Trail Conditions

Important Trail Conditions Information for Summer 2024

The San Joaquin Bridge was severely damaged during the winter of 2023. The bridge has been demolished and replacement is expected to begin this summer. This bridge is at a critical river crossing along the Pacific Crest Trail and John Muir Trail. Until the park replaces the bridge, hikers should plan to find alternate routes. 

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. After a record-breaking winter, wilderness conditions will be snowy until late summer, and conditions may be treacherous. 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

12/12/2023 - Be prepared for icy conditions. 

Moro Rock

12/12/2023 - Be prepared for icy conditions. 

Tokopah Falls

12/12/2023 -  Be prepared for icy conditions. 

Muir Grove

12/12/2023 - 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. Expect winter conditions. 

Dorst - Lost Grove

12/12/2023 -  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. Expect winter conditions.

Wilderness Trails

High Sierra Trail

12/12/2023 - Be prepared for icy conditions. 

Twin Lakes Trail

12/12/2023 - Be prepared for icy conditions. Some snow over Sillman Pass and around Lost and Ranger Lakes. 

Alta Peak Trail

12/12/2023 - Be prepared for icy conditions. Some snow near peak. 

Lakes Trail (Wolverton)

12/12/2023 - Be prepared for ice and snow on trail. 

The Watchtower

1/04/2024 - Closed for the season.   

Tablelands

12/12/2023 -  Be prepared for ice and snow. 

Colby Pass

12/12/2023 -  Be prepared for ice and snow. 

Elizabeth Pass

12/12/2023 -  Be prepared for ice and snow. 

Tamarack Lake

12/12/2023 -  Be prepared for ice and snow. 

Foothills

Frontcountry Trails

Marble Falls

12/12/2023 - Be prepared for icy conditions. 

Paradise Creek

12/12/2023 - Be prepared for icy conditions. 

Potwisha to Hospital Rock

12/12/2023 - Be prepared for icy conditions. 

Wilderness Trails

Middle Fork Trail

12/12/2023 - Access Road closed, park at Hospital Rock. Open to foot traffic only, no stock. 

Garfield Grove Trail (South Fork)

12/12/2023 -  Road to the trailhead is rough and not accessible due to storm damage a mile from the trail head. Parking is Very limited. Trail washed out by multiple landslides within first mile of the trail.

Ladybug Trail (South Fork)

12/12/2023 -  Road to the trailhead is rough and not accessible due to storm damage a mile from the trail head.Parking is Very limited. Cross directly North across ravine to reach the trailhead (sign crushed by a tree). Trail is slightly overgrown but in good condition to Whiskey Log turn-off.

Lower Colony Mill Trail (North Fork)

12/12/2023 - Open to Admiration Point. Expect winter conditions. 

Colony Mill Trail (Crystal Cave Road)

12/12/2023 - 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

11/10/2022 - Expect winter conditions. 

Wilderness Trails

Big Arroyo/Kern Canyon

11/10/2022 - Expect winter conditions. 

Moraine Lake Area

11/10/2022 - Expect winter conditions. 

Paradise Ridge Trail

11/10/2022 - Expect winter conditions. 

Timber Gap

11/10/2022 - Expect winter conditions. 

Tar Gap

11/10/2022 - Expect winter conditions. 

Black Rock Pass

08/30/2023  - Clear of snow on both sides. 

Glacier Pass

11/10/2022 - Expect winter conditions. 

Sawtooth Pass and Monarch Lake

11/10/2022 - Expect winter conditions. 

Farewell Gap

11/10/2022 - Expect winter conditions. 

Franklin Lakes and Franklin Pass

11/10/2022 - Expect winter conditions. 

White Chief, Eagle Lake, and Mosquito Lakes

05/23/2024 - Temporary bridge is not yet set up for the season. Creek is high and swift. Do not attempt to cross. 

Atwell-Hockett Trail

07/18/2023 - Snow free.  

Hocket Meadows Area

11/10/2022 - Expect winter conditions. 

Grant Grove and Jennie Lakes Wilderness Area

Frontcountry Trails

Grant Grove Trails

12/12/2023 - Be prepared for icy conditions. 

Panoramic Point

11/30/2023 - Closed.

Wilderness Trails

Big Meadows Road (14S11)

12/12/2023 - Closed for the season. 

Rowell Meadow Road (13S14)

12/12/2023 - Closed for the season.

JO Pass

12/12/2023 - Be prepared for ice and snow on the trail. 

Seville, Ranger, and Lost Lakes and Belle Canyon

12/12/2023 - Be prepared for ice and snow on the trail. 

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

12/12/2023 - Remains closed due to impacts from the 2021 KNP Complex Fire.

Sugarloaf Valley and Roaring River

12/12/2023 - Be prepared for ice and snow on the trail. 

