Published September 20, 2013 02:02PM
This 210- to 220-mile, 20- to 30-day cross-country journey could be the premier mountain trek in the Lower 48. But it is an expert route—not for novices, youth groups, bad knees, or even experienced trail hikers new to loaded scrambling and off-trail navigation.You’ll hop boulders for 40 miles, and cross a sawtoothed succession of steep passes and deep gorges. You’ll traverse two national parks, three wilderness areas, one national monument, 33 named passes, and 11 major divides. If you’re unsure of your abilities, gain experience on less committing trips or section-hike the route. Since this trek crosses much fragile alpine tundra, smallgroups and Leave No Trace practices are mandatory.
SHR001
Location: 36.7962608337402, -118.583724975586
Trailhead Kings Canyon – Mile 00
SHR002
Location: 36.8572883605957, -118.590606689453
Grouse Lake and campsite mile 7.11
SHR003
Location: 36.8662948608398, -118.591972351074
Grouse Lake Pass – Mile 8.10
SHR004
Location: 36.8875350952148, -118.586311340332
Goat Crest Saddle – Mile 10.28
SHR005
Location: 36.8925895690918, -118.580505371094
Glacier Lakes – Mile 10.78
SHR006
Location: 36.919807434082, -118.583885192871
State Lakes Trail, turn right heading east – Mile 13.19
SHR007
Location: 36.924243927002, -118.573959350586
State Lakes – Mile 13.99
SHR008
Location: 36.9248199462891, -118.574142456055
Trail Junction – Mile 14.01
SHR009
Location: 36.9290390014648, -118.568946838379
Upper State Lake – Mile 14.49
SHR010
Location: 36.9334144592285, -118.57787322998
Horseshoe Lakes Trail, turn right heading north – Mile 15.11
SHR011
Location: 36.9442329406738, -118.57625579834
Horseshoe Lakes, follow old 1935 Sierra Club trail traversing northward. – Mile 16.11
SHR012
Location: 36.9563102722168, -118.577087402344
Gray Pass, descend long grassy gully. – Mile 17.06
SHR013
Location: 36.9608268737793, -118.56861114502
Windy Ridge Crossing – Mile 17.74
SHR014
Location: 36.9650421142578, -118.562545776367
White Pass – Mile 18.41
SHR015
Location: 36.9617919921875, -118.55428314209
South Fork of Cartridge Creek – Mile 19.08
SHR016
Location: 36.9538421630859, -118.544563293457
Unnamed Lake – Mile 20.17
SHR017
Location: 36.9620628356934, -118.534164428711
Cross Valley Here, campites if needed – Mile 21.15
SHR018
Location: 36.96533203125, -118.527633666992
Red Pass – Mile 21.74
SHR019
Location: 36.9755439758301, -118.518898010254
Steep descent gully to Marion Lake – Mile 22.80
SHR020
Location: 36.9769248962402, -118.518569946289
Strike trail along shore, look left for memorial plaque on boulder – Mile 23.00
SHR021
Location: 36.9756965637207, -118.48713684082
Cartridge Pass, grand views northeast – Mile 29.35
SHR022
Location: 36.9575424194336, -118.472290039062
Old JMT down South Fork of Kings Canyon – Mile 31.60
SHR023
Location: 36.9711494445801, -118.444976806641
Junction with modern JMT – Mile 33.74
SHR024
Location: 37.031192779541, -118.460166931152
Mather Pass – Mile 38.31
SHR025
Location: 37.0606727600098, -118.48991394043
Leave trail for C II-III scramble to Cirque Pass, watch routefinding carefully – Mile 42.39
SHR026
Location: 37.0711631774902, -118.5
Cirque Pass – Mile 43.89
SHR027
Location: 37.081111907959, -118.507019042969
Potluck Pass – Mile 45.48
SHR028
Location: 37.0872611999512, -118.524299621582
Barrett Lakes – Mile 47.09
SHR029
Location: 37.0956039428711, -118.524688720703
Thunderbolt Pass, big boulder descent on N. Side – Mile 47.85
SHR030
Location: 37.1149597167969, -118.545356750488
Bishop Pass – Mile 50.12
SHR031
Location: 37.1693344116211, -118.565872192383
South Lake Trailhead – Mile 55.18
Directions to Trailhead: From Bishop, take CA 168 west, turning left at S Lake Rd. Continue 7.1 miles to trail junction.
