Glacier Pass, Sawtooth Pass + Big Five Lakes

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MADE BY: Anzelina Coodey
CONTRIBUTOR: Aron Bosworth
LAST UPDATED: 01.25.16 © The Outdoor Project LLC
NOTE: Content specified is from time of PDF creation. Please check
website for up-to-date information or for changes. Maps are illustrative
in nature and should be used for reference only.
Glacier Pass, Sawtooth Pass + Big Five Lakes Hiking
Loop, Sequoia National Park, California, CA
Adventure Description
by Aron Bosworth | 07.18.13
The Mineral King area of California's Sequoia National Park
provides hiking access to some of the most spectacular high
country in the southern Sierra. It is well worth enduring the
poorly maintained, 25-mile Mineral King Road to access this
subalpine glacial valley; you will not be disappointed. There are
several day and multi-day backcountry hiking loop options
available from the Mineral King Valley. Hiking the Glacier Pass
to Sawtooth Pass Loop via Big Five Lakes qualifies at the top
of this list. If you are interested in a loop that is approximately
27 miles long and blends cross-country route finding and ontrail travel, stunning alpine landscape, and high Sierra lake
fishing, this hike is for you.
Begin the 3,500-foot ascent at the Sawtooth Trailhead
following signs to Sawtooth Pass. This lower section of the trail
takes you to Groundhog Meadow and across Monarch Creek.
Continue on the trail through an old-growth red fir forest
before breaking through tree line below Monarch Lakes. Stop
for a bite here and soak in the scenery, but keep a watchful
eye on your bags as the marmots are anything but shy.
Aron Bosworth | 07.21.13
Highlights
DIFFICULTY: Very Difficult
TRAILHEAD ELEV.: 7,820 ft (2,384 m)
NET ELEV. GAIN: 3,810 ft (1,161 m)
TOTAL DISTANCE: 27.00 mi (43.45 km)
Continue on the trail above Monarch Lakes toward Sawtooth
Pass. The official trail tapers off here, and the pitch to
Sawtooth Pass and Glacier Pass becomes a steep slog, but it is
worth the effort. Continue up one of the approach trails until
you are roughly 300 feet below Sawtooth Pass, then head
north (turn left) toward Glacier Pass – the low point in the ridge
between Empire Mountain and Sawtooth Pass. Glacier Pass is
third-class climbing that is easily navigated by those in good
shape. (Note: there is an unmaintained trail from Groundhog
Meadow that leads to Glacier Pass, but it is steep and isn't
likely to save time if you are carrying overnight gear).
TRAIL TYPE: Loop
TRAIL USES: Hiking
PREFERABLE SEASON(S): Summer
DOGS ALLOWED: No
CONGESTION: Low
CLOSEST METROPOLITAN AREA: Visalia
TIME TO GET THERE: 1:50 hours
ROAD CONDITION: Gravel
DAY-USE/PARKING PASS REQ'D: National Park Pass
From Glacier Pass, descend cross-country through alpine
meadows and bristlecone pine to Spring Lake. Choose from a
plethora of awe-inspiring backcountry campsites at Spring
Lake, along with some decent fishing for small trout. Here you
will catch mostly rainbow and California golden trout in the
6-inch range. The National Park Service stocked hundreds of
high elevation lakes until 1988, when they decided to change
the policy and end their stocking program.
After a night at Spring Lake, continue cross-country to the
Black Rock Pass trail and ascend 1,500 feet to the pass. Once
you've reached Black Rock Pass you will be standing on the
Great Western Divide, the range that separates the westwardflowing Kaweah watershed from the southerly-flowing Kern
watershed. Views east look out across Big Arroyo toward the
Kaweah Peaks Range where Kaweah Queen, Black Kaweah
and Red Kaweah dominate the skyline at elevations well over
13,000 feet. The trail from the pass winds down through rocky
outcroppings to the Little Five Lakes and Big Five Lakes basins.
Little Five Lakes has a seasonal ranger station with established
campsites and bear boxes. At Big Five Lakes you’ll likely be
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MADE BY: Anzelina Coodey
CONTRIBUTOR: Aron Bosworth
LAST UPDATED: 01.25.16 © The Outdoor Project LLC
NOTE: Content specified is from time of PDF creation. Please check
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in nature and should be used for reference only.
alone. If you have the time and are open to adding a couple of miles to your trip, consider exploring the Little Five and Big Five
Lakes area. The fishing can be good in these lakes. Throw a bug or two and see what’s biting.
