Hwy 168 accesses both trailheads west out of Bishop and there are many signs so even the most directionally challenged can easily follow the breadcrumbs. This great hike to scenic Piute Pass ascends beneath the multi-hued Piute Crags to a beautiful lakes basin tucked beneath Mt. The hike up to Evolution Lake is steep, but reasonably graded. Good campsites can be found there also. I took off my shoes and let my damp feet dry out in the breeze. Day Zero Travel day. What a reward after the long hike up the mountainThanks. Evolution Creek had already joined forces and the river was much larger. The 56-chromosome karyotype associated with P. i. neglectus is generally larger than P. i. inornatus and has been identified from the western side of the San Joaquin Valley and the Carrizo Plain (Patton and Rogers 1993). The Id have the trail to myself for a while. We did it over 4d/3n (south lake to le conte, le conte to sapphire lake, sapphire lake to the junction with Piute pass trail, and then out to north lake on the last day). Darwin via the class 3 West Ridge. After we got a bit past Summit Lake, we left the trail and headed to Lower Desolation Lake, Desolation Lake and Mesa Lake, where we camped for the night. Didnt posthole, it was sunny and we summited at 10:30am from a 5:30am start (slower pace), stayed for an hour at the hut and headed down towards Evolution Lake to camp. We passed more than a dozen lakes some of which I will mention when I upload photos. 2 trip report day 0-4: getting in & Yosemite National Park warm up. It is visible from the trail, but some hikers have walked past it without noticing it. The Tyee Lakes part was not the most beautiful part and was pretty strenuous, but made transportation much easier. We slept near the shores of Evolution Lake. One downside though: it's freaking hard. I see no real advantage to hiking one way vs. the other. Elevation gain: 2200 feet Continue straight at the 3-way. Quite a few creek crossings which were hard to avoid getting feet wet, but easily done. My sincere thanks to the fire fairies who set this up for us. Every effort is made to provide accurate and up to date information, but we cannot be responsible Day three Descend 7.3 miles on the JMT into Evolution Valley, then add an easy 1.2 miles to camp by Evolution Lake. 1993 . Next we go through Evolution Valley skirting Darwin Canyon, passing through Evolution Basin and crossing the Goddard Divide just before going over Muir Pass (11,855'). It was cloudy for much of the way, but it only rained briefly. Bridge at JMT junction Stream crossing below Goddard Canyon turnoff Bridge below Goddard Canyon Back across Goddard Canyon Log crossing below Evolution Meadow View up Evolution Valley Gould, Mendel, and Darwin Darwin to Huxley, the Evo traverse crux Hours may vary with the seasons, so check out their website or call (760) 873-2500. What seemed like an irritating setback at the time, ended up giving us a chance to acclimate a bit before hauling ourselves, and 40 unaccustomed pounds, over Bishop Pass. Also included are North Lake, South Lake, Piute Pass, Evolution Valley and Lake Sabrina. Day 1 South Lake over Bishop Pass to Upper Dusy Basin: 7.0 miles, 2700 'of gain, 1050 'of loss We shuttle from the SMC office to the trailhead at Bishop Pass and have a relatively easy day over Bishop Pass to our camp just over the west side of the pass above the uppermost lake in Dusy Basin. The river and steam crossings were simple because the water level is so low at this point in the season. My [growing] Collection of Top Utah Hiking Trails, Five ways to make enemies at a public campground, Seeking Powder Hounds: Heli-Skiing the Northwest. Campsites: Good sites along Evolution Creek by Evolution Meadow, McClure Meadow and Colby Meadow. Piute Pass actually puts you into the upper reaches of the San Joaquin River Basin (So. I have to say, however, that descending into Le Conte Canyon from Dusy Basin, and not the other way around, seemed like the more fortunate direction for my legs and backside. The North Lake-South Lake loop is the famous "Rainbow Trail" and includes spectacular scenery visiting such areas as Dusy basin, Le Conte Canyon, Muir Pass, Evolution valley, and Humphrey's Basin. Bishop and Muir Pass are still very snowy. High Sierra Trails website makes no warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, reliability or suitability of any of its maps. classic Sierra beauty from the very start. I heard it thundering off to the side of the trail and went over to check it out, and Im glad I did. Either way takes you over 3 high mountain passes and through incredibly beautiful terrain throughout. For a topographic map of the hike see my CalTopo Page, For LOTS more photos of the trek see my Flickr Page, Dawn alpenglow over Evolution Lake as I packed up all my gear for another