SHR032
Location: 37.0941123962402, -118.594337463379
Junction with PCT, turn right heading northward toward Muir Pass – Mile 66.84
SHR033
Location: 37.112060546875, -118.670944213867
Muir Pass – Mile 73.56
SHR034
Location: 37.1718101501465, -118.700691223145
Follow trail past lake to first large switchback, then turn crisscrossing uphill from first major switchback above Evolution Canyon
SHR035
Location: 37.2149276733398, -118.695068359375
Alpine Col. Long boulderhop descent down north side – Mile 85.76
SHR036
Location: 37.2290382385254, -118.701240539551
First possible campsite beyond Alpine Col – Mile 87.54
SHR037
Location: 37.2455825805664, -118.704566955566
Cross Piute Pass Trail – Mile 88.95
SHR038
Location: 37.247859954834, -118.705596923828
Cross Piute Pass Trail Again – Mile 89.12
SHR039
Location: 37.2777328491211, -118.724769592285
Puppet Pass – Mile 91.88
SHR040
Location: 37.298469543457, -118.750129699707
French Creek Trail, turn left heading west after stream ford – Mile 94.70
SHR041
Location: 37.2884864807129, -118.766342163086
Find faint user trail at old cairn. Difficult to locate, Follow up steep streamside hill. – Mile 96.10
SHR042
Location: 37.3213005065918, -118.781913757324
Feather Pass, descend toward traverse around right side of Bear Lakes Basin – Mile 99.97
SHR043
Location: 37.3395309448242, -118.80152130127
White Bear Pass – Mile 102.81
SHR044
Location: 37.348503112793, -118.816993713379
Lake Italy Trail, hidden in gullies between slabs. Turn right heading northward – Mile 104.00
SHR045
Location: 37.3599281311035, -118.809913635254
Follow ramp up left, but not too high. Easy to climb too far and be forced to descend later. – Mile 105.16
SHR046
Location: 37.3797187805176, -118.791603088379
Gabbott Pass. Good camping near col. – Mile 107.77
SHR047
Location: 37.3995590209961, -118.811920166016
Fine leave no trace camping on slabs below lake. – Mile 110.25
SHR048
Location: 37.4241752624512, -118.856620788574
Huge logs across stream. NOTE: Fish Camp dusty, hammered. Not a good campsite to make for. – Mile 113.36
SHR049
Location: 37.4285087585449, -118.851852416992
Laurel Lake Trail, turn North. Climb very steep, hot trail. – Mile 113.84
SHR050
Location: 37.4659271240234, -118.86572265625
Bighorn Pass – Mile 117.15
SHR051
Location: 37.4730567932129, -118.873733520508
Shout of Relief Pass – Mile 118.08
SHR052
Location: 37.4832420349121, -118.899322509766
Izaak Walton Lake
SHR053
Location: 37.4961814880371, -118.911209106445
McGee PassTrail fords creek from east side of Horse Heaven. Stay left above/around Horse Heaven to avoid swamps. Let visible trail come to you, rather than crossing to it. – Mile 122.63
SHR054
Location: 37.501522064209, -118.924652099609
Junction with John Muir Trail, turn right heading east and begin climb through sage switchbacks out of Tully Hole. – Mile 123.48
SHR055
Location: 37.5156707763672, -118.937271118164
Good, used campsites beneath gnarled trees. – Mile 125.85
SHR056
Location: 37.5274887084961, -118.949447631836
Trail Junction, continue straight on JMT. Mile 127.51
SHR057
Location: 37.5289764404297, -118.950218200684
Second trail junction. Continue on JMT. Mile 127.63
SHR058
Location: 37.5383338928223, -118.969131469727
Trail Junction. Leave PCT/JMT and turn right heading north toward Duck Lake. – Mile 129.72
SHR059
Location: 37.555347442627, -118.96501159668
Turn northwest and find user trail toward ridgeline and sandy flats.
