Trail Conditions

Important Trail Conditions Information for Summer 2025

Due to previous wildfire activity and damage from 2023 winter storms, some trails and trailhead access roads are closed. Check our trail and road closure map on the Maps page for details. 

 

Mather Pass

Mark Blevins

On this page, you will find the most recent trail conditions that are available to park staff. Recent wildfires throughout the parks have created tree hazards and other safety concerns for hiking in burned areas.

Do not rely on trail updates in spring, fall, and winter when there are very few rangers in the field. Consider all possibilities before you head out on your trip and check out the Trail Safety page for more information on the potential hazards of wilderness travel. For the most up to date information on frontcountry trails, check in at the visitor center closest to your trailhead. Wilderness permits are required for overnight trips.

You can help us by sending an email to report trail conditions. For more information please call the Wilderness Office at [phone].

For snowpack data, visit the California Department of Water Resources snow survey website.

 

Trail Conditions by District

Trail conditions will be updated as information is reported by park staff and backcountry users. During fall, winter, and spring seasons, and during periods when our wilderness ranger stations are not staffed, trail conditions reports are received less frequently. If conditions are not available, please speak with a park ranger or the Wilderness Permit Office for more information.

Giant Forest, Lodgepole, Wolverton, and Crescent Meadow

Frontcountry Trails

Giant Forest Trails

06/17/2025 - Open

Moro Rock

06/17/2025 - Open 

Tokopah Falls

06/17/2025 - Open   

Muir Grove

06/10/2025 - Snow free. Hikers may see the impacts of the 2021 KNP Complex Fire in the area, including burned and dead trees. Learn how to stay safe in burned areas. 

Dorst - Lost Grove

06/10/2025 - Snow free.  Hikers may see the impacts of the 2021 KNP Complex Fire in the area, including burned and dead trees. Learn how to stay safe in burned areas. 

Wilderness Trails

High Sierra Trail

06/26/2025 - Some patchy snow over Kaweah Gap. Water is on At Bearpaw.

Twin Lakes Trail

06/13/2025 - Only a few small patches of snow before Silliman Pass. 

Alta Peak Trail

05/14/2025 - Pathcy snow from Lakes/Alta Junction. Almost full snow coverage by Panther Gap, and full snow coverage by Mehrten Meadow.  

Lakes Trail (Wolverton)

06/12/2025 - Little to no snow approaching lakes.  

The Watchtower

06/11/2025 - Open. A few downed trees on trail. 

Tablelands

11/19/2024 - Expect snow and winter conditions.   

Colby Pass

11/19/2024 - Expect snow and winter conditions.   

Elizabeth Pass

06/22/2025 - Large snowfield near top of north side.    

Tamarack Lake

11/19/2024 - Expect snow and winter conditions.   

Foothills

Frontcountry Trails

Marble Falls

6/20/2024 - Open for the season.

Paradise Creek

6/20/2024 - Open for the season.

Potwisha to Hospital Rock

6/20/2024 - Open for the season.

Wilderness Trails

Middle Fork Trail

05/14/2025 - Buckeye Flat Campground road is closed, park at Hospital Rock. Open to foot traffic only, no stock. Free of snow. Trail overgrown in some spots. 

Garfield Grove Trail (South Fork)

11/19/2024 - Expect snow and winter conditions. 

Ladybug Trail (South Fork)

2/21/2025 - Expect snow and winter conditions. 

Lower Colony Mill Trail (North Fork)

11/19/2024 - Overgrown and not maintained. Open to Admiration Point.  Expect snow and winter conditions. 

Colony Mill Trail (Crystal Cave Road)

11/19/2024 - Closed from Admiration Point to Crystal Cave Road due to impacts from the 2021 KNP Complex Fire.

Mineral King and Kern Canyon

Frontcountry Trails

Cold Springs Nature

06/17/2025 - Open

Wilderness Trails

Big Arroyo/Kern Canyon

06/24/2025 - Many downed trees bewtween Big Arroyo and Wallace Creek. Wallace Creek crossing is swift and high.

Moraine Lake Area

11/19/2024 - Expect snow and winter conditions.    

Paradise Ridge Trail

11/19/2024 - Expect snow and winter conditions.   

Timber Gap

05/26/2025 - A few downed trees and all but snow free on the south side. Crest of the pass and north side full snow coverage, and obscuring trail.    

Tar Gap/Atwell-Hocket Trails

5/30/2025 - Not stock passable. Many downed trees between Atwell and Hockett Meadows. Creek crossings running strong.   

