Planning
At a glance
We walked the Sierra in 26 days in July 2024 with a nero at Sonora Pass and a night in Yosemite Valley. My nephew hiked with us from Kennedy Meadows South to Yosemite and from there to Truckee we hiked most of the way with three other hikers we met. Most days started between 5:40 and 7 a.m. and ran 17 to 25 miles. The longest were 28.8 miles on the Mt Whitney day, 25.1 miles to the steep traverse and 24.5 miles to Benson Lake.
The overview covers the 2023 flip and other reasons the route can change. 2024 was a more typical and drier year than 2023 and we went through without trouble.
Permits and logistics
Coming back to a skipped Sierra takes local permits instead of the long-distance one. The overview's permit section explains the rule and links the agencies.
Passes
The trail crosses these passes in order. Elevations are from Halfmile's data.
| Pass | Elevation | Day |
|---|---|---|
| Forester | 13,120 ft | 5 |
| Glen | 11,950 ft | 7 |
| Pinchot | 12,140 ft | 8 |
| Mather | 12,100 ft | 8 |
| Muir | 11,970 ft | 9 |
| Selden | 10,910 ft | 11 |
| Silver | 10,750 ft | 11 |
| Island | 10,230 ft | 14 |
| Donohue | 11,070 ft | 14 |
| Benson | 10,130 ft | 17 |
| Seavey | 18 | |
| Dorothy Lake | 19 | |
| Dicks | 9,380 ft | 24 |
Water
The water sources in each stretch come from Halfmile's PCT waypoints. That data is several years old and some sources dry up so check the current PCT Water Report before each stretch. By that data these are the longest gaps between sources:
| Miles | Gap | Between |
|---|---|---|
| 911.5 to 922.4 | 10.9 mi | Soda Springs Campground to Ruby Lake |
| 1005.6 to 1015.5 | 9.9 mi | Stream to Sardine Creek |
| 1086.8 to 1096.7 | 9.9 mi | Small creek with wooden bridge to Aloha Lake |
| 1108.6 to 1117.5 | 8.9 mi | Middle Velma Lake to Richardson Lake |
| 1143.3 to 1152.8 | 9.5 mi | Creek to Small lake |
Gear
My 2024 pack list is on the PCT Sierra list. It differs from 2023 in a few places: a Palante Desert pack in place of the HMG 3400, Altra Lone Peak 7 shoes in place of the 6, and a BV450 bear canister.
Resupply
Most resupply stops in the Sierra sit off the trail, over a pass or down a side trail.
| Day | Stop | How we used it |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Onion Valley, over Kearsarge Pass | Rides to Lone Pine and back from trail angels |
| 10 | Muir Trail Ranch | 2 miles off the trail |
| 12 | Mammoth, from Duck Lake | A ride in from an older couple |
| 15 | Yosemite Valley, from Tuolumne Meadows | A night off, where my nephew left |
| 19 | Sonora Pass | A skier drove us to the resort |
| 23 | South Lake Tahoe | A ride in from a trail angel |
| 26 | Truckee | End of the section |
Trail magic and trail angels
Trail magic was rare in the Sierra: a can of beer at Tuolumne Meadows and trail magic at Carson Pass. Trail angels did more. Two drove us between Onion Valley and Lone Pine, an older couple drove us from Duck Lake to Mammoth, hikers on the John Muir Trail helped at Muir Trail Ranch and gave us food in Yosemite, and a skier drove us from Sonora Pass to the resort. Two brothers let us camp at Sonora Pass and a trail angel drove us into South Lake Tahoe.
Kennedy Meadows South to Onion Valley
Trail Info
Days: 1 to 6
High point: about 13,120 ft near mile 781.3
Longest water gap: about 8.0 mi
Towns: Onion Valley, over Kearsarge Pass, and Lone Pine
Early start: 3:50 a.m. for the Mt Whitney side trip
Trail angels: two rides between Onion Valley and Lone Pine
What it was like
We left Kennedy Meadows South at 6:05 a.m. and walked 17 miles to Cow Creek. The next two days were 22.5 miles to Diaz Creek and 18.8 miles to Rock Creek, with starts at 5:40 and 5:50 a.m.
