Last updated 10/23/2008

Conditions listed on this page are the most current information the Wilderness Office has received from the field as of 10/23/2008.

This website will not be updated until 3/2009.

Expect winter conditions at any time and be prepared by checking weather conditions and going out with good route finding skills and all of the knowledge and equipment you will need to protect yourself in the wilderness.

IN KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARK
Northern Kings Canyon Park
Cedar Grove/Road's End
Grant Grove/Roaring River 

IN SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK
Lodgepole/Wolverton
Foothills (Ash Mountain)/South Fork
Mineral King
Kern
East Side (Inyo National Forest)

Northern Kings Canyon

TRAIL/DESTINATION	CONDITIONS
Evolution Valley/Basin	As of 9/9 major streams still have ample water.Trails good condition.
Muir Pass	No abnormal difficulties reported.
Le Conte Canyon/Dusy Basin/Palisades Creek	As of 9/10: Water levels down in lakes, ample water in main streams.
Mather Pass	No abnormal difficulties reported.
Bench Lake Area	As of 9/10: Lake levels down, ample water in main streams.
Pinchot Pass	No abnormal difficulties reported.

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Cedar Grove Trails

TRAIL/DESTINATION	CONDITIONS
Lewis Creek/Kennedy Pass	As of August 11: The trail is passable if hikers keep their heads up. The switchbacks on the approach to Kennedy Pass trail are obscured from flash flood damage. Good route finding skills, map, and compass recommended. Not stock passable at this time.
Middle Fork Kings/Simpson Meadow/Tehipite	Due to the Tehipite Fire, the following trails are closed: Sierra NF trail 29E30 (Blue Canyon Trail) from the intersection with 29E06 (Crown Valley Trail) to the national park boundary. Sierra NF trail 29E45 (Tehipite Trail) from the intersection with 29E06 (Crown Valley Trail) to the national park boundary. Sierra NF trail 29E31 (Coyote Pass Trail) from the intersection with 29E06 (Crown Valley Trail) to end of trail at Mountain Meadow. Call Sierra National Forest at 559-855-5355 for updates. As of 10/20/08: The Kings Canyon National Park trails from Simpson Meadow to the park boundary and the Blue Canyon Trail to the park boundary are now open. Expect sporadic smoky conditions in the area.
Granite Lakes & vicinity	No abnormal difficulties reported.
Copper Creek	No abnormal difficulties reported.
Woods Creek	No abnormal difficulties reported.
Glen Pass	Stock passable.
Kearsarge Pass	Stock passable.
Bubbs Creek	No major difficulties reported for stream crossings.
Forester Pass	As of September 9: Favorable trail conditions reported. Stock passable.
Sphinx Creek Trail	No abnormal difficulties reported.
Avalanche Pass	Stock passable.

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Grant Grove/Roaring River

TRAIL/DESTINATION	CONDITIONS
Sugarloaf Valley/Roaring River	No abnormal conditions reported.
Colby Pass/Cloud Canyon	No abnormal conditions reported.
Elizabeth Pass/Deadman Canyon	As of August 13: Deadman Canyon and Elizabeth pass are stock passable.
JO Pass	No abnormal conditions reported.
Seville/Ranger/Lost Lakes/Belle Canyon	No abnormal conditions reported.
Redwood Canyon	No abnormal conditions reported.

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Lodgepole/Wolverton

TRAIL/DESTINATION	CONDITIONS
Twin Lakes Trail	No abnormal conditions reported.
Panther Gap/Alta Peak	No abnormal conditions reported.
Pear Lake Trail	As of September 9: water is still available near campsites. The Watchtower Trail is open.
High Sierra Trail/Kaweah Gap	As of September 20: High Sierra Trail between Bearpaw Meadow and Hamilton Lakes is not stock passable due to a large boulder on the trail. Repairs are scheduled for early season in 2009. No problems reported with trail or stream crossings. Ample water in major streams. As of Sept 27: No water will be available near the campsites at Bearpaw. The closest water sources will be Buck Creek to the west, Lone Pine Creek to the east, or the Kaweah River in River Valley to the south.
Lone Pine Creek/Tamarack Lake/Elizabeth Pass	As of August 13: Stock passable.
Bearpaw to Blackrock Pass (via Redwood Meadow & Cliff Creek)	Blackrock Pass is stock passable. As of 9/26: Water from the faucet is still running near the campsites at Redwood Meadow. This water is usually available until sometime in October.

