices are no longer required but caution is advised.
6/20 - The South Fork of the Kings River crossing near Upper Paradise on the Rae Lakes Loop is still fluctuating at or above 3ft in depth, very cold and swift. A slippery log jam located about a half mile downstream has been utilized by some hikers to cross. Please, exert extreme caution when attempting to cross this body of water.
6/15 - Fallen trees on trail between Junction Meadow and Vidette Meadow may impede stock travel.
6/2 - The South Fork of the Kings River is fluctuating at or above 3ft deep, cold and swift.
6/1 - Rock hopping is possible at the crossing between Rae Lakes. Arrowhead drainage can be crossed on a log jam in the vicinity of the trail.
5/30 - The North side of pass has a .5 mi snowfield on pass. The South side is totally covered with snow. A steep and highly exposed section is required to traverse. Technical skill, crampons and ice axe are highly recommended.
5/24 - Expect snow pack above 9,500 ft. Bubbs Creek Trail is free of snow up to Junction Meadow.
Kings Canyon- West of Sierra Crest
East Lake
6/20 - Bubbs Creek crossing near Junction Meadow is fluctuating at or above 3.5ft in depth at trail crossing. Seek alternative crossings.
6/1 - Bubbs Creek is running exceedingly swift and cold- fluctuating between 3-5 ft. Crossing is not advised. Expect snow pack above 9,500 ft.
Goddard Canyon
6/20 - Logged out up to McClure.
Middle Fork Kings/ Tehipite
6/20 - Expect snow pack above 10,000 ft on North facing slopes.
Grant Grove and Jennie Lakes Wilderness Area
Big Meadows Road is open
JO Pass
5/23 - Snow on pass. Route finding will be necessary and traction devices are recommended.
Seville, Ranger, and Lost Lakes and Belle Canyon
6/20 - Expect snow pack above 10,000 ft on North facing slopes.
Redwood Canyon
6/20 - Snow has melted out completely but the road down is kind of rough. Higher clearance vehicles are recommended
Sugarloaf Valley and Roaring River
6/20 - Expect snow pack above 10,000 ft on North facing slopes.
Weaver Lake: camp at least 100ft away from lake
6/20 - Expect snow pack above 10,000 ft on North facing slopes.
Jennie Lake: camp at least 100ft away from lake
6/20 - Expect snow pack above 10,000 ft on North facing slopes.
Lodgepole, Wolverton, and Crescent Meadow
Twin Lakes Trail
6/20 - Expect snow pack above 10,000 ft on North facing slopes.
6/1 - Expect snow pack above 9,500 ft. Silliman Creek is fluctuating between 1-2 ft in depth but may increase due to predicted precipitation trends. Caution is advised.
Alta Peak Trail
5/23 - Snow pack begins around 10,600ft on South facing slope (about 2 ft deep and melting fast). Traction devices and trekking poles are recommended.
Lakes Trail (Pear Lake)
6/12 - The Watchtower Trail is open.
6/1 - There are patches of snow beginning at Heather Lake and continuing towards Emerald Lake. The Watchtower remains closed due to snow and ice on the trail. Most campsites are free of snow at Emerald.
5/23 - Snow pack begins just after the outlet of Heather Lake and becomes difficult to find the trail after that point. All water crossings are running high with the possibility of melting snow bridges. Traction devices, trekking poles and route finding skills/ tools are highly recommended.
Tablelands
6/20 - Expect snow pack above 10,000 ft on North facing slopes.
High Sierra Trail
6/1 - All creek crossings from the Kern junction up to Crabtree are are at typical mid-season levels.
6/1 - The snow chute between Hamilton and Kaweah Gap is melted out. Snow pack begins 100% coverage below Precipice Lake and continues to the Upper Big Arroyo. Traction devices may be helpful but not required. Route finding skills, a good map and compass are required. Prior knowledge of the trail is preferred.
5/26 - Large washout between Big Arroyo and Chagoopa Plateau. Rocky chute 25-30 ft wide. Conditions described as a Class 2 scramble using hands.
5/24 - Expect snow pack above 9,500 ft. The trail is snow free until just above Hamilton Lake. Technical skills, traction devices and an ice axe will be necessary to get over Kaweah Gap for the foreseeable future. Water crossings will continue to fluctuate according to snowmelt and/or precipitation.