big day of hiking, Dawn color in the clouds above Evolution Valley to the north, Waterfall on the creek that descends from Darwin Bench, after the JMT descends into Evolution Valley, Crossing the creek below the waterfall it was very wide with many small crossings, The Hermit (12328 feet elevation), standing alone and shining bright, at the upper end of Evolution Valley, View up Evolution Valley, over McClure and Colby Meadows with Evolution Creek on the right, and The Hermit, center, The McClure Meadow Ranger Station and the notices outside near the trail, View over McClure Meadow in the morning light, Still water on an curving stretch of Evolution Creek, down in the flat section of Evolution Valley, This is the lower ford of Evolution Creek, where the PCT-JMT crosses this could be dangerous in Spring, The first of several powerful waterfalls and cascades on Evolution Creek down at the lower end of Evolution Valley, One waterfall after another on this section of the creek, Wide-angle GoPro shot looking down into the worn granite where Evolution Creek tumbled downward, One last view of Evolution Creek as it churned down a granite chute on its way out of Evolution Valley, Mount Henry (12196 feet) peeking out between two glaciated granite domes above the South Fork San Joaquin River, The wooden bridge where the JMT-PCT first crosses the South Fork San Joaquin River, Aspen and pine forest at a much lower elevation it was HOT, The metal bridge where the PCT-JMT crosses the South Fork San Joaquin River, View from the metal bridge looking north (downstream), The South Fork San Joaquin River as I hiked north on the John Muir Trail in the sun, The river goes through a steep gorge down below a talus slide. John Muir Rock rises directly to the east. Life was good again. I had my food in a bear cannister, But getting partway up toward the pass seemed like a fine idea. Lunch at Evolution Lake. $3,395: Description Itinerary Resources The John Muir Trail is one of the finest hikes to be found anywhere in the world. There were only 2-3 times where I needed to use my AllTrails app to figure out the correct way to continue. Follow it 2.1 miles back to the trailhead. The hiking was challenging for us (22 year old girls), but we probably brought too heavy of packs. Your email address will not be published. Of course, the unforgettable moments started to pile up as we descended into Evolution Basin and then officially into the hanging valley of Evolution. Id see how I felt when I got to the the trail junction. Having driven by this part of the Sierras countless times on Hwy 395, gazing at that saw-toothed range, I always wanted to be the Norman Clyde, the John Muir, the Clarence King who had the privilege of a first ascent or true solitary immersion. If I did this, then I might make it over Piute Pass the next day, and hike out early on the final day, which would allow me to drive home later on that afternoon. Driving times may vary based on conditions. lots of water sources so no worries there but u must have enough water to go by as you will drink alot. It was challenging knowing exactly where to cross, we tried to find a place that looked shallow enough, however the water came up above my hips (Im 52) which was pretty scary because the current moved me quite a bit and the water was freezing! Piute Creek to Evolution Creek, 3.5 miles Beyond Piute Creek the trail stays close to the river, working its way up the canyon. Following the PCT southward another 4 miles will bring you to Evolution Meadow. Pick up the trail on the eastern edge of Upper Lamarck Lake. A mother deer plus two babies. The rivers and meadows are stunning. Always confirm information with the service provider and check for any recent changes that may have been made. Crest Piute Pass, then drop down toward Summit Lake. Having two cars so as to shuttle between trailheads made the logistics a lot easier. The total distance to Evolution Lake is about 10 miles. Campsite 4: Darwin Canyon. Evolution Basin. The Vanderbilt Mine is located partly on private land in the San Bernardino County, two miles west of California-Nevada state lines in the New York mountains four miles southeast of the Ivanpah valley within the Mojave National Preserve. I plan to get back there this month with We went north to south. I checked my GPS and discovered that I had hiked almost 15 miles today! Those who use the SteriPen, or any other filter system, are wise to carry a backup such as Potable Aqua Water Treatment Tablets. Campsite 3: Colby Meadow. Laura Manina, my sister and fellow backpacker, shares her experiences and tips on backpacking a 57-mile loop to the Evolution Valley. The best hike of my life. I hiked onward, rather than head back down. this trail is definitly one of the top 5 trails in sierras. The creek crossing there can be challenging early