Cloud Canyon

12/12/2023 - Be prepared for ice and snow on the trail.  

Longley Pass

12/12/2023 - Be prepared for ice and snow on the trail. 

Deadman Canyon

12/12/2023 - Be prepared for ice and snow on the trail. 

Weaver Lake: camp at least 100 feet away from lake

12/12/2023 - Be prepared for ice and snow on the trail. 

Jennie Lake: camp at least 100 feet away from lake

12/12/2023 - Be prepared for ice and snow on the trail. 

Cedar Grove and Roads End

4/28/2023 The Road To Cedar Grove Is Closed Due To Storm Damage

Frontcountry Trails

Hotel Creek

6/5/2022 - No report available at this time.

Zumwalt Meadow

6/5/2022 - The accessible boardwalk loop trail is closed, please stay on the marked trail.

River

6/5/2022 - No report available at this time.

Cedar Grove North Side

6/5/2022 - No report available at this time.

Lightning Creek

6/5/2022 - No report available at this time.

Wilderness Trails

Avalanche Pass

12/12/2023 - Expect winter conditions. 

Lewis Creek and Kennedy Pass

12/12/2023 - Expect winter conditions. 

Copper Creek and Granite Pass

12/12/2023 - Expect winter conditions.  

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

Lower Paradise Valley Temporary Camping Closure
Due to the number of dead and hazardous trees in this area, camping is temporarily prohibited in the designated Lower Paradise Valley camp sites. This closure will remain in effect until campsites can be inspected and hazard trees removed.

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)

12/12/2023 - Expect winter conditions. 

Glen Pass (Rae Lakes Loop)

12/12/2023 - Expect winter conditions. 

Rae Lakes Basin (Rae Lakes Loop)

12/12/2023 - Expect winter conditions. 

The East Creek Bridge to East Lake 

12/12/2023 - Expect winter conditions. 

Gardiner Pass

12/12/2023 - Expect winter conditions. 

Sixty Lakes Basin

12/12/2023 - Expect winter conditions. 

Don Cecil

12/12/2023 - Expect winter conditions.  

Kings Canyon- West of Sierra Crest

Wilderness Trails

 

JMT/PCT - North of Evolution Valley

12/12/2023  -  Expect winter conditions. The South Fork San Joaquin River Bridge (PCT mile 854.5) along the PCT/JMT in the north of Kings Canyon was severely damaged by winter storms and has been removed. Construction is expected to start in 2024.   

East Lake

12/12/2023  -  Expect winter conditions.

Goddard Canyon

12/12/2023  -  Expect winter conditions.

Tehipite Valley

12/12/2023  -  Expect winter conditions.

Middle Fork Kings

12/12/2023  -  Expect winter conditions.

Sierra Crest and East Side (Inyo National Forest)

Bishop Pass/Dusy Basin

12/12/2023  -  Expect winter conditions.

Palisade Creek

11/10/2022 - Expect winter conditions. 

Evolution Basin

12/12/2023  -  Expect winter conditions.

Mather Pass

12/12/2023  -  Expect winter conditions. 

Darwin/Bench

12/12/2023  -  Expect winter conditions.

Piute Pass

12/12/2023  -  Expect winter conditions.

Muir Pass

12/12/2023  -  Expect winter conditions.

Lamarck Col

12/12/2023  -  Expect winter conditions.

Pinchot Pass

12/12/2023  -  Expect winter conditions.

Sawmill Pass

12/12/2023  -  Expect winter conditions.

Taboose Pass

12/12/2023  -  Expect winter conditions.

Baxter Pass

12/12/2023  -  Expect winter conditions.

Kearsarge Pass

12/12/2023  -  Expect winter conditions.

Forester Pass

12/12/2023  -  Expect winter conditions.

Shepherd Pass

12/12/2023  -  Expect winter conditions.

Mount Whitney Trail

12/12/2023  -  Expect winter conditions.

Mt Langley

12/12/2023  -  Expect winter conditions. 

John Muir Trail (JMT)

12/12/2023  -  Expect winter conditions. The South Fork San Joaquin River Bridge (PCT mile 854.5) along the PCT/JMT in the north of Kings Canyon was severely damaged by winter storms and has been removed. Construction is expected to start in 2024.   

Army Pass

12/12/2023  -  Expect winter conditions.

New Army Pass

12/12/2023  -  Expect winter conditions.

Cottonwood Pass

12/12/2023  -  Expect winter conditions.

Miter Basin

12/12/2023  -  Expect winter conditions.

Kern Canyon

12/12/2023  -  Expect winter conditions.

Guyot Pass

12/12/2023  -  Expect winter conditions.

Rock Creek

12/12/2023  -  Expect winter conditions.

Siberian Pass

12/12/2023  -  Expect winter conditions.

 

New Army Pass

N. Ver