Copper Mine Pass
6/20 - Expect snow pack above 10,000 ft on North facing slopes.
Colby Pass
6/20 - Expect snow pack above 10,000 ft on North facing slopes.
Elizabeth Pass
6/20 - Expect snow pack above 10,000 ft on North facing slopes.
Foothills
Middle Fork Trail
6/20 - Caution is urged in all creek crossings in River Valley. Search up stream for safer crossing if attempting to enter the Redwood Meadow area.
Garfield Grove Trail (South Fork)
Ladybug Trail (South Fork)
Lower Colony Mill Trail (North Fork)
Mineral King and Kern Canyon
The road into Mineral King is now open.
Paradise Ridge Trail
5/22 - Snow free to ridge and over to Sandy Meadow.
Timber Gap
6/20 - The blow out on trail about 1 mile in from the MK Trailhead has been repaired and is now stock passable.
6/4 - No snow on either side of the Timber Gap trail. At 12:30pm Cliff Creek was about 2 feet deep at the trail crossing and moving calmly.
6/1 - The trail has suffered extensive damage from a rock fall about a mile out from the trailhead. Off trail navigation is required to bypass a steep 20 foot long section of missing trail. Extreme caution is urged. Not stock passable. Expect snow pack above 9,500 ft.
Tar Gap
6/1 - Lots of downed trees but clear of snow. Crossings are below knee level but caution should still be exercised.
Black Rock Pass
6/1 - The last mile has 20% snow coverage on the East side of pass. Route finding will be necessary. No snow on the west side of Black Rock Pass. Massive blowout on trail- not stock passable. Between the top of Black Rock Pass and Little Five Lakes- about 70% of the trail is free of snow. Snow was soft and I was post holing at 8:00a.m. all the way to the top of the pass. Good navigation skills are required
Glacier Pass
6/6 - The North side of Glacier pass has 95% snow coverage to Spring Lake. Ice Axe and traction devices are recommended.
Sawtooth Pass
6/17 - Snow free on West side of pass, East side is approximately 50% snow covered to Columbine Lake. Both visitors and employees have reported misleading cairns on the east side of the pass. Navigation & mountaineering skill is recommended.
6/4 - Several sections of a few hundred feet of snow still exist on the trail to Monarch Lake. No snow present on the "old trail" to the lake.
5/28 - Large patches of snow after Crystal Lake/Monarch Lake jnct towards Monarch Lake. Ice axe and crampons advised. Almost 100% snow around lower Monarch Lake, snow is 2-3 feet deep in areas. Snow over small streams was firm enough at 1300 to walk over without issue.
Farewell Gap
5/30 - Creek crossings are shin-deep and swift. Snowline is at about 10,250ft. Trail disappears beneath snow ~1/2 mile before Farewell Gap. Deep snow for the last 100 yd before Gap- crampons/ice axe recommended. Snow was mostly firm enough to walk upon at 1230, some postholing up to 2 ft deep. No snow at Farewell Gap, minimal snow on the Forest Service side of the Gap.
5/23 - Snow pack is at 9,300 ft. Lower Franklin Creek is fluctuating between 2 1/2 ft -3 ft deep- it is swift and very cold. Route finding is required past the junction for Franklin and Farewell Gap trails due to vast snow fields.
Franklin Lakes and Franklin Pass
6/18 - There is a large snow cornice on Franklin Pass and is not considered stock passable.
6/14 - Lower Franklin Creek is fluctuating around 2ft in depth with cold, swift water. Upper Franklin Creek is fluctuating at or above 2ft within the meadow. The main trail crossing is fluctuating at or above 3ft and swift. Lower Franklin lake is completely free of snow/ice. Upper Franklin Lake is about 25% covered in isolated segments of ice. Trail is snow-free all the way to Franklin Pass. A 10-12 ft snow cornice on East side of pass persists. Large snow patch on east side of pass. Route finding may be necessary.
5/27 - Both creek crossings up to the pass are swift in areas. Snowline is at about 10,000ft. The snow is patchy, mainly in drainages. Trekking poles are advised. The lake is partially frozen.