Departing Big Five Lakes, head southeast along the trail through lodgepole pine and red fir forest as you descend to 9,600 feet
at the junction with Lost Canyon. Follow the Lost Canyon trail west and emerge from the forest into the box canyon proper.
Steep, glacially carved granite walls form the cradle of meadow and boulders along the floor of the canyon. Ascend the west
end of the canyon 1,400 feet to Columbine Lake. At 11,000 feet, Columbine Lake is an ideal setting to spend your final night.
Take in the grandeur of this high alpine playground as Sawtooth Peak watches over you. Sawtooth Peak is a classic Class II
climb that takes a couple of hours round-trip from Sawtooth Pass.
The final ascent of the loop takes you to Sawtooth Pass. Views of Lost Canyon, Big Arroyo, Kern Canyon and the west side of
Mount Whitney (on a clear day) are enjoyed from here. Descend down the climber’s trail approximately 300 feet and reconnect
with the same route that you ascended a few days prior on your way to Glacier Pass. Return to the Sawtooth Trailhead the
same way you came up.
Additional Notes:
Some important notes about Mineral King:
Backcountry permits and bear canisters are required for overnight trips in Sequoia National Park. Both are available at the
Mineral King ranger station during peak months (June-September). If you are heading out in spring or fall, self-issued
permits can be obtained outside the ranger station and bear canisters can be rented from numerous outdoor gear shops in
Visalia, Fresno, and elsewhere. Be prepared to see rangers, as they are out and about on trails.
Marmots have posed a serious problem for a few unlucky hikers who park their cars at Sequoia National Park's Mineral King
trailheads in the late spring and early summer months. They have been known to crawl up into engine compartments and
chew on everything from electrical wiring to hoses, disabling some vehicles. This is thought to occur due to a lack of salt
content in the Marmot’s natural food source until later in summer, and the threat seems to decrease after mid-July. Hikers
on this Glacier Pass, Sawtooth Pass + Big Five Lakes loop can avoid this potential issue either by parking near the ranger
station a mile from the Sawtooth Trailhead (marmots seem to stay higher up the valley), or by wrapping the lower third of
their vehicle in a tarp diaper, which helps prevent marmots from climbing into the engine compartment via wheel wells. For
the latter method you’ll need a tarp large enough to drive onto; you then wrap the tarp above the wheel wells around the
entire vehicle. Secure in a diaper fashion with lanyard or rope.
Getting there (from Visalia):
From Visalia take CA-198 E
After approximatly 32 miles turn right on Mineral King Road after passing through the town of Three Rivers
After approximately 23 miles, pass the Mineral King Ranger Station on left; continue straight
After 0.8 miles, turn left or right into the Sawtooth Trailhead parking area
be
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Glacier Pass to Sawtooth Pass Loop via Big Five Lakes, Mineral King, Sequoia Ntnl Park, CA
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MADE BY: Anzelina Coodey
CONTRIBUTOR: Aron Bosworth
LAST UPDATED: 01.25.16 © The Outdoor Project LLC
NOTE: Content specified is from time of PDF creation. Please check
website for up-to-date information or for changes. Maps are illustrative
in nature and should be used for reference only.
www.outdoorproject.com
MADE BY: Anzelina Coodey
CONTRIBUTOR: Aron Bosworth
LAST UPDATED: 01.25.16 © The Outdoor Project LLC
NOTE: Content specified is from time of PDF creation. Please check
website for up-to-date information or for changes. Maps are illustrative
in nature and should be used for reference only.
Sequoia National Park - West, CA
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Ranger Station
Giant Forest Museum
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Trailhead
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High Sierra Camp
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EL 10,050
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MADE BY: Anzelina Coodey
CONTRIBUTOR: Aron Bosworth
LAST UPDATED: 01.25.16 © The Outdoor Project LLC
NOTE: Content specified is from time of PDF creation. Please check
website for up-to-date information or for changes. Maps are illustrative
in nature and should be used for reference only.
Sequoia National Park - East, CA
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Food / Dining
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EL 9,317
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EL 10,651
Kern Pk
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One Mile Grid