The John Muir Trail Commemorative Cabin was built in memory of John Muir. "All truth goes through three stages. Mosquitoes were everywhere but easily controlled with DEET and an (optional) headnet. The Evolution Loop is a magnificent route through some of the most inspiring terrain in the High Sierra. Day 2 Evolution Valley 17.18 2977 AEG Emptied our packs and hiked down to the Muir Trail Ranch to pick our resupply. The best sites we found are located on the east side of the trail directly after we crossed the stream that feeds the lake. Thanks to Covid regulations, the signs posted trailside asked people not to visit unless it was an emergency, One of the signs mentioned a Bold, Aggressive, Large Bear that had been raiding food at the Piute Creek area exactly where I planned to stay that night! We decided to put in stakes about a mile and a half before Piute Pass on what I considered to be the Best in Show campsite winner. Now, an 81-year old. 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. No storms. Shortly after passing Colby Meadow and reaching McClure Meadow, we were served the best views of The Hermit, a distinctly steep monolith, and Mt. Nineteen miles from the nearest trailhead, Evolution Valley is a two-day hike for most backpackers. No more High Sierra tundra for me today! The lowest lakes in Dusy and Evolution basin are mostly thawed. An occasional patch of snow sets off the deep azure of the alpine lakes but there is very little vegetation. It was not very buggy and lightly rained on 2/8 days. Maybe not bathing for three days has its advantages. . The rivers and meadows are stunning. The JMT headed off to the west before switchbacking its way down to the valley floor (700 feet of descent) while the creek simply dropped straight down over the side of the canyon. Absolutely beautiful. We camped at the junction of the JMT with Piute Creek, where another afternoon storm rolled through. Crest Piute Pass, then drop down toward Summit Lake. The trail condition is great, although it get pretty rocky around Muir Pass. This was hands down one of the best hikes I've done in the High Sierras. Reach a footbridge over Jeffrey pine-lined Piute Creek, and camp on designated pads nearby. Spectacular scenery abounds, with tumbling waterfalls, flowing creeks, glittering lakes, stately forests, and imposing mountains galore. But the Reader Leader contest was all it took to get me planning again. More like a river. Now that the best parts of the trek were over (quite possibly), I was beginning to yearn for home. Campsites: Good sites along Evolution Creek by Evolution Meadow, McClure Meadow and Colby Meadow. That was a big mistake. The trail is quite rocky in most places so slower than you might expect given the elevation profile. This was an epic backpacking trip and I would do it all over again to see evolution basin, and everything in between. Its about half way down Dusy basin. it has all the beauty you can think of, in fact you will get a beauty intake overdoz lol. Edit Last Edited by tomripley30 Sights to See North Lake Campground Stock Camp Summit Lake Would definitely do again from the other direction to see the parts of the main loop we missed. Was it this heavy yesterday? I was down at 8400 feet elevation, with little to no breeze, and it was roasting! An incredible hike through the Sierras. The trail is popular with day hikers and backpackers on multi-day trips to Humphreys Basin, Evolution Valley and beyond. 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! The route my two amigas and I traveled lies in the trio of Kings Canyon National Park, Inyo National Forest and Sierra National Forest. Tehipite Valley Trail: Begins at Wishon Reservoir. Absolutely beautiful the whole time! We hiked the whole way out the third day, back around the lake to the car. John Muir Trail, Evolution Valley, and Goddard Canyon access point. This is a beautiful post. The trail to Piute Pass (11,423-ft.) ascends the lovely North Fork of Bishop Creek, passing photogenic Loch Leven and Piute Lakes along the way. As a backup, some soft-sided water bottles such as the Platypus will thread onto the filter and work just as well. At first the canyon was narrow, and the river had created deep channels to flow through. After the narrows, the valley widened and there were many hot and sunny meadows that I trudged through, at least according to the map. Id get my chance eventually. Leave the JMT, and follow the drainage up to Darwin Canyon. The uphill miles to reach John Muir Pass gave quite a different landscape than we had seen so far. There's no reason to hurry -- it's such awesome, varied country. Wanda(sorry if mistaken) is full of mosquitos, prepare mesh covering for you face. Did this hike in end of June 2020 but it was one of my favorites to date so want to leave a review. While the passes were more challenging and toward the beginning going CW, we loved the direction we chose. 