SHR060
Location: 37.559139251709, -118.979331970215
Pass at west end of Sandy Flats. Follow user trail. – Mile 132.45
SHR061
Location: 37.5632171630859, -118.990852355957
Good trail climbs from Deer Lakes, stays along west flank of Mammoth Crest.
SHR062
Location: 37.5794563293457, -119.011932373047
Unmapped but easily visible switchbacks descend south southwest toward PCT
SHR063
Location: 37.5953178405762, -119.026817321777
Junction with trails descending east to Lake George trailheads & campgrounds. Alternate route into Mammoth. – Mile 137.00
SHR064
Location: 37.6021575927734, -119.03759765625
Top of critical sandy gully. Descend, then traverse north toward Mammoth Pass. – Mile 138.02
SHR065
Location: 37.6084976196289, -119.039001464844
Intersect heavily used trail across Mammoth Pass. Cross and continue North. – Mile 138.51
SHR066
Location: 37.6153831481934, -119.039756774902
Correct trail to Red’s Meadow and Devils Postpile. Turn left/west and follow down through wildfire burn.- Mile 139.07
SHR067
Location: 37.6114616394043, -119.059585571289
Trail Junction. Turn right heading northwest – Mile 140.27
SHR068
Location: 37.6146965026856, -119.07495880127
Red’s Meadow bus stop to Mammoth Ski Resort. Also available: Restaurant, small general store, lodging, BEER. Shuttle bus $7. Then hitch or take free shuttle from ski resort to Mammoth Lakes town. – Mile 141.97
SHR069
Location: 37.62939453125, -119.084655761719
Devils Postpile Visitor Center and Trailhead. Reached via mandatory $7 shuttle bush from Mammoth Ski Resort parking lot. – Mile 141.98
SHR070
Location: 37.6329307556152, -119.088973999023
Trail Junction with JMT. Turn right toward Minaret Falls and Shadow Lake. – Mile 142.75
SHR071
Location: 37.6403923034668, -119.093803405762
Second Junction. Leave JMT and turn left onto Beck Lakes Trail. – Mile 144.48
SHR072
Location: 37.6248512268066, -119.135139465332
Third trail junction. Turn right toward Superior and Beck Lakes. Mile 148.53
SHR073
Location: 37.6363868713379, -119.143836975098
Leave trail and strike north northwest toward Nancy Pass. – Mile 148.68
SHR074
Location: 37.6415634155273, -119.14722442627
Nancy Pass. Note memorial plaque and tin can register. – Mile 149.30
SHR075
Location: 37.6575393676758, -119.15128326416
Intersect Minaret Lake Trail. Turn left heading northwest – Mile 150.87
SHR076
Location: 37.6622314453125, -119.164291381836
Scramble short, Class III slot up lava dam to hidden Cecile Lake. Climb is easier than it looks from a distance. – Mile 152.33
SHR077
Location: 37.6966972351074, -119.177001953125
Whitebark Pass. To descend north, climb ridge to the east 200 feet and find ramp down crack in cliff. Possible steep snowfields in early- mid-summer. – Mile 156.23
SHR078
Location: 37.7066192626953, -119.184219360352
Easy saddle to Thousand Island Lake. – Mile 157.21
SHR079
Location: 37.7120513916016, -119.189376831055
Thousand Island Lake – Mile 157.79
SHR080
Location: 37.7013816833496, -119.206413269043
Glacier Lake Pass. – Mile 160.03
SHR081
Location: 37.6962699890137, -119.216262817383
Class II-III downclimb. Look close to find esay route. Not scary at all if you find the right line. – Mile 160.97
SHR082
Location: 37.6938896179199, -119.223724365234
Steep intimidating gully turns out to have old mule trail switchbacking down it. Much easier than it looks from top. – Mile 162.18
SHR083
Location: 37.6914443969727, -119.232444763184
Possible rib-deep stream crossing between lake and waterfall just downstream. Ford is floored by smooth slab. Can be done barefoot. – Mile 163.02
SHR084
Location: 37.6830139160156, -119.252319335938
Small notch in ridge allows easy gully descent. – Mile 165.58
SHR085
Location: 37.6851387023926, -119.290733337402
Blue Lake Pass. Descend 50 feet, then contour right heading northwest above rollover cliff bands below. Make straight for obvious snow-white rock mound – next waypoint. Do not descend into gullies below. – Mile 168.95
SHR086
Location: 37.6875801086426, -119.29467010498
Obvious white quartz mound. Traverse northwest until you can touch it, then descend broad ridge west. – Mile 169.33
SHR087
Location: 37.6880569458008, -119.308334350586
Find top of gully. Follow it down until definite user trail appears. Descend to valley floor and turn West. – Mile 170.29
SHR088
Location: 37.6875114440918, -119.32674407959
Cartridge Pass Trail. Turn right/north and follow toward Lyell Fork of the Merced. – Mile 171.87
SHR089
Location: 37.7064208984375, -119.325263977051
River crossing on logs. Possibly tough in early summer.