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Ash Mountain/South Fork

TRAIL/DESTINATION	CONDITIONS
Middle Fork Trail	Brush is slightly overgrown at the lower elevations. Watch for poison oak, ticks, and rattlesnakes. As of 9/26: Water from the faucet is still running near the campsites at Redwood Meadow. This water is usually available until sometime in October.
Garfield Grove Trail	Watch for poison oak, ticks, and rattlesnakes on the lower portion of the trail.
Ladybug Trail	Trail begins to disappear after Whiskey Log Camp at 4 miles. Watch for poison oak, ticks, and rattlesnakes.

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Mineral King

TRAIL/DESTINATION	CONDITIONS
Paradise Ridge Trail	Unmaintained trail to Paradise Peak has fallen trees across the route.
Timber Gap	Stock passable.
Glacier Pass	Spring Lake thru Hands and Knees Pass on cross-country route  NOT recommended for average hiker.
Little Five/Big Five Lakes	Stock Passable.
Blackrock Pass	Stock passable.
Monarch Lakes/Sawtooth Pass	The metal food storage lockers at Monarch Lakes are broken and not usuable. Please stay on established switchbacks on south side of Sawtooth Pass to avoid erosion.
Franklin Lakes/Franklin Pass	As of July 28: Franklin Pass is stock passable. Use caution at stream crossings.
Farewell Gap	No abnormal problems reported.
White Chief/Eagle Lake/Mosquito Lakes	No abnormal problems reported.
Atwell/Hockett/Tar Gap	Atwell Trail: Stock-passable. Tar Gap and Hockett Plateau: Stock passable.

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Kern

TRAIL/DESTINATION	CONDITIONS
Forester Pass	As of September 9: Trail is reported in good condition and is stock passable.
Tyndall Area	As of September 9: Creek crossings are unremarkable.
Crabtree Meadow/Whitney Area	As of September 9: Plenty of water in main creeks. Some seasonal springs have dried up. From Crabtree to Whitney, the last water is 1/2 mile east of Guitar Lake.
Rock Creek/Miter Basin	No water available between Chicken Spring Lake and Rock Creek if following the Pacific Crest Trail. Carry enough water for this approximately 8.5 mile stretch. Alternatively, take the northern route to Rock Creek that crosses Army Creek.
Kern Canyon	Creek crossings pose no extraordinary challenges. Ample water.
Coyote Pass/Lakes Pass	The second trail junction south of Farewell Gap between Pistol Creek and Shotgun Creek is obscured by a fallen tree and is not signed. Take care NOT to unintentionally veer south down the Little Kern River drainage if you're headed to Coyote Pass.
Rattlesnake/Soda Creeks	No abnormal conditions reported.
Big Arroyo/Nine Lakes Basin	No abnormal conditions reported.
Kern-Kaweah/Colby Pass	See above for description of Colby Pass.

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East Side (Inyo National Forest)

TRAIL/DESTINATION	CONDITIONS
Bishop Pass	Rock slides continue to be active at the "rock glacier" on the eastern approach to Bishop Pass. Hikers should enter at their own risk and keep moving (i.e. do not stop for breaks) as they pass through the area. Expect such conditions throughout the year. As of August 11 no restrictions for stock but caution advised.
Taboose Pass	No abnormal conditions reported.
Sawmill Pass	No abnormal conditions reported.
Baxter Pass	As of July 15 the road to Baxter Pass trailhead is closed due to heavy rain damage. Not expected to open this season. Call 760-873-2500 for updates. Trail update as of 7/23: A 3/4 mile section of the Baxter Pass trail approximately 1 1/2 miles from the trailhead in the fire area was washed out and is no longer a walkable trail. The rest of the trail in the flood area is still useable although not easy to tread. There is an increased potential for rockfall or burned trees to come down within the trail section 2-3 miles from the trailhead.
Kearsarge Pass	No abnormal conditions reported.
Shepherd Pass	No restrictions for stock. Reminder: Due to Bighorn sheep in the area no dogs or goats are allowed.
Mount Whitney Trail	No abnormal conditions reported.
New Army Pass	No abnormal conditions reported.
Army Pass	No abnormal conditions reported.
Cottonwood Pass	No abnormal conditions reported.

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