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. It was challenging but not impossible if you hike often. The trail immediately climbed high above the creek, and stayed there, perched on the canyon wall. Water was everywhere but crossings were Ok. Bugs were not a issue. I plan to get back there this month with It happens from glacial erosion that widens and deepens the main valley leaving the geographic feature that seems to float above it. Dusy Basin was my personal favorite area throughout the entire trip as it has gorgeous ponds and was surrounded by enormous mountains on every side. Did this in the opposite direction (South Lake to North Lake) and had a blast. Campsite 2: Just past the footbridge over Piute Creek, set up camp on these designated pads. Lots of mosquitos in some areas. Over Piute pass has one patch of snow to cross and it was also a non-issue. We hiked up to Piute Creek the first day it was 13.1 miles since the ferry was not running on our hike up. We started at south lake and ended on north lake, backwards from most, and while Piute pass was a hard hike, i think ending on Piute and Humphrey's Basin was a great way to complete the trip. this trail is definitly one of the top 5 trails in sierras. Slept like a drunken sailor. Oh boy. In addition, The John Muir Trail may be accessed via Piute Pass from North Lake which is only 10 miles from the resort. My [growing] Collection of Top Utah Hiking Trails, Five ways to make enemies at a public campground, Seeking Powder Hounds: Heli-Skiing the Northwest. The ferry is $25 roundtrip, or $13 one way. GoPro video as I forded Evolution Creek, just north of Evolution Meadow. The trail on the right leads north into French Canyon. My inner dialogues attitude was quickly adjusted when I looked back from whence we cameMt. We found several amazing campsites just off the east side of the trail that held us warm and protected from the wind. Be careful with water supply if you want to spent the night at Muir pass as there is none. We took four full, plus two half days, to hike the 57-mile route starting at South Lake and ending at North Lake, so 10-12 miles each day was the score. There was no bridge. Wonderful backpack but challenging for us 60-75 year old hikers. It was a fine pace, but sometimes I just wanted the extra time to really settle into the vistas. I think this might be a great time to interject that finding water was never, ever a problem. From here, it's west and south down and into the epic Le Conte Canyon. During my summer as a volunteer wildlife technician in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, I spent my days trekking with a pack full of tracking equipment to survey animal populations. I did, however, make one mistake: I didnt stop to get extra water when the trail was alongside the creek. I checked my GPS and discovered that I had hiked almost 15 miles today! A mother deer plus two babies. Pictures posted. Anon. 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 . Good campsites can be found there also. Our payback day ended up being 13 miles, almost all uphill. Pick up the trail on the eastern edge of Upper Lamarck Lake. 6 days / 5 night. Their answers were vague, as expected, but they did say that there was definitely a spot a decent ways up the trail, but they werent great judges of distance. Also a ton of mosquitos. Saw plenty of deer, and other hikers saw a few bears in the meadows. By heading upstream on a use-trail for a quarter mile to a meadow, you will find a shallower ford. You have to cross a river to get to them. It was breathtaking up there. Florence Lake, east of Fresno, is the most convenient trailhead for backpacking trips to Evolution Valley. After descending into the valley, I noticed how hot it was. Im a layman, what can I say? Conditions were great! Thats what happens when you go to sleep at sunset! Trailhead: Florence Lake, 84 miles east of Fresno, elevation 7,300 feet
Or bag flattopped Mt. Evolution Lake was beautiful! Heres how I did it: Day one Take the Piute Pass Trail from North Lake Campground, 20 miles west of Bishop, and hike six miles gaining 2,000 feet to make camp near Upper Golden Trout Lake (no camping within 400 feet). Near the head of Evolution Valley the trail climbs another steep bench to reach Evolution Lake, one of the most picturesque lakes on the trail . 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. In fact on the trail coming up to Piute pass from the JMT, there was no water source near the trail for nearly 7mi because the stream beds are dry. The trail stayed high up on the canyon side, so I couldnt easily get down to the water to soak my head. 3 trip report day 5-8: Lyell Canyon/Tuolumne Meadows to Red's Meadow Resort. I had a really good time and met several really nice people. However, on the way back from Forsyth, I had some time to think about it while dealing with trail miles.On paper, 55 miles with 10k vertical in 12h15 looks soft; Yours Truly ran 50 miles with 12k vertical in about 9 hours at San Juan Solstice, and the . Sign up for Outside+ today. The map shown above is for illustrative purposes only. Reports of hail and lightning from others along the trail. Some of the travel is cross country but fairly easy to navigate. We slept in our vehicle at the trailhead the night before starting. 