Trail Conditions

Important Trail Conditions Information for Summer 2024

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

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

Moro Rock

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

Tokopah Falls

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

Muir Grove

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

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

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

Twin Lakes Trail

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

Alta Peak Trail

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

Lakes Trail (Wolverton)

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

The Watchtower

11/19/2024 - Closed for the season. 

Tablelands

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

Colby Pass

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

Elizabeth Pass

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

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

6/20/2024 - Buckeye Flat Campground road is closed, park at Hospital Rock. Open to foot traffic only, no stock. 

Garfield Grove Trail (South Fork)

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

Ladybug Trail (South Fork)

08/27/2024 - Closed due to Coffee Pot Fire.

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

Mineral King Road Closes Wednesday 10/30/2024.

Frontcountry Trails

Cold Springs Nature

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

Wilderness Trails

Big Arroyo/Kern Canyon

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

Moraine Lake Area

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

Paradise Ridge Trail

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

Timber Gap

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

Tar Gap/Atwell-Hocket Trails

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

Black Rock Pass

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

Sawtooth Pass and Monarch Lake

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

Farewell Gap

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

Franklin Lakes and Franklin Pass

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

White Chief, Eagle Lake, and Mosquito Lakes

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

Atwell-Hockett Trail

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

Hockett Meadows Area

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

Soda Creek Trail

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

Grant Grove and Jennie Lakes Wilderness Area

Frontcountry Trails

Grant Grove Trails

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

Panoramic Point

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

Wilderness Trails

Big Meadows Road (14S11)

11/19/2024 - Closed for the season 

Rowell Meadow Road (13S14)

11/19/2024 - Closed for the season. 

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)

11/19/2024 - 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

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

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

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

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

Jennie Lake: camp at least 100 feet away from lake

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

Cedar Grove and Roads End

The Road To Cedar Grove Closes Monday 10/28/2024

Frontcountry Trails

Hotel Creek to Cedar Grove Overlook

08/15/2024 -  A few downed trees on trail. 

Zumwalt Meadow

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

River

07/18/2024 - Open

Cedar Grove North Side

07/18/2024 - Open

Lightning Creek

07/18/2024 - Open

Kanawyer Loop Trail

08/15/2024-  Avalanche Creek is shin deep, but calm flow. Some downed trees.

Wilderness Trails

Avalanche Pass

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

 Lewis Creek and Kennedy Pass

11/19/2024 - Expect snow and winter conditions. Trail closed at junction 1.2 miles from trailhead and at Kennedy Pass due to the Happy Fire. 

Copper Creek and Granite Pass

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

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

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

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)

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

Glen Pass (Rae Lakes Loop)

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

Rae Lakes Basin (Rae Lakes Loop)

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

The East Creek Bridge to East Lake 

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

Gardiner Pass

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

Sixty Lakes Basin

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

Don Cecil

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

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

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

Palisade Creek

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

Evolution Basin

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

Mather Pass

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

Darwin/Bench

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

Piute Pass

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

Muir Pass

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

Lamarck Col

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

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

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

Harrison Pass

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

Shepherd Pass

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

Mount Whitney Trail

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

Mt Langley

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

John Muir Trail (JMT)

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

Army Pass

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

New Army Pass

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

Cottonwood Pass

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

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