Day 4 was the biggest day of the section. We started at 3:50 a.m. for the Mt Whitney side trip and walked 12.2 miles on the PCT plus a 16.6-mile side quest to the summit and back. My watch logged 60,000 steps and 490 flights of stairs and we ended at Big Horn Lake at 11,400 feet.
On Day 5 we crossed Forester Pass, the high point of the trail. We covered 19.4 miles to a meadow at 11,124 feet including a 3-mile side trip toward Kearsarge Pass. Day 6 went over Kearsarge Pass to Onion Valley for resupply. Two trail angels helped: one drove us from Onion Valley to Lone Pine and another drove us from Independence back to Onion Valley. We camped that night at Gilbert Lake at 10,430 feet.
Camping
Cow Creek, Diaz Creek, and Rock Creek are the first three camps. At 11,400 ft Big Horn Lake is the highest camp of the section.
| Day | Camp | Mile | Elevation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cow Creek | 720.4 | 8,342 ft | |
| 2 | Diaz Creek | 742.9 | 9,665 ft | |
| 3 | Rock Creek | 761.7 | 9,524 ft | |
| 4 | Big Horn Lake | 773.9 | 11,400 ft | after the Mt Whitney side trip |
| 5 | Meadow on the Kearsarge Pass trail | 790.3 | 11,124 ft | 3 mi off the trail |
| 6 | Gilbert Lake | 790.3 | 10,430 ft | off the Kearsarge Pass trail |
Towns
Onion Valley and Lone Pine. Kearsarge Pass is the exit for resupply. Onion Valley is the trailhead on the east side and Lone Pine is the nearest town. Two trail angels drove us between them and we came back over the pass.
Water
The longest gap between water sources on this stretch is about 8.0 miles, from Chicken Spring Lake outlet (mile 752.9) to Good creek before Rock Creek (mile 760.9).
Water sources on this stretch (42)
- Mile 709.3: South Fork of Kern River, wooden bridge
- Mile 711.3: Seasonal Crag Creek
- Mile 716.2: Spring, trough, near Beck Meadow
- Mile 718.3: South Fork Kern River, steel bridge, campsite
- Mile 721.2: Cow Creek, campsite
- Mile 722.2: Cow Creek
- Mile 724.2: Cow Creek
- Mile 729.2: Seasonal Creek
- Mile 730.2: Seasonal creek
- Mile 733.1: Death Canyon Creek, large camping area
- Mile 733.3: Spring, 2/10 mile NE of PCT
- Mile 737.9: Seasonal spring, 3/10 mile N of PCT
- Mile 744.0: Diaz Creek, campsite, 1/10 mile E of PCT
- Mile 745.0: Dutch Meadow, spring
- Mile 749.0: Poison Meadow Spring
- Mile 752.9: Chicken Spring Lake outlet, in dry years the outlet may be dry but the nearby lake will have water
- Mile 760.9: Good creek before Rock Creek
- Mile 762.4: Rock Creek, several campsites, bear box
- Mile 763.8: Guyot Creek
- Mile 768.1: Several campsites, bear locker, creek nearby
- Mile 771.8: Seasonal stream
- Mile 772.1: Wallace Creek ford, water, campsites, bear locker S of creek
- Mile 772.7: Wright Creek ford, water, campsite
- Mile 775.9: Water, several campsites, bear box, near the Tyndall Frog Ponds
- Mile 776.3: Tyndall Creek, campsite, bear box
- Mile 776.5: Tyndall Creek ford
- Mile 776.5: Campsite, water, bear locker, Tyndall Creek nearby
- Mile 777.0: Creek
- Mile 778.7: Creek
- Mile 779.7: Stream
- Mile 780.7: Several small exposed campsites below Forester Pass, water nearby
- Mile 782.1: Water, several small exposed campsites at the lake outlet
- Mile 782.7: Creek
- Mile 784.0: Campsite, water from creek south of trail
- Mile 785.6: Bubbs Creek ford
- Mile 786.1: Campsite, bear box, water from nearby Bubbs Creek
- Mile 786.6: Campsite, water from nearby Bubbs Creek
- Mile 787.9: Upper Vidette Meadow, large campsite, water, bear box
- Mile 788.4: Middle Vidette Meadow, large campsites, bear locker, water from Bubbs Creek, more campsites 1/10 mi N or S of the bear locker
- Mile 788.6: Campsite, water nearby
- Mile 789.2: Stream
- Mile 789.6: Stream, campsite
Kearsarge Pass to Mammoth
Trail Info
Days: 7 to 12
High point: about 12,150 ft near mile 808.2
Longest water gap: about 5.0 mi
Towns: Muir Trail Ranch · Mammoth, from Duck Lake
Passes: Glen, Pinchot, Mather, Muir, Selden, and Silver
Trail angels: a ride from Duck Lake to Mammoth
What it was like
This stretch has six high passes. Day 7 started at 6:05 a.m. and went 18.6 miles over Glen Pass in the rain from Gilbert Lake to the Sawmill trailhead. Day 8 was 18 miles over Pinchot and Mather Passes to Lower Palisades Lake. Day 9 was 22.6 miles over Muir Pass to Evolution Lake. The camp there had a good view and a place to swim or shower.