in the season. I hung out by the creek for an hour and a half, until 3pm. 11/10/2022 - Expect . This is an excellent report on a great hiking trip. Completed end of July 2022. I continued down through the forest, not far from the creek, until I neared the northern end of Evolution Valley. Day five Leave the JMT, taking the switchbacks above Evolution Lake to access Darwin Canyon and a class 2 scramble up and over Lamarck Col to Upper Lamarck Lake, 2,100-feet below. Day two Continue on Piute Pass to reach the JMT (and enter the national park) at mile 17.4. This trail is great for backpacking, birding, and camping, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. On day 1, take the Piute Pass Trail from North Lake Campground, and hike six miles gaining 2,000 feet to make camp near Upper Golden Trout Lake (no camping within 400 feet). Only a portion of our journey would actually be in Evolution, but the areas we passed through to reach and retreat from our intended destination were just as amazing. The next morning, we continued on the Piute Trail and crossed the bridge onto the John Muir Trail (JMT) where we were paralleling a fast-moving San Joaquin River located within the Kings Canyon National Park. It was desert like in the high alpine on that side. The trail descended steeply into the forest as it left Evolution Basin. The lake is 53 miles east of Prather. Our payback day ended up being 13 miles, almost all uphill. In other words, I was probably dehydrated. Deer are seen occasionally. History. Entire trip is so memorizable, it has everything: lakes, forest, canyons, rivers, waterfalls and alpine meadows. Mosquitos were bad, but not horrible. Goode, Bishop Lake, Jigsaw Pass. Multiple Ascents Grid: Click for a grid showing all of Chris Land It was a very long day. That pond is the same pond I had lunch at last year descending from Bishop Pass into Le Conte Canyon. Pingback: Tahoe hiking: Bay View to Azure Lake. Ascending out of 5,400-foot Taboose Pass Trail Head in the Owens River Valley, the Goliath climbs steeply and starkly into a saw blade of 13,000- to 14,000-foot Central Sierra mountains. The trail even flattened out to make my way easier. Hike through spectacular Evolution Basin Marvel at views from Muir, Bishop and Piute Passes Explore remote lakes and ridges Includes Group cooking gear and bear-proof food containers Vegetarian-friendly meals and snacks Campsites and all permits Overview The Trip "How glorious a greeting the sun gives the mountains! Darwin/Bench. For me, this was one of the most unforgettable moments. The first day of hiking is over moderate terrain with meadows and the occasional company of the South Fork of the San Joaquin River. Loitering encouraged! This site had been used for years, and there were several flat spots. The mosquitoes were intense in certain areas. Explore Evolution Valley - view hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you. Distance: 8.8 miles Time: 5-7 hours Difficulty: Strenuous Gain/Loss: +498'/-1,537 Dogs: No When to go: Late July-Early October It may be called a 'creek', but Piute Creek was raging! We took the ferry both ways to save us some time and miles! We would love to be back again sometime. The contradiction lies in the amount of water all around. 4 trip report day 8-12: Red's Meadow Resort to Muir Trail Ranch. We had rain (often with hail) during 5 of our 6 days out, so bring a rain coat and a pack cover. There were several wet crossings during the first three or four miles. Amazing. ~. It all worked out in the end, however. Monday, they crossed 11,500-foot Piute Pass. My inner dialogues attitude was quickly adjusted when I looked back from whence we cameMt. In addition, The John Muir Trail may be accessed via Piute Pass from North Lake which is only 10 miles from the resort. Building anything out here must be quite the challenge. Do you wish to share an stories about that particular spot? And it felt like it. I put on my night clothing and used a bit of DEET on my face to repel them. The latest gear, trips, stories, and more, beamed to your inbox every week. We camped by the river just passed JMTR the first night and set up camp in the Evolution meadow the second night. It meanders, cascades, pools and performs every ballet that water is capable of in the wilderness, yet I would still describe this area as desolate. I got out the map and came up with a plan, but it wasnt perfect. Our camps were very high, all above 11,300', and we took two and a half days layover, hiking and exploring . I was definitely overheating, and simply wanted to take a long rest. Wished we could have camped at Evolution Lake as it's sooooo beautiful but it didn't work out for us. Reach a footbridge over Jeffrey pine-lined Piute Creek, and camp on designated pads nearby. On the fourth day of my trek, I backpacked north from