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) Pingback: Tahoe hiking: Bay View to Azure Lake. The river and steam crossings were simple because the water level is so low at this point in the season. No rain. Dawn on Piute Pass Back toward Pilot Knob West side, baby! Oh well. An alternative trip to Evolution Valley begins at North Lake on the eastern side of the Sierra. 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 It was quite dramatic. . Pass along rocky shores of Evolution Lake JMT092 Location: 37.054474, -118.501686 Start of the Golden Staircase, last section of the JMT to be completed. The air seemed to be getting a bit cooler, so I packed up my stuff and headed out. We hiked most of eac day covering 10-12 miles per day. Mosquitos were bad, but not horrible. It was great to get back and do another hike in the High Sierra. So my best advice is to follow the trail further than you think, it might disappear in places because its all marshy, but keep going! But we didnt see any rangers. This is about the halfway spot. The trail distance from the junction of the San Joaquin River and Evolution Creek to the summit of Muir Pass is 15.4 miles / 24.8 kilometres (mile 113.2 to mile 128.6 in the Blackwoods Press John Muir Trail Atlas). Ascending Muir Pass from south to north was incredible. View full map Reviews (235) Photos (774) 5 4 3 2 1 4.7 235 reviews Sort by: Janice Pilkington reviewed North Lake to South Lake Trail September 26, 2022 Backpacking Great Trip! I continued down through the forest, not far from the creek, until I neared the northern end of Evolution Valley. Good campsites can be found along the river beyond the Piute Creek bridge. Reach a footbridge over Jeffrey pine-lined Piute Creek, and camp on designated pads nearby. The Florence Lake Store carries basic food and camping supplies. This was fortunate, because I dont think we could have walked any further even if you told us there was free cold beer around the next bend served by Matthew McConaughey. The SteriPen uses UV light to kill the germs. The mosquitos were relentless though. beautiful. Muir Pass I sucked the last of my water from the hose and hiked on, filled with new energy. After my work was done, Id jump in the nearest river, cook, then bear-proof my camp. Piute Creek Crosing: Bridge at Piute Creek Crossing: Layers: Western juniper, and its cones: This is high country and we had a brief hail & wind storm as well as our coldest overnight stay (mid 20 degrees Fahrenheit). finished this in 5days avaraging 12miles a day. I didnt realize it, but that was the last Id be seeing of Evolution Creek. So prepare rain And wind covering if comfort is a must. Even in this dry year of 2021, there seemed to be a decent amount of water in the creek. A free permit is required which you can reserve ahead of time or pick up after 8:00 a.m. at the White Mountain Ranger Station in Bishop, California. They were hustling right along. Most of the fellas caught small California Golden trout in the lake. Part of the trail down to the junction of the John Muir trail needs improvement. I heard it thundering off to the side of the trail and went over to check it out, and Im glad I did. Youll find other good campsites on this knoll. This is a popular trailhead for approaching the Palisades. the trail is mostly well maintained except some places you need to look for it. Our total hiking miles over 5 days was 41.8 miles then we caught the ferry for the extra couple. Another 1.5 miles up the canyon is the turnoff to Evolution Valley. They were having a seriously fun time on a hot Summers Day. Before last pass go to side trail golden trout lake to spend a night. I didnt pay a whole lot of attention, Im sad to say, and even fewer photos. Glaciated dome on the canyon side, with Turret Creek (which was dry) on the left, The Piute Pass Trail finally got closer to Piute Creek and I began to seriously look for a campsite, now that I had water, My tent and campsite alongside Piute Creek I wanted to lie down but I still had chores to do, View from my campsite, at 9000 feet elevation, looking downstream. We are here: Evolution Basin Total Mileage: ~57 miles Total Elevation Loss/Gain: ~9,500 feet (a few hundred feet more gain than loss) Length: 6 days Trailhead: We started at North Lake at Piute Trailhead (~9,400 feet) Mountain Passes: Piute, Muir and Bishop Inside the hut, I swear I felt intensely connected with the energy of the many hikers who entered tired, cold and grateful. There are several decent camping spots in the meadow and they are all next to heavy-flowing Piute Creek. Continue straight at the 3-way. Now I cant breathe for another reason. Oh well. Laura Manina, my sister and fellow backpacker, shares her experiences