On Day 10 we walked 20.5 miles and made a 2-mile side trip to Muir Trail Ranch and then camped at the Sallie Keyes Lakes. Day 11 started at 6:25 a.m. and was 22.2 miles over Selden and Silver Passes to the Goodale Trail junction. On Day 12 we walked from Goodale to Duck Lake and an older couple drove us from there to Mammoth.
Watch out
Rain. Glen Pass came in the rain and the high ground has no shelter. Check the forecast before each pass.
Camping
Lower Palisades Lake, Evolution Lake, and the Sallie Keyes Lakes are all above 10,000 ft. Evolution Lake and the Sallie Keyes Lakes had a place to swim or shower and Evolution Lake had a good view.
| Day | Camp | Mile | Elevation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Sawmill trailhead | 803.8 | 10,369 ft | rain |
| 8 | Lower Palisades Lake | 821.8 | 10,604 ft | |
| 9 | Evolution Lake | 844.4 | 10,919 ft | good camp view, a place to swim or shower |
| 10 | Sallie Keyes Lakes | 865.0 | 10,203 ft | a place to swim or shower, after a side trip to Muir Trail Ranch |
| 11 | Goodale Trail junction | 887.2 | 10,540 ft | |
| 12 | Mammoth | 907.8 | 7,908 ft | town |
Towns
Muir Trail Ranch is 2 miles off the trail. Mammoth is a town in the eastern Sierra and we got there with the ride from Duck Lake.
Water
The longest gap between water sources on this stretch is about 5.0 miles, from Stream (mile 896.6) to Deer Creek (mile 901.6).
Water sources on this stretch (153)
- Mile 793.6: Creek
- Mile 794.2: Upper Rae Lakes outlet
- Mile 794.6: Middle Rae Lake, campsite, bear locker
- Mile 795.5: Creek
- Mile 796.1: Lower Rae Lake, campsite, bear locker
- Mile 797.0: Arrowhead Lake, large campsite, bear locker
- Mile 797.5: Dollar Lake, campsite
- Mile 798.5: Stream
- Mile 798.8: Wooden boardwalk, water is probably stagnant late season
- Mile 800.9: Woods Creek, suspension bridge, campsites, bear locker
- Mile 801.5: Creek
- Mile 802.2: Stream
- Mile 803.5: Stream
- Mile 804.5: Stream
- Mile 807.4: Stream below a small pond
- Mile 809.2: Lake Marjorie, campsite
- Mile 809.4: Lake Marjorie, small campsites
- Mile 810.4: Stream
- Mile 811.1: Stream
- Mile 811.4: Campsite
- Mile 811.6: Stream near the Bench Lake Trail junction
- Mile 812.3: Large stream
- Mile 812.5: South Fork of the Kings River ford, area closed to camping
- Mile 812.9: Campsite, water, along South Fork of Kings River
- Mile 813.4: Creek
- Mile 813.6: Trailside creek
- Mile 814.4: Stream, several campsites
- Mile 815.4: Stream
- Mile 815.9: Ford a stream
- Mile 816.3: Small stream
- Mile 819.3: Stream
- Mile 820.3: Palisade Creek
- Mile 821.1: Small stream, small campsites 100 feet S of the stream crossing
- Mile 821.3: Stream, small campsites
- Mile 822.0: Lower Palisade Lake, exposed campsites
- Mile 822.3: Stream
- Mile 823.9: Trailside water, Palisade Creek
- Mile 824.3: Campsite, Palisade Creek nearby
- Mile 824.6: Campsite, water
- Mile 824.7: Glacier Creek
- Mile 825.3: Large campsite, 200 feet S of trail, toward Palisade Creek
- Mile 825.4: Trailside creek
- Mile 825.8: Campsite, water, along Palisade Creek
- Mile 827.2: Campsite near Palisade Creek, also several other campsites 1/10 mile E