Black Rock Pass

11/19/2024 - Expect snow and winter conditions.   

Sawtooth Pass and Monarch Lake

06/22/2025 - Still snow at pass. Several high concequence snowfileds at pass and Columbine Lake. 

Farewell Gap

5/26/2025 - Snowline at 9,500 feet, a number of large snow fields below that.

Franklin Lakes and Franklin Pass

06/21/2025 - Patchy snow. 

White Chief, Eagle Lake, and Mosquito Lakes

06/10/2025 - Spring Creek Bridge is in place. Some patchy snow on trail, Lakes have almost full snow cover.   

Atwell-Hockett Trail

06/01/2025 - Not stock passable.  Many downed trees on trail. Patchy snow closer to Hockett Meadows. 

Hockett Meadows Area

06/01/2025 - Patchy snow and strong flowing creek crossings.  

Soda Creek Trail

11/19/2024 - Expect snow and winter conditions.   

Grant Grove and Jennie Lakes Wilderness Area

Frontcountry Trails

Grant Grove Trails

06/10/2025 - Open. 

Panoramic Point

06/10/2025 - Open.  

Wilderness Trails

Big Meadows Road (14S11)

06/10/2025 - Open.

Rowell Meadow Road (13S14)

06/10/2025 - Open.

JO Pass

11/19/2024 - Expect snow and winter conditions.   

Seville, Ranger, and Lost Lakes and Belle Canyon

11/19/2024 - Expect snow and winter conditions.   

Redwood Canyon (Hart Tree, Sugar Bowl, Big Springs)

06/10/2025 - Remains closed due to impacts from the 2021 KNP Complex Fire.

Marvin Pass

11/19/2024 - Expect snow and winter conditions.   

Sugarloaf Valley and Roaring River

06/10/2025 - Not stock passable, many trees down on trail. Creek crossings are mild.    

Cloud Canyon/Colby Pass

11/19/2024 - Expect snow and winter conditions.   

Longley Pass

11/19/2024 - Expect snow and winter conditions.   

Deadman Canyon

11/19/2024 - Expect snow and winter conditions.   

Weaver Lake: camp at least 100 feet away from lake

06/10/2025 - Snow free.   

Jennie Lake: camp at least 100 feet away from lake

06/10/2025 - Snow free. 

Cedar Grove and Roads End

Frontcountry Trails

Hotel Creek to Cedar Grove Overlook

05/05/2025 -  A few downed trees on trail. Trail to Cedar Grove Overlook, and between Lewis Creek Trailhead and Hotel Creek Trailhead completely obscured by fire damage. Hikers may see the impacts of the 2024 Happy Fire in the area, including burned and dead trees. Learn how to stay safe in burned areas. 

Zumwalt Meadow

6/14/2024 - Zumwalt Meadow is no longer a loop trail.

River

05/14/2025 - Open

Cedar Grove North Side

05/14/2025 - Open

Lightning Creek

05/14/2025 - Open

Kanawyer Loop Trail

05/22/2025 - Open

Wilderness Trails

Avalanche Pass

06/14/2025 - Many trees down on trail. Trail washed out on the south side of the pass. Route-finding skills necessary.

 Lewis Creek and Kennedy Pass

05/05/2025 - A few downed trees before junction with hotel creek trail. Hikers may see the impacts of the 2024 Happy Fire in the area, including burned and dead trees. Learn how to stay safe in burned areas. 

Copper Creek and Granite Pass

06/10/2025 - Clear of snow to Granite Pass. A few downed trees on trail.     

Woods Creek / Mist Falls / Paradise Valley (Rae Lakes Loop)

06/10/2025 - Trail clear to Upper Paradise. South Fork Kings River and crossings is very cold, fast, and high. 

South Fork Kings River Bridge washed out along the Rae Lakes Loop

The South Fork Kings River Bridge above Paradise Valley washed out during the winter of 2016-2017. Construction of a replacement bridge has not begun.

These river crossings can be extremely hazardous. Observe conditions carefully and then evaluate the risk of crossing. Be prepared to turn back. If you hike the Rae Lakes Loop beginning from Bubbs Creek, plan for the possibility that you may have to backtrack to safely reach Cedar Grove.

Note on Upper Paradise Campground - There are multiple trails in the campground area that tend to confuse hikers: one that leads north and three at the suspension bridge, including one that goes due east from there that is not the correct trail. Hikers doing the Rae Lakes Loop want to follow the trail that goes south (downstream) from the suspension bridge.  This trail will soon shift to heading in an east/west direction.