5/23 - Snow pack is at 9,300 ft. Lower Franklin Creek is fluctuating between 2 1/2 ft -3 ft deep- it is swift and very cold. Route finding is required past the junction for Franklin and Farewell Gap trails due to vast snow fields. Franklin Lake is mostly free of ice.
White Chief, Eagle Lake, and Mosquito Lakes
5/27 - Trail free of snow. Some fallen trees over trail but still passable. Muddy around lakes #1 and #2
5/27 - Patches of snow and trail confusing to navigate last 1/4-mile before Eagle Lake.
5/24 - Expect snow pack above 9,500 ft.
Atwell/Hockett Trail
6/1 - Trail is clear of snow. Horse Creek Crossing is fluctuating around 2 feet deep. Mosquitos are out.
4/30 - Large sections of snow patches from the Tar Gap junction to the Hockett Ranger Station. Horse Creek was running above the knee and very cold and swift.
Sierra Crest and East Side (Inyo National Forest)
For more information on trails starting on the east side of the Sierra Nevada, contact the Inyo National Forest Wilderness Office at (760) 873-2483.
Bishop Pass
6/20 - Expect snow pack above 10,000 ft on North facing slopes.
Mather Pass
6/20 - South side of pass is snow free. The North side has large patches of snow on trail. Route finding and scrambling is required and trekking poles are advised. Not stock passable.
6/1 - Extensive/deep snow coverage on the North side of Mather pass to lower palisade lake.
Upper Basin
6/20 - Expect snow pack above 10,000 ft on North facing slopes.
Piute Pass
6/20 - Expect snow pack above 10,000 ft on North facing slopes.
Muir Pass
6/20 - Expect snow pack above 10,000 ft on North facing slopes.
Pinchot Pass
6/20 - Expect snow pack above 10,000 ft on North facing slopes.
Taboose Pass
6/20 - The East side of pass has 3 large snow fields ~50ft in length, 1-2 ft deep and on flat terrain. It may be difficult for stock travel but not difficult for hikers to traverse. The West Side is free of snow.
6/20 - The South Fork of the Kings River North of the Bench Lake junction on the PCT/JMT is less than 1ft deep.
Sawmill Pass
6/20 - Expect snow pack above 10,000 ft on North facing slopes.
Baxter Pass
6/20 - Expect snow pack above 10,000 ft on North facing slopes.
Kearsarge Pass
6/14 - Trail is free of snow.
6/1 - Basically free of snow with the exception of a few small patches that can be navigated through with trekking poles and boots.
Forester Pass
6/20 - Expect snow pack above 10,000 ft on North facing slopes.
Shepherd Pass
6/20 - Expect snow pack above 10,000 ft on North facing slopes.
Mount Whitney Trail
6/18 - West Side: The trail is snow free to the summit with a few patches of snow that are avoidable. East Side: mostly free of snow up to the switchbacks above the trail. There are several patches of snow that are hazardous between Trail Camp to Trail Crest, especially the section with the cables- Ice Axe/Crampons recommended
5/30 - On the East side there is 100% snow coverage from Trail Camp to Trail Crest. Ice axe/crampons are advised. Most opting for snowfield vs trail. Cables are up. The trail below Trail Camp is mostly snow free. On West side, switchbacks are about 80% snow free. Trail Crest to summit has about 60% snow coverage. Steep exposed icy sections. Ice axe and tractions devices are advised.
Old Army Pass
6/12 - Not recommended except for experienced mountaineers with technical gear.
New Army Pass
6/1 - There is a 100ft vertical wall of ice and snow at the top of New Army Pass. Ice Axe and Crampons are required. It is basically snow free from Cottonwood Lakes.
Cottonwood Pass
6/1 - From the PCT/JMT north to Wright Creek the trail is free of snow and stock passable. All creek crossings are unremarkable. On Tyndall Creek there is a safer crossing 1/4 mile upstream in the meadow where braided.
Kern Canyon
6/18 - There is a fallen log by the Kern Ranger station that may impede stock travel. Stock parties can take the bridge, through Inyo, to bypass.
6/1 - All stream crossings including Rattlesnake Creek are running at mid-season levels. Rattlesnake is below the knee, not too swift. At least 10 trees are down over the trail.
Rock Creek
6/20 - Expect snow pack above 10,000 ft on North facing slopes.