- Mile 828.2: Campsite, Middle Fork Kings River nearby
- Mile 828.9: Campsite along the Middle Fork Kings River
- Mile 829.2: Campsite, water
- Mile 829.3: Grouse Meadow, campsite, water
- Mile 831.9: Campsite, water, along Middle Fork Kings River
- Mile 832.2: Creek, steel bridge
- Mile 832.3: Several campsites
- Mile 832.8: Campsite
- Mile 832.9: Several campsites
- Mile 833.1: Small campsite
- Mile 833.2: Campsite near a creek
- Mile 833.9: Big Pete Meadow, campsites, creek
- Mile 834.0: Creek
- Mile 834.2: Large campsites, Middle Fork Kings River nearby
- Mile 834.7: Large campsite along Middle Fork Kings River
- Mile 835.2: Large campsite along the Middle Fork Kings River
- Mile 836.0: Campsite along the Middle Fork Kings River
- Mile 836.1: Creek
- Mile 836.2: Campsite along the Middle Fork Kings River
- Mile 836.5: Middle Fork Kings River
- Mile 836.8: Middle Fork Kings River, inlet to small lake, camping not permitted in this area
- Mile 837.2: Stream
- Mile 838.0: Lake outlet
- Mile 838.1: Middle Fork Kings River
- Mile 838.7: Helen Lake outlet
- Mile 839.1: Inflow to Helen Lake
- Mile 840.1: Stream
- Mile 840.5: Outflow from Lake McDermand
- Mile 841.1: Wanda Lake midpoint
- Mile 841.6: Wanda Lake, several small campsites
- Mile 841.8: Campsites
- Mile 842.1: Headwaters of Evolution Creek
- Mile 842.4: Evolution Basin, water
- Mile 843.1: Sapphire Lake
- Mile 844.1: Evolution Creek, inflow to Evolution Lake
- Mile 844.4: Evolution Lake, campsite
- Mile 845.1: Evolution Lake, campsite
- Mile 846.0: Creek
- Mile 847.1: Stream, campsite nearby
- Mile 847.4: Several campsites W of trail
- Mile 848.1: Creek
- Mile 848.3: Campsite near Evolution Creek
- Mile 849.0: McClure Meadow, campsite, water
- Mile 849.0: Creek
- Mile 849.4: McClure Meadow, campsite, water
- Mile 849.9: Evolution Creek, campsite
- Mile 850.3: Creek
- Mile 851.0: Evolution Meadow, campsite, water
- Mile 851.8: Evolution Creek ford, campsites, can be a dangerous crossing early season during high water
- Mile 853.0: South Fork San Joaquin River, wood bridge, several campsites, water, Goddard Canyon Trail junction
- Mile 853.2: Creek
- Mile 854.1: South Fork San Joaquin River, steel bridge, large campsite nearby
- Mile 855.0: Aspen Meadow, stream
- Mile 856.0: Campsite in Aspen Meadow, water, another campsite 1/10th mile S
- Mile 856.7: Campsite, water
- Mile 856.9: Large campsite along the South Fork San Joaquin River
- Mile 857.0: Large campsite, near Piute Creek
- Mile 857.0: Piute Creek, steel bridge, Piute Pass Trail junction, John Muir Wilderness boundary nearby
- Mile 858.5: Campsite along the South Fork San Joaquin River, 4/10 mile NW of PCT
- Mile 859.0: Campsite near Muir Ranch, 1.6 miles NW of PCT on Florence Lake Trail
- Mile 862.1: Senger Creek
- Mile 863.4: Seasonal water, may not be flowing late season in dry years
- Mile 864.7: Sallie Keyes Lake outlet, campsites nearby
- Mile 864.9: Sallie Keyes Creek
- Mile 865.7: Heart Lake
- Mile 865.9: Sallie Keyes Creek
- Mile 866.8: Marie Lake, campsite
- Mile 868.9: West Fork Bear Creek, campsite S of the creek
- Mile 869.9: Bear Creek ford, WA0869, can be a difficult ford