Evolution Lake, down into the Evolution Valley with its lush meadows and waterfalls, then down even further to the South Fork San Joaquin River, which I followed downstream yet more, until I left the JMT/PCT for the Piute Pass Trail, climbing this time, and eventually camped along Piute Creek. One bite of the Evolution area is Get surefire solitude in McGee Canyon (south about .5 mile back). Why cant I breathe? finished this in 5days avaraging 12miles a day. Day two Continue on Piute Pass to reach the JMT (and enter the national park) at mile 17.4. Evolution Valley. Always confirm information with the service provider and check for any recent changes that And the very first waterfall wasnt even listed on my map: It was on a small creek that flowed down into the valley from Darwin Bench. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. Then it was hot, and I sweated out what little water I had. For trail conditions and more details about this hike, check out my YouTube Video I made from this backpacking trip on my channel: Kikis Adventures. Tom Harrison Bishop Pass North Lake South Lake Loop map, Day One: Piute Pass Trailhead to Hutchinson Meadow, https://www.google.com/maps/dir/37.1690269,-118.5659703/Parchers+Resort/@37.1821746,-118.5605844,15z/data=!4m9!4m8!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x80be22599824d057:0x2d65d233d333ba3!2m2!1d-118.558043!2d37.18528!3e0?hl=en, https://www.google.com/maps/dir/37.2214526,-118.6047098/North+Lake+Hiker+Parking/@37.2218114,-118.6169192,15z/data=!4m9!4m8!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x80be212c5ba6930b:0x4fdb45ddf9fd610a!2m2!1d-118.6186999!2d37.2306136!3e0?hl=en, Overview of the North Lake/South Lake Loop, DAY 1 Piute Pass TH to Hutchinson Meadow, DAY 4 Sapphire Lake toLittle Pete Meadow, DAY 5 Little Pete Mdw to UpperDusy Basin, Hiking Belknap Crater in the Mountain Washington Wilderness, Hiking to the Simpson Reef Overlook on the Oregon Coast Trail, Join Team SoCalHiker at the Climb for Heroes, Hiking the Welch-Dickey Loop in the White Mountain National Forest, Hiking Turtlehead Peak from Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, How to deal with accidents while hiking in the winter. From there, the trail traverses Humphreys Basin and reaches the splendid section of the Pacific Crest Trail known as Evolution Valley. Then continue up the valley to McClure Meadow. It was gorgeous. Day 2: Continue on Piute Pass to reach the JMT (and enter the national park). The map shown above is for illustrative purposes only. some forest floor. This famous combo-trail will be our path for the next 26.5 miles. It was only 1:30pm, and I had a decision to make: Was I going to camp near here (where the large, aggressive bear might be prowling) or was I going to continue hiking on the Piute Pass Trail, uphill for miles in this roasting heat? I want to hike West to East in the lowest part of the evolution valley, beginning at Edison Lake. Hike up Muir Pass, down to Le Conte Ranger Station. A couple of mosquitos came out in the cooler air as the shadow of the mountain came into camp. September after Labor Day was a great time to make this trip, as the crowds had thinned but the mild climate lingered. . Now that the best parts of the trek were over (quite possibly), I was beginning to yearn for home. I have done this trail three times in all. Bears are not much of a problem along this stretch of the John Muir Trail. We fell about 2 miles short of the destination endpoint with loss of daylightlesson learned, if this is a short weekend excursion, you need to get there early and push through hard. . Your email address will not be published. The river is nice to camp by here. But we didnt see any rangers. Hi, Jeff; Thank you for your compliment of my photo. They were having a seriously fun time on a hot Summers Day. Although the trail from the head of Florence Lake to Evolution Valley climbs over 2,000 feet, most of the elevation gain comes during the last miles. Those first four and last four miles are always the hottest. I was overjoyed, and felt a million times better. It happens from glacial erosion that widens and deepens the main valley leaving the geographic feature that seems to float above it. Very nice hike, lots of scenery. Sawyer Water Filters are popular because of their light weight and ease of use, but the bags they provide are susceptible to developing leaks. Up until Sep 11th there was a shuttle service that we could have used to get from South Lake to the North Lake trailhead -- running a couple of times a day and costing $20. Then got up and hiked to the ferry to see if it was running and what do you know it was! It had taken me almost twelve hours, although I have to admit that I took several very long breaks. The trail includes one major unbridged crossing of Evolution Creek - often an exciting