On top of Mauna Kea
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PCT: Sierra Nevada

July 6 - August 1, 2024 · NOBO · Kennedy Meadows South → Truckee · 6 min read
726 kmDistance
20,117 mElevation gain
18,900 mElevation loss
27Days

The Sierra Nevada section of the PCT covers 451 miles (726 km) from Kennedy Meadows South to Truckee. I came back in July 2024 to hike this properly — 27 days through the High Sierra, over every major pass: Forester, Glen, Pinchot, Mather, Muir, Selden, Silver, Donahue, Benson, Seavey, and Dorothy Lake. Early alpine starts, big days, and the best scenery on the entire PCT.

This guide covers the full KMS-to-Truckee traverse with pass-by-pass logistics, water, camp spots, and resupply at Mammoth and South Lake Tahoe.

PCT: Sierra Nevada

6 min read

The Sierra Nevada section of the PCT covers 451 miles (726 km) from Kennedy Meadows South to Truckee. I came back in July 2024 to hike this properly — 27 days through the High Sierra, over every major pass: Forester, Glen, Pinchot, Mather, Muir, Selden, Silver, Donahue, Benson, Seavey, and Dorothy Lake. Early alpine starts, big days, and the best scenery on the entire PCT.

This guide covers the full KMS-to-Truckee traverse with pass-by-pass logistics, water, camp spots, and resupply at Mammoth and South Lake Tahoe.

DistanceElevationDays
451 mi (726 km)66,000 ft (20,117 m) D+ 62,000 ft (18,900 m) D-27

Good to know

I skipped the Sierra during my 2023 NOBO thru-hike due to a high snow year and came back in July 2024 to hike it properly. The conditions were dramatically different — mostly dry trail, clear passes, and manageable creek crossings. This guide reflects summer 2024 conditions.

KMS to Cow Creek

Trail Info

Distance: 17 mi (27.4 km) · Elevation: 8,342 ft camp · Start: 6:05 AM

TODO: Leaving KMS, the initial climb out, first night back in the Sierra.

Cow Creek to Diaz Creek

Trail Info

Distance: 22.5 mi (36.2 km) · Elevation: 9,665 ft camp · Start: 5:40 AM

TODO: Climbing higher. Approaching the big passes.

Diaz Creek to Rock Creek

Trail Info

Distance: 18.8 mi (30.3 km) · Elevation: 9,524 ft camp · Start: 5:50 AM · 60k steps, 490 flights

TODO: Big day with the side trip. 12.2 + 16.6 miles.

Rock Creek to Crabtree Meadow

Trail Info

Distance: 19.4 mi (31.2 km) · Elevation: 11,400 ft camp · Start: 3:50 AM · Pass: Forester Pass 🏔️

TODO: Alpine start for Forester Pass — highest point on the PCT at 13,153 ft. Bighorn Lake at 11,400 ft.

Mt Whitney

Trail Info

Distance: 8.5 mi (13.7 km) · Elevation: 11,124 ft camp · Start: 5:55 AM · Side trip: Kearsarge Pass (5.5 + 3 mi)

TODO: Short day with the Kearsarge Pass side trip. Resupply? Rest at the meadow.

Kearsarge resupply to Sawmill Trailhead

Trail Info

Distance: 18 mi (29 km) · Elevation: 10,369 ft camp · Start: 6:30 AM · Passes: Pinchot Pass, Mather Pass 🏔️

TODO: Double pass day — Pinchot and Mather. Two of the classic Sierra passes in one push.

Sawmill to Lower Palisades Lake

Trail Info

Distance: 22.6 mi (36.4 km) · Elevation: 10,604 ft camp · Start: 6:30 AM · Pass: Muir Pass 🏔️

TODO: Muir Pass and the Muir Hut. Lower Palisades Lake camp.

Lower Palisades to Evolution Lake

Trail Info

Distance: 22.5 mi (36.2 km) · Elevation: 10,919 ft camp · Start: 6:32 AM · 🌅 Sunset · 💧 Water

TODO: Evolution Lake — one of the most iconic camps in the Sierra. MTR resupply nearby (20.5 + 2 mi).

Evolution Lake to Sallie Keyes Lakes

Trail Info

Distance: 22.2 mi (35.7 km) · Elevation: 10,203 ft camp · Start: 6:25 AM · Passes: Selden Pass, Silver Pass 🏔️ · 💧 Water

TODO: Two more passes. Sallie Keyes Lakes camp.

Goodale to Mammoth

Trail Info

Distance: 20.6 mi (33.2 km) · Elevation: 7,908 ft · Arrival: 12:30 PM · 🌆 Town

TODO: Into Mammoth for resupply. Town stop details — food, showers, gear shop.

Mammoth to Thousand Island Lake

Trail Info

Distance: 22.7 mi (36.5 km) · Elevation: 7,942 ft camp · Start: 6:35 AM · Passes: Island Pass, Donahue Pass 🏔️

TODO: Leaving Mammoth. Island Pass and Donahue Pass — entering Yosemite.

Yosemite Valley

Trail Info

Distance: 6.2 mi (10 km) · Elevation: 7,883 ft camp · Start: 4:30 PM

TODO: Late afternoon start out of the valley. Glen Aulin Sierra Camp.

Tuolumne to Benson Lake

Trail Info

Distance: 24.5 mi (39.4 km) · Elevation: 7,602 ft camp · Start: 6:10 AM · Pass: Benson Pass 🏔️ · 🌅 Sunset · 💧 Water

TODO: Benson Pass. Benson Lake camp — sunset and water.

Benson Lake to Dorothy Lake

Trail Info

Distance: 23.7 mi (38 km) · Elevation: 9,406 ft camp · Start: 6:10 AM · Pass: Seavey Pass 🏔️ · 🌅 Sunset

TODO: Seavey Pass. Dorothy Lake camp with a sunset.

Dorothy Lake to Sonora Pass

Trail Info

Distance: 20.5 mi (33 km) · Elevation: 6,334 ft · Start: 6:30 AM · Pass: Dorothy Lake Pass 🏔️ · Nero

TODO: Dorothy Lake Pass and down to Sonora Pass. Nero day.

Epilogue

TODO: What it meant to come back a year later and complete the Sierra properly. How it compared to the other sections. The passes, the early starts, the light.

From Truckee we drove to Reno for a zero, then up through Mt Shasta to Eureka — the start of the California Coastal Trail.

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