- Mile 870.8: Hilgard Branch ford
- Mile 871.4: Bear Creek, several campsites
- Mile 871.8: Bear Creek, campsite
- Mile 872.3: Bear Creek, several campsites
- Mile 872.8: Bear Creek, large campsite
- Mile 873.6: Creek
- Mile 873.8: Seasonal stream, campsite
- Mile 874.3: Small campsite near seasonal water
- Mile 874.8: Creek
- Mile 875.2: Creek
- Mile 877.8: Seasonal water near trail switchback
- Mile 878.3: Campsite, bear locker, 1.5 miles W of PCT
- Mile 878.8: Stream
- Mile 879.0: Mono Creek, steel bridge, several campsites on either side of the bridge
- Mile 879.8: North Fork Mono Creek ford, campsites at the ford and 400 feet E
- Mile 880.8: North Fork Mono Creek, campsite
- Mile 881.7: North Fork Mono Creek, near Pocket Meadow, campsite
- Mile 882.3: North Fork Mono Creek, second ford, campsites nearby
- Mile 882.7: Stream
- Mile 883.6: Silver Pass Creek
- Mile 883.7: Campsite along Silver Pass Creek
- Mile 886.4: Chief Lake
- Mile 887.0: Squaw Lake outlet
- Mile 887.7: Stream, wood bridge
- Mile 887.7: Ford a stream
- Mile 888.9: Fish Creek, steel bridge
- Mile 889.7: Campsite, near Fish Creek
- Mile 890.1: Campsite, near Fish Creek
- Mile 890.7: Creek
- Mile 892.4: Lake Virginia inflow
- Mile 893.6: Purple Lake outlet, wood bridge. No camping within 300 feet of the outlet of Purple Lake
- Mile 894.6: Campsite near Purple Lake
- Mile 896.6: Stream, double log crossing, campsite nearby
- Mile 901.6: Deer Creek, double log crossing, large campsite
- Mile 902.5: Stream
- Mile 903.4: Crater Creek, bridge
- Mile 903.9: Crater Creek
- Mile 904.5: Crater Creek, campsite
- Mile 905.5: Small creek
- Mile 907.5: Middle Fork San Joaquin River, bridge
Mammoth to Tuolumne Meadows
Trail Info
Days: 13 to 15
High point: about 11,080 ft near mile 929.9
Longest water gap: about 10.9 mi
Towns: Yosemite Valley · Tuolumne Meadows
Passes: Island and Donohue
Trail magic: a can of beer at Tuolumne Meadows
What it was like
We left Mammoth at 12:30 p.m. on Day 13 and walked 6.7 miles to the Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River. Day 14 was a long one. We started at 6:35 a.m. and walked 22.7 miles over Island and Donohue Passes to the Vogelsang trail junction at 8,889 feet.
Day 15 was 6.5 miles to Tuolumne Meadows and we found a can of beer there as trail magic. We went down to Yosemite Valley for a night and JMTers gave us food there. My nephew's hike ended there: he got picked up the next day and we went back up to the trail.
Camping
Middle Fork San Joaquin River sits at 7,942 ft and the Vogelsang trail junction at 8,889 ft.
| Day | Camp | Mile | Elevation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | Middle Fork San Joaquin River | 914.5 | 7,942 ft | |
| 14 | Vogelsang trail junction | 937.3 | 8,889 ft | |
| 15 | Yosemite Valley | 943.7 | 4,000 ft | town, 1 night, sodas |
Towns
Yosemite Valley is a side trip from Tuolumne Meadows. We spent a night there and my nephew left. Tuolumne Meadows has a store and a campground. A can of beer was waiting there as trail magic.
Water
The longest gap between water sources on this stretch is about 10.9 miles, from Soda Springs Campground (mile 911.5) to Ruby Lake (mile 922.4).