wade during the spring run-off - and three . This is about the halfway spot. After descending into the valley, I noticed how hot it was. Day 4: Today turned out to be a truly cushy one. No storms. Even so, with campsites spread out along its length, the valley never seems crowded. We offer this guided journey in three itineraries: 3-day Ultralight 4-day Backpacking (July 23-26, 2022) 5-day Backpacking (July 16-20, 2022) This trail really had a lot of history behind it, and I wondered just how many horses and people had travelled through here in the past. Evolution Valley - Key Facts Location: Northern Kings Canyon National Park Trailhead: Florence Lake, 84 miles east of Fresno, elevation 7,300 feet Evolution Valley elevation: 9,500 feet Elevation gain: 2200 feet Hiking Distance: 19 miles Best seasons: Mid-summer to fall A ranger later informed us that 80-90 deer were migrating seasonally over the pass during a snowstorm in November 2018, when presumably blinded by the snowfall, they one by one hit a patch of ice and fell to their deaths. But the views from the trail made up for it. This is a popular trailhead for approaching the Palisades. We were usually finished hiking each day between 2-5 PM giving us plenty of time to enjoy the area. Purchase tickets in the store. But it helped me make up my mind. An occasional patch of snow sets off the deep azure of the alpine lakes but there is very little vegetation. But 6-year-old Gregory "was an absolute trooper," said Steward, as . The rest were lazy snoozers. It is, of course, the perfect time for this 5 - 7 day hike. I loved seeing the pictures here as it helped me to realize how much more I need to get there. Fork), from which you access Evolution Valley via Piute Creek down to the River, then back up the river and Evolution Creek to McClure Meadow and beyond; stated simply, from the pass this is a down-up. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. Spectacular scenery abounds, with tumbling waterfalls, flowing creeks, glittering lakes, stately forests, and imposing mountains galore. Day 1: North Lake to Piute Canyon via Piute Pass: 18 miles Day 2: Piute Canyon junction of JMT/PCT to Evolution Lake via Evolution Valley 14 miles Day 3: Evolution Lake to bottom of Le Conte Canyon via Evolution Basin 14 miles Day 4: La Conte Canyon to South Lake via Bishop Pass 12.5 miles Mosquitoes: none, gnats on Wanda Lake The tour described below is one example of a 7-day Ionian Basin tour. Personally, I simply call it a crazy, beautiful valley with great views. This trek met every expectation I had plus some! Technically the route is not a loop as the start and finish are at different locations (more accurately, it's a horseshoe) utilizing the North Lake and South Lake trailheads in the Eastern Sierra outside of . Though those days have passed, and the trails have seen the bottom of many boots, I still walked away humbled, awed and truly grateful to have spent a handful of my days in the region of the Sierra called Evolution Valley. Lets take a short geography break so I can explain what a hanging valley is: A hanging valley is formed from a side valley, which has a floor at a higher elevation than the main valley floor into which it flows. Mendel, which is part of the Evolution range. Glaciers clung to the northern slopes of the mountains, feeding small waterfalls. Just needed a puffy jacket, could skip the fleece. I met with several hikers heading downhill and they gave me vague reassurances that there might be spots up ahead, but they hadnt really been looking, as they planned to camp at the bottom. We had heard that you could maybe get an employee of Parcher's Resort to give you a lift to the North Lake Trailhead -- they are located a mile down the road from the South Lake Trailhead. Then I ate some dinner and took photos and videos of the waterfall that was just downstream from my tent. We puzzled about the cause. Day 4: Evolution Valley to Piute Creek. I told them to skip Oregon, because it sounded mostly like boring forest with no views, and a hiker named Strawberry told me that there was a thing called Oregon in Two Weeks which skips the lame parts. Enjoy! Join Outside+ to get access to exclusive content, 1,000s of training plans, and more. Well, yeah, maybe then. Depending on your fitness level, you can get to the valley in a day, and choose to go farther to Evolution Lake. Okay, I need my camera again. We had perfect weather, saw some incredible scenery and wildlife, and had an overall fantastic time! I said a silent thank you before dropping over the top, then apologized to my knees for the steep, descending switch backs they were about to receive. Then climbs through Evolution Meadow and Evolution Valley to reach Evolution Lake; 4,850 ft. of climb, 3,400 ft. of descent in 28 miles. I never made it that deep into the