Bubbs Creek (Rae Lakes Loop)

06/02/2025 - Trail clear to Junction Meadow. 

Glen Pass (Rae Lakes Loop)

06/21/2025 - Still significant snow cover on north face.

Rae Lakes Basin (Rae Lakes Loop)

06/10/2025 - Almost full snow cover throughout lakes basin. Creek crossings are high, fast, and cold.    

The East Creek Bridge to East Lake 

05/14/2025 - Creek by junction is high and fast. 

Gardiner Pass

11/19/2024 - Expect snow and winter conditions.   

Sixty Lakes Basin

06/16/2025 - Has patchy, sometimes deep, snow. 

Don Cecil

06/10/2025 - Mostly clear of snow, a few trees on trail.

Kings Canyon- West of Sierra Crest

Wilderness Trails

JMT/PCT - North of Evolution Valley

11/19/2024 - Expect snow and winter conditions. 

East Lake

11/19/2024 - Expect snow and winter conditions. 

Goddard Canyon

11/19/2024 - Expect snow and winter conditions. 

LeConte Canyon

11/19/2024 - Expect snow and winter conditions. 

Tehipite Valley

11/19/2024 - Expect snow and winter conditions. 

Middle Fork Kings

11/19/2024 - Expect snow and winter conditions. 

Roaring River

11/19/2024 - Expect snow and winter conditions. 

Sierra Crest and East Side (Inyo National Forest)

Bishop Pass/Dusy Basin

06/11/2025 - Not stock passable.  Inyo side has patcy snow to switchbacks, full snow cover above that. Some rocks and trees on trail. Upper Dusy has patchy snow, snow free below that. 

Palisade Creek

06/24/2025 - Palisade Creek at Middle Fork Kaweah crossing is deep, swift and white water. Off trail travel required to find safe crossing. 

Evolution Basin

06/14/2025 - A few downed trees but stock passable. Evolution creek crossing swift and high.  

Mather Pass

06/14/2025 - Patchy snow starting at 11,000 feet. Full snow cover by 11,500 feet, with high concequence snowfields.  Southside mostly snow free. 

Darwin/Bench

11/19/2024 - Expect snow and winter conditions. 

Piute Pass

11/19/2024 - Expect snow and winter conditions. 

Muir Pass

06/13/2025 - Full snow cover from Pass to Sapphire lake, 50% snow cover from Sapphire Lake to Evolution lake. 

Lamarck Col

06/13/2025 - North side has snow starting at 11,000 feet. South side allmost snow free. 

Pinchot Pass

11/19/2024 - Expect snow and winter conditions. . 

Sawmill Pass

11/19/2024 - Expect snow and winter conditions. 

Taboose Pass

11/19/2024 - Expect snow and winter conditions. 

Baxter Pass

11/19/2024 - Expect snow and winter conditions. 

Kearsarge Pass

11/19/2024 - Expect snow and winter conditions. 

Forester Pass

06/13/2025 - South Side snow beings at timberline. Northside has full snow cover to Center Creek.

Harrison Pass

11/19/2024 - Expect snow and winter conditions. 

Shepherd Pass

06/17/2025 - Park side clear of snow. Inyo side has a large, steep, firm snow field. 

Mount Whitney Trail

06/16/2025 - Guitar Lakie to switchbacks have a few high angle snowfileds. Just below plateau is a large, moderate angle snowfield. Eastern (Inyo) side has several large, steep snowfields. 

Mt Langley

06/24/2025 - Some patchy snow near the top. 

John Muir Trail (JMT)

11/19/2024 - Expect snow and winter conditions.    

Army Pass

06/13/2025 - Full snow cover down to lake. Near pass snow is very steep and firm. 

New Army Pass

06/13/2025 - Inyo side allmost snow free until just below pass where snow becomes very steep and firm.

Cottonwood Pass

06/09/2025 - Stock passable to lower Rock Creek Crossing, a few negligible snow fields 

Miter Basin

11/19/2024 - Expect snow and winter conditions. 

Kern Canyon

11/19/2024 - Expect snow and winter conditions. 

Guyot Pass

11/19/2024 - Expect snow and winter conditions. 

Rock Creek

11/19/2024 - Expect snow and winter conditions. 

Siberian Pass

11/19/2024 - Expect snow and winter conditions.  

Siberian Outpost

11/19/2024 - Expect snow and winter conditions. 

 

New Army Pass

N. Ver