Water sources on this stretch (23)
- Mile 908.9: Middle Fork San Joaquin River, bridge, 1.1 N of PCT
- Mile 909.9: Minaret Creek, double log bridge, 1 mile N on JMT alternate
- Mile 911.5: Middle Fork San Joaquin River, bridge
- Mile 911.5: Soda Springs Campground, bear box
- Mile 922.4: Ruby Lake, campsite, 13 miles N on JMT alternate
- Mile 922.4: Ruby Lake, campsite, 13.3 miles N on JMT alternate
- Mile 923.2: Emerald Lake, 13.6 miles N on JMT alternate
- Mile 925.3: Small pond
- Mile 926.1: Stream
- Mile 927.0: Rush Creek ford, small campsite nearby
- Mile 927.3: Small lake
- Mile 928.1: Stream
- Mile 929.3: Stream
- Mile 930.7: Small lake outlet
- Mile 931.0: Stream
- Mile 931.5: Lyell Fork ford, several campsites
- Mile 931.9: Stream
- Mile 932.3: Lyell Fork, bridge, several campsites
- Mile 934.3: Small stream, campsite nearby
- Mile 936.2: Ireland Creek
- Mile 940.2: Seasonal Rafferty Creek, bridge
- Mile 941.2: Lyell Fork, bridge
- Mile 941.7: Dana Fork, bridge
Tuolumne Meadows to Sonora Pass
Trail Info
Days: 16 to 19
High point: about 10,870 ft near mile 1013.9
Longest water gap: about 9.9 mi
Towns: Sonora Pass (resort)
Passes: Benson, Seavey, and Dorothy Lake
Trail angels: a skier and two brothers at Sonora Pass
What it was like
We left Tuolumne Meadows at 4:30 p.m. and walked 6.2 miles to Glen Aulin Sierra Camp. From here we hiked most of the way to Truckee with three other hikers we met.
The next day started at 6:10 a.m. for Benson Pass and 24.5 miles to Benson Lake. The camp there had a good view and a place to swim or shower. Day 18 was 23.7 miles over Seavey Pass to Dorothy Lake and that camp had a good view too. On Day 19 we crossed Dorothy Lake Pass and walked 20.5 miles to Sonora Pass for a nero. A skier drove us from the pass to the resort and two brothers let us camp.
Camping
Glen Aulin Sierra Camp is at 7,883 ft, Benson Lake at 7,602 ft and Dorothy Lake at 9,406 ft. Benson Lake and Dorothy Lake had good views.
| Day | Camp | Mile | Elevation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | Glen Aulin Sierra Camp | 949.5 | 7,883 ft | |
| 17 | Benson Lake | 974.0 | 7,602 ft | good camp view, a place to swim or shower |
| 18 | Dorothy Lake | 997.6 | 9,406 ft | good camp view |
| 19 | Sonora Pass | 1018.1 | 6,334 ft | nero, resort |
Towns
Sonora Pass. A skier drove us from the pass to the resort and two brothers let us camp. We took a nero.
Water
The longest gap between water sources on this stretch is about 9.9 miles, from Stream (mile 1005.6) to Sardine Creek (mile 1015.5).
Water sources on this stretch (42)
- Mile 948.2: Glen Aulin backpacker campground. Water from nearby creek, bear lockers, outhouse nearby
- Mile 956.0: Ford a creek. In dry years this may be the first water N of Glen Aulin
- Mile 957.0: Stream
- Mile 960.0: Miller Lake
- Mile 962.0: Ford a creek
- Mile 962.0: Small stream
- Mile 962.3: Stream next to trail
- Mile 963.0: Campsite near small stream
- Mile 963.6: Stream
- Mile 964.0: Small creek
- Mile 964.9: Last ford of Wilson Creek, small tent site nearby
- Mile 965.0: Creek near switchback
- Mile 966.9: Small trail side creek
- Mile 967.9: Ford a small creek
- Mile 968.5: Smedberg Lake, dispersed camping nearby
- Mile 971.3: Creek, several campsites nearby
- Mile 971.9: Ford a creek
- Mile 972.7: Piute Creek, may be a difficult ford early in the season
- Mile 973.4: Ford a creek
- Mile 974.5: Small lake
- Mile 974.9: Small lake
- Mile 977.8: Small creek
- Mile 979.8: Ford Kerrick Creek (sometimes difficult early season)
- Mile 980.8: Seasonal stream
- Mile 981.8: Stream, campsite nearby
- Mile 984.8: Small lake
- Mile 985.9: Small lake
- Mile 986.5: Wilma Lake, campsites. This lake has a history of name changes on maps and trail signs. The lake is named after Wilma Seavey, daughter of Clyde L. Seavey