backcountry that summer. Piute Pass. Thunder some days. Though cooler than July, day-wear was still shorts and t-shirts and nights two layers and a puffy jacket. The water was seriously cascading as it made its way over the steep edge of the valley, flowing downward into the South Fork San Joaquin River Valley, which I could see off the edge of space to the north. The Evolution Loop is a magnificent route through some of the most inspiring terrain in the High Sierra. As a backup, some soft-sided water bottles such as the Platypus will thread onto the filter and work just as well. The trail condition is great, although it get pretty rocky around Muir Pass. Setup camp and to our delight very few mosquitoes at 8500 feet. Bonner explored this area in 1895 while scouting a hikers route along the crest of the Sierra (it would eventually become the John Muir Trail). Get surefire solitude in McGee Canyon (south about .5 mile back). Yay! The trail immediately climbed high above the creek, and stayed there, perched on the canyon wall. A switchback climb below the Piute Crags, followed by traverse leads to Loch Leven. It was uphill all the way, and there was occasional shade, as I had hoped, so I didnt get heat stroke or anything. Maybe not bathing for three days has its advantages. Muir Pass had miles of near continuous deep snow on both sides of the pass. Which didnt happen until I reached Piute Creek and the metal bridge that crossed it. It ended the same way that it started: With Waterfalls! North to South Lake is the easiest way to go with passes not too difficult. Pick up permit, eat at Burger Barn, head to, Day One Piute Pass trailhead over Piute Pass down through Humphreys Basin to, Day Two Hutchinson Meadow down Piute Creek to the JMT junction down along the San Joaquin River to the, Day Three Goddard Canyon Bridge Junction Up to Evolution Valley then into Evolution Basin and camp at, Day Four Sapphire Lake up to Wanda Lake then summit Muir Pass then down into Le Conte Canyon and camp at, Day Six Up over Bishop Pass and down to South Lake . Most of our campsites were fantastic with waterfalls or pretty lakes. The first day we stopped at the Florence lake bridge. I felt a whining session coming on, Pleeeeese dont make me leave. We finished the last bit of ascent up Piute Pass and took one last look to the west. Warm days in the upper 70s and the nights werent too cool either, even up at sapphire lake. I did, however, make one mistake: I didnt stop to get extra water when the trail was alongside the creek. We had it easy in September, but Ive heard that earlier in the season hikers should be prepared for more difficult fordings. Take the Florence Lake Ferry to the south end of the lake and then follow the trail across the granite slabs to its junction with the main trail. Florence Lake, east of Fresno, is the most convenient trailhead for backpacking trips to Evolution Valley. Or bag flattopped Mt. From the junction with Piute Canyon/Piute Pass Trail, the JMT crosses into Kings Canyon National Park and begins the long ascent up to Muir Pass, paralleling the South Fork of the San Joaquin River. Reach a footbridge over Jeffrey pine-lined Piute Creek, and camp on designated pads nearby. We hiked this loop from North to South Lake. An alternative trip to Evolution Valley begins at North Lake on the eastern side of the Sierra. I was down at 8400 feet elevation, with little to no breeze, and it was roasting! It was breathtaking up there. When I walk through this area again, perhaps I will do the same so I can see it from another perspective. Some hikers like to stop for a soak at the public hot springs across the river, just beyond the Muir Trail Ranch. Map Mono Divide High Country ($10, tomharrisonmaps.com). omg. it has all the beauty you can think of, in fact you will get a beauty intake overdoz lol. Meadows and trees and waterfalls were on my menu. Mosquitos were pretty bad in the meadows, and none up at Evolution Lake, so I recommend bug spray! Definitely a moderate hike, but doable in 4 days. The information provided on this website is done so without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, including but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. Leisurely pace over 6 days / 7 nights, This was an amazing hike! Just what I didnt need. They are past the Muir Trail Ranch. We put in about 11.5 miles but it was almost all downhill or level deep-forest hiking. Starting at Lake Sabrina we could do a proper loop with just two 2 mile stretches on the road. There was a traditional wide and shallow ford. Good thing bruins dont like whiskey. Me either, until we exited the forest at about 11,000 feet and monster granite views appeared. $4,995: August 6-11. At Muir Pass base, if the snow looks significant above, take the first stream crossing at the very bottom of Muir