SHR090
Location: 37.745792388916, -119.374603271484
Junction with Lewis Creek Trail. Turn right heading northeast and climb valley. Mile 179.01
SHR091
Location: 37.769344329834, -119.342422485352
Junction with Bernice Lake Trail. Stay left, continue northeast. – Mile 181.59
SHR092
Location: 37.7801055908203, -119.341018676758
Vogelsang Pass- Mile 183.05
SHR093
Location: 37.795524597168, -119.345832824707
Major trail junction at large cairn. Continue straight heading north. – Mile 184.47
SHR094
Location: 37.804313659668, -119.340850830078
Tuolomne Pass – Mile 185.25
SHR095
Location: 37.824146270752, -119.33309173584
Last legal campsites before perimeter no-camping limit above Tioga Pass Road. – Mile 186.88
SHR096
Location: 37.8667945861816, -119.32299041748
Junction with PCT/JMT. Turn left heading west. -Mile 190.26
SHR097
Location: 37.8687515258789, -119.333595275879
Trail junction. Leave PCT/JMT and turn right heading north. – Mile 190.94
SHR098
Location: 37.8757209777832, -119.333992004395
Junction with Dana Fork Trail. Turn right heading east and follow to crossing of Tioga Pass Highway, or left heading west and cross bridge to parking lot and dumpster. – Mile 191.49
SHR099
Location: 37.8794898986816, -119.302787780762
Tioga Pass Highway crossing. – Mile 193.68
SHR100
Location: 37.9293365478516, -119.267631530762
Great Sierra Mine. This is only legal campsite in area. Most surrounding terrain is off-limits. – Mile 198.42
SHR101
Location: 37.9348487854004, -119.270797729492
Mine Shaft Pass. Note contact zone between granite and gneiss/schist metamorphic rocks. – Mile 198.91
SHR102
Location: 37.9975128173828, -119.309364318848
Secret Lake. Limited campsites available. Better camping below at Cascade Lake. – Mile 205.92
SHR103
Location: 38.0042419433594, -119.309959411621
Sky Pilot Col. Beware of steep, skittery descent on north. side. Proceed cautiously. – Mile 206.59
SHR104
Location: 38.0378112792969, -119.340400695801
Virginia Creek Trail. Step across and continue northwest toward Soldier Lake. Stay on left side of old avalanche path for easiest route to granite slabs above. – Mile 209.86
SHR105
Location: 38.0470542907715, -119.354331970215
Soldier Lake. Limited camping available. Better sites exist on north side of saddle enroute to Stanton Pass. – Mile 211.11
SHR106
Location: 38.0605926513672, -119.359909057617
Stanton Pass. northwest side is steep, exposed Class III-IV descent. Consider using rope for safety. – Mile 212.48
SHR107
Location: 38.088695526123, -119.371704101562
Horse Canyon Pass. Begin steep descent down Horse Canyon. Look closely for user trails, and possible steep snowfields in early to mid summer. – Mile 214.57
SHR108
Location: 38.1226005554199, -119.376640319824
Wilderness Boundary Sign – Mile 217.93
SHR109
Location: 38.1465301513672, -119.377822875977
Trails end. Backpacker parking at Mono Village. Rates=$10 first week. $1/day thereafter. Secure parking. Also available: Rooms, restaurant, bar, campground. – Mile 220.74