- Mile 986.8: Ford Falls Creek, campsites
- Mile 994.7: Trailside stream
- Mile 995.7: Dorothy Lake, campsite nearby
- Mile 997.5: Lake Harriet
- Mile 997.7: Seasonal stream
- Mile 998.2: Second crossing, Cascade Creek, single log bridge
- Mile 998.7: Small lake
- Mile 1001.6: Creek with a wooden bridge
- Mile 1002.6: Seasonal water uphill from the trail
- Mile 1005.2: Stream, campsites nearby. Last creek northbound in Kennedy Canyon
- Mile 1005.6: Stream
- Mile 1015.5: Sardine Creek, the first creek after Kennedy Canyon
- Mile 1017.5: Small creek
- Mile 1017.9: Small creek
Sonora Pass to South Lake Tahoe
Trail Info
Days: 20 to 23
High point: about 10,540 ft near mile 1020.0
Longest water gap: about 7.9 mi
Towns: South Lake Tahoe
Trail magic: at Carson Pass
Trail angels: a ride into South Lake Tahoe
What it was like
Day 20 was 18.5 miles to Murray Canyon Creek and the camp there had a good view. Day 21 started at 6:55 a.m. and covered 25.1 miles to a steep traverse at 7,879 feet. Day 22 was 21.4 miles over Carson Pass to Showers Lake and there was trail magic at the pass. On Day 23 we walked 10.3 miles and reached South Lake Tahoe at 10:30 a.m.
Camping
Murray Canyon Creek is at 9,116 ft and has a good view. The steep traverse is at 7,879 ft and Showers Lake at 8,645 ft.
| Day | Camp | Mile | Elevation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | Murray Canyon Creek | 1036.6 | 9,116 ft | good camp view |
| 21 | Steep traverse | 1061.6 | 7,879 ft | |
| 22 | Showers Lake | 1083.1 | 8,645 ft | |
| 23 | South Lake Tahoe | 1093.4 | town |
Towns
South Lake Tahoe. A trail angel gave us a ride into town.
Water
The longest gap between water sources on this stretch is about 7.9 miles, from Tamarack Lake outlet (mile 1063.1) to Creek (mile 1071.0).
Water sources on this stretch (40)
- Mile 1018.5: Small creek
- Mile 1020.5: Small creek
- Mile 1021.4: Stream
- Mile 1022.4: Creek
- Mile 1023.4: Stream
- Mile 1024.4: Creek, small campsite nearby
- Mile 1025.4: Creek, small campsite nearby
- Mile 1026.4: Creek
- Mile 1027.4: Creek, several campsites nearby
- Mile 1033.0: Stream, campsite nearby
- Mile 1034.3: Small creek, camping nearby
- Mile 1034.8: Creek
- Mile 1037.3: Creek, campsite nearby
- Mile 1037.8: Large stream
- Mile 1038.3: Wolf Creek, campsite nearby
- Mile 1040.7: Asa Lake outlet
- Mile 1040.8: Campsites near Asa Lake
- Mile 1043.2: Noble Lake, campsite nearby
- Mile 1045.2: Noble Creek
- Mile 1048.2: Small Sherrold Lake, campsites
- Mile 1049.2: Pass above Kinney Lake
- Mile 1054.1: Pennsylvania Creek, small campsite nearby
- Mile 1056.1: Small creek
- Mile 1058.1: Creek from Raymond Lake
- Mile 1059.1: Tributary of Pleasant Valley Creek, small campsite nearby
- Mile 1062.1: Lilly Pad Lake, a few campsites nearby
- Mile 1063.1: Tamarack Lake outlet
- Mile 1071.0: Creek
- Mile 1071.2: Creek, campsites nearby
- Mile 1072.0: Creek under some willows
- Mile 1074.0: Frog Lake. Camping is not permitted at Frog Lake due to shoreline restoration
- Mile 1076.9: Pond
- Mile 1077.9: Headwaters of the Upper Truckee River
- Mile 1078.1: Historic Meiss Cabin (locked). Water source behind the cabin
- Mile 1078.9: Stream
- Mile 1079.9: Small lake
- Mile 1080.9: Showers Lake, campsites
- Mile 1081.9: Small creek
- Mile 1085.8: Small creek, several campsites nearby
- Mile 1086.8: Small creek with wooden bridge
South Lake Tahoe to Truckee
Trail Info
Days: 24 to 26
High point: about 9,370 ft near mile 1104.3
Longest water gap: about 9.5 mi
Towns: Truckee (end)
What it was like
We left South Lake Tahoe at 7:15 a.m. on Day 24, crossed Dicks Pass and walked 15.5 miles to Dicks Lake. Day 25 started at 6:45 a.m. and ran 21.9 miles to the junction with the Tahoe Rim Trail. Day 26 was 23.7 miles to Truckee, the end of the section.