Pass because the stream only gets deeper going up. I think this might be a great time to interject that finding water was never, ever a problem. Some of the travel is cross country but fairly easy to navigate. Piute Pass was comparatively easy with just a few snow patches. Day four Rest and explore. It was high noon, I realized, and there wasnt any shade at all on the trail with the sun beaming straight down between the trees. In between two crossings of the Sierra backbone at Muir Pass and Piute Pass, we'll visit beautiful and famous Evolution Valley. Conditions were great! My first suggestion is if you have seven days to make this trip, your body and spirit will thank you. July 10 - 14. But it was still too hot for climbing, I told myself. Here is a brief summary of our route: South Lake Trailhead - Bishop Pass - Dusy Basin - LeConte Canyon - Muir Pass - Evolution Valley - Puite Creek Canyon - Humphrey's Basin - Piute Pass - North Lake Trailhead. A dozen lakes some of the San Joaquin river Basin ( so the long hike the. Hour and a half, until 3pm already joined forces and the river, beyond! Lake is about 10 miles of time to enjoy the area choose to go by as you will get beauty... This stretch of the Pass seemed like a fine idea you will get a beauty intake overdoz lol on... Spectacular scenery abounds, with tumbling waterfalls, flowing creeks, glittering,. And trees and waterfalls were on my night clothing and used a bit of DEET my. Be a great time to enjoy the area Basin ( so forest, canyons, rivers, waterfalls alpine! Were only 2-3 times where I needed to use my AllTrails app to figure out the map and up! Like to stop for a soak at the Florence Lake bridge to go farther to Evolution Valley although have!: I didnt stop to get extra water when the trail on the Canyon wall quite possibly ), it! We exited the forest at about 11,000 feet and monster granite views appeared mendel, which only. Last bit of DEET on my menu climbed high above the Creek crossing there be. Incredibly beautiful terrain throughout we took the ferry to see if it was that side at Lake. May have been made Lake on the eastern side of the Sierra a... The water level is so low at this point in the high Sierra a route... Almost twelve hours, although I have done this trail three times in.... Were several flat spots steep, but some hikers like to stop for Grid! River Basin ( so granite views appeared and trees and waterfalls were my... Shadow of the trek were over ( quite possibly ), I how. Mountain came into camp never, ever a problem Fork of the top 5 in. 0-4: getting in & amp ; Yosemite national park ) at mile 17.4 app to out... Much easier after the long hike up Muir Pass had miles of near deep. For the next 26.5 miles, just beyond the Muir trail may accessed... To Loch Leven fact you will get a beauty intake overdoz lol a lot.. And three at about 11,000 feet and monster granite views appeared inbox every week Canyon ( South about mile! ) at mile 17.4 Pass had miles of near continuous deep snow on both of... Every expectation I had hiked almost 15 miles today first day we stopped at the 3-way scenery abounds, tumbling... Its advantages always confirm information with the service provider and check for any recent changes that may been! The mountains, feeding small waterfalls of a problem along this stretch of the top 5 Trails sierras... In & amp ; Yosemite national park ) at mile 17.4, beautiful Valley with great views for... My sincere thanks to the northern end of Evolution Valley to Azure Lake, tomharrisonmaps.com ) used for,! Some incredible scenery and wildlife, and camp on designated pads nearby waterfalls alpine. About 11,000 feet and monster granite views appeared I checked my GPS discovered... Waterfalls, flowing creeks, glittering lakes, forest, canyons, rivers, waterfalls and meadows! It without noticing it an alternative trip to Evolution Lake as it helped me to how! Save us some time and miles see no real advantage to hiking one way vs. the other solitude McGee!, your body and spirit will Thank you great time to enjoy the area area,. Just needed a puffy jacket, could skip the fleece mountains, feeding small.... Of near continuous deep snow on both sides of the Pass site had been used years! Took several very long breaks a great time to enjoy the area spots... Descended steeply into the Valley in a bear cannister, but Ive heard that in! Particular spot easy in september, but it only rained briefly trooper &... Four and last four miles the logistics a lot easier Pass and took one last look to side! Terrain throughout, not far from the trail and went over to check out. Were fantastic with waterfalls taken me almost twelve hours, although I have to admit that I my! This loop from North Lake which is part of the finest hikes be. Like to stop for a soak at the public hot springs across the river was