Camping
Dicks Lake and the Tahoe Rim Trail junction are the camps before Truckee.
| Day | Camp | Mile | Elevation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 | Dicks Lake | 1108.9 | ||
| 25 | PCT and Tahoe Rim Trail junction | 1130.8 | ||
| 26 | Truckee | 1154.5 | town |
Towns
Truckee is the end of the section.
Water
The longest gap between water sources on this stretch is about 9.5 miles, from Creek (mile 1143.3) to Small lake (mile 1152.8).
Water sources on this stretch (21)
- Mile 1096.7: Aloha Lake, several campsites
- Mile 1098.7: Small creek and a small lake
- Mile 1099.0: Heather Lake, campsites
- Mile 1100.0: Susie Lake outlet, campsites. Campsites also south and north of the outlet
- Mile 1101.7: Trail side stream
- Mile 1103.7: Small creek
- Mile 1107.2: Fontanillis Lake, campsites
- Mile 1108.6: Middle Velma Lake
- Mile 1117.5: Richardson Lake, campsite
- Mile 1121.4: Seasonal creek and campsite
- Mile 1125.2: Small stream
- Mile 1125.5: North Fork Blackwood Creek, campsites
- Mile 1125.9: Spring
- Mile 1126.5: Small creek
- Mile 1134.2: Five Lakes Creek, several campsites
- Mile 1134.4: Small creek
- Mile 1135.4: Trailside creek
- Mile 1137.6: Small creek, headwaters of the Middle Fork American River
- Mile 1139.3: Squaw Creek, campsite
- Mile 1143.3: Creek
- Mile 1152.8: Small lake
Reflections
We reached Truckee at the end of July 2024, 26 days after leaving Kennedy Meadows South. Walking it a year after we skipped it closed the gap between Kennedy Meadows South and Truckee. One stretch is still ahead of us: Truckee to Chester, about 178 miles. It's something to come back for.
The Sierra by the numbers
- Highest pass: Forester, about 13,100 feet
- Longest days: 28.8 miles with the Mt Whitney side trip, 25.1 miles to the steep traverse and 24.5 miles to Benson Lake
- Neros: Sonora Pass and a night in Yosemite Valley
What I'd do differently
- Play around on the trail.
- Take more trail zeros. Alpine lakes and remote camps are only reachable on foot so a zero or nero on trail is the only way to stay at one. It takes effort to stop when you want to keep hiking.
- Say hi and ask people how they're doing.
- Celebrate more at the end of the day.
- Treat a planned campsite as tentative.
What we listened to
Books: Why We Remember, East of Eden, Of Mice and Men, Fahrenheit 451, Being Mortal, Travels with Charley in Search of America, Birds Aren't Real, The Viral Underclass, The Pearl, and The Red Pony. Movies and shows: Alone season 6, Happy People, and The Last Detail. Also The Gospel of Wealth by Andrew Carnegie.
After Truckee
We decided to spend some time on the California Coastal Trail before heading home. Rides helped us along the way: a family drove us to Trinidad, two men in a truck took us from Trinidad to Sue-meg State Park, and others gave us rides to Big Lagoon and in Crescent City. From Crescent City a driver took us all the way to Ashland and a friend hosted us there. That friend drove us to Crater Lake to meet another friend and we car camped for a few days before heading back to Portland to end the trip.
Thanks for reading. If you have questions about the Sierra section, get in touch or find me on Instagram: @andrewtpham.
Happy trails!