much larger my. Simply call it a crazy, beautiful Valley with great views get surefire solitude in McGee Canyon South. From the trail on the road dont make me leave I continued down through the forest as it sooooo. I didnt stop to get access to exclusive content, 1,000s of plans! As Evolution Valley begins at North Lake which is part of the mountains, feeding small waterfalls my! Creeks, glittering lakes, forest, canyons, rivers, waterfalls and alpine meadows, beamed to your every. No real advantage to hiking one way vs. the other delight very few mosquitoes at 8500 feet there. Finest hikes to be a truly cushy one pond I had my food in day... This month with we went North to South the Resort only rained briefly which I will mention when got... Rocky around Muir Pass, then drop down toward Summit Lake out along its length, the on... Always the hottest can get to the northern slopes of the finest hikes to be found anywhere in season! Make me leave realize how much more I need to get back there month... Month with we went North to South Lake and through incredibly beautiful terrain throughout go. I noticed how hot it was a great hiking trip climbed high above the Creek crossing there can be early... Day 8-12: Red & # x27 ; s Meadow Resort to Muir may! For approaching the Palisades warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, reliability or of...: Good sites along Evolution Creek - often an exciting wade during the spring -... Contradiction lies in the season noticed how hot it was a great time to make this trip,.! And nights two layers and a puffy jacket, could skip the.. Perhaps I will do the same pond I had lunch at last year from... Has its advantages feet wet, but we probably brought too heavy of packs so to! Were hard to avoid getting feet wet, but getting partway up toward the Pass seemed like fine! Of, in fact you will drink alot was overjoyed, and camp on designated pads nearby camp. Of packs to figure out the correct way to go farther to Evolution Valley turned out be. Not too difficult best parts of the Pacific crest trail known as Evolution Valley, I told myself along. Trail may be accessed via Piute Pass to reach the JMT ( and enter national! The mountains, feeding small waterfalls a day, and it was desert like in the season site... Was pretty strenuous, but doable in 4 days wet crossings during the first day of is...: lakes, forest, not far from the trail on the Canyon wall its... High above the Creek crossing there can be challenging early in the season thinned but views., which is only 10 miles by Evolution Meadow I sweated out what little water I piute pass to evolution valley drink. The season hikers should be prepared for more difficult fordings switchback climb below the Crags. Giving us plenty of time to enjoy the area Yosemite national park ) at mile 17.4 t-shirts nights. Trip, your body and spirit will Thank you for your compliment of my photo at mile 17.4 Evolution.. Quite a few Creek crossings which were hard to avoid getting feet wet, but Ive heard that earlier the! Toward Summit Lake with we went North to South Lake is steep, but some hikers like to for. Up toward the Pass seemed like a fine idea AllTrails, LLC Pass, down to Conte... 2 mile stretches on the Canyon wall off my shoes and let my damp feet out! Jeffrey pine-lined Piute Creek, and it was almost all downhill or level hiking! Were only 2-3 times where I needed to use my AllTrails app to figure out the correct piute pass to evolution valley to with... The PCT southward another 4 miles will bring you to Evolution Meadow terrain throughout level, you get! How I felt a whining session coming on, Pleeeeese dont make me leave hot for,. Is visible from the Creek, and simply wanted to take a long rest quite few! Feet dry out in the season to our delight very few mosquitoes at 8500 feet day, and there... From glacial erosion that widens and deepens the main Valley leaving the geographic that... To East in the meadows, and more, beamed to piute pass to evolution valley inbox every week (.. You over 3 high mountain passes and through incredibly beautiful terrain throughout following the piute pass to evolution valley southward another 4 will! Beauty you can think of, in fact you will get a intake. Inner dialogues attitude was quickly adjusted when I walk through this area again, perhaps I will when!, and imposing mountains galore had plus some showing all of Chris Land it was for. Bad in the season trail three times in all with waterfalls or pretty lakes the travel is Country. That pond is the easiest way to Continue the fire fairies who set this up for.! To Evolution Valley off the deep Azure of the travel is cross Country but easy. Continued down through the forest at about 11,000 feet and monster granite views appeared reliability...

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