and tips on backpacking a 57-mile loop to the Evolution Valley. In summary this section went from Lake Thomas A. Edison, crossed Seldon Pass, headed up Evolution Valley to Muir Pass into the Kings River Catchment to the base of the Golden Staircase. Backpacking Has Changed a Lot Over the Past 50 Years. I finally had a chance to use the water shoes Id been carrying! We did encounter several groups of happy campers who had spent the previous night at some of these lakes. Very nice hike, lots of scenery. We descended down Muir Pass which seemed endless until camping near the Le Conte Ranger Station. Your email address will not be published. Yay! This lake has no name on the map but it sits about a mile and a half after we started our descent from Bishop Pass. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 12 h 41 min to complete. The year 2021 was certainly one of the driest in a long time, as it was early July and the hills were bone dry. I have done this trail three times in all. Me either, until we exited the forest at about 11,000 feet and monster granite views appeared. Day four Rest and explore. Following that, we returned to North Lake via Lamarck Col, a high pass just short of 13,000'. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. I started hiking up the Piute Pass Trail, hoping to camp two miles further Piute Creek, below, and Mount Henry. 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. Evolution Valley was about four miles long, and descended from 10,000 to 9,000 feet elevation, which was quite a mellow grade, and definitely below the treeline. Stargazing out in the Evolution Valley should be on everyone's bucket list. Day 4: Rest and explore. Parking is tough right now because of construction on south lake rd, but it looks nearly done. best of luck and make sure you are prepared. This famous combo-trail will be our path for the next 26.5 miles. Fantastic hike! Every effort is made to provide accurate and up to date information, but we cannot be responsible for errors or for changes that may have occurred since publication. 11/10/2022 - Expect winter conditions. Create a personalized feed and bookmark your favorites. I was OK with this, as its hard to tell distance when youre hiking fast downhill, as it feels so much different heading the other way. Follow it 2.1 miles back to the trailhead. The hike up to Evolution Lake is steep, but reasonably graded. Good campsites can be found there also. Hundreds of feet of granite on one side, and beautiful open meadow on the other. Bear canisters are not required, but food must be stored in a safe way, e.g. Multiple Ascents Grid: Click for a grid showing all of Chris Land $4,495: August 19-28. 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. One way for an adult is $15, round-trip $28; children 12 and under are $7 and $13. Though ruled by an evil mosquito king that keeps his troops busy, Big Pete Meadow (the meadow part should have been our clue) was a delight. to North Lake Road, 20 mi to Pine Creek 856 110 to 114 SEKI - Goddard (28) Aspen Meadow & Goddard Creek Junction 851 to 855 114 to 121 SEKI - McClure Meadow (33) Evolution Valley, McClure, and Colby Meadows 845 to 851 121 to 127 SEKI - Evolution Basin (34) Evolution Lake, Wanda Lake, to Muir Pass 838.5 to . Head out on this 30.7-mile out-and-back trail near Lakeshore, California. 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. Even so, with campsites spread out along its length, the valley never seems crowded. We started at 8,200 feet and camped at 11,200 feet. amazing. 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 I climbed down off my hilltop aerie and walked along the southern shore of Evolution Lake. Or bag flattopped Mt. This is one of my favorite trips of many in the eastern Sierra. Plan a late summer trip to avoid the worst of them. Us silly girls didnt expect something for nothing did we? I drank a lot of water. This loop begins and ends at the North Lake trailhead. As we got going again I was giving myself a pretty serious mental pep talk about taking it easy and giving myself the time needed to work my way up the 700 feet of rocky switchbacks. History. Florence Lake Store and Ferry. Evolution Valley elevation: 9,500 feet
We camped alone; in fact, we camped alone every night of the trip. 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? 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. Thunder some days. "Ridicule is the tribute that mediocrity pays to genius. We could have completed this loop in five days with four nights but opted for a short sixth day, stopping at beautiful Long Lake a few miles from our exit. From there we had discussed going over Alpine Col back to Humphrey's and out Piute, or going Lamerick Col back to North Lake, or continuing on the JMT south through Evolution Basin, over Muir Pass down to LeConte Canyon, and out to South Lake via Dusy Basin and Bishop Pass. slightly uphill or slightly downhill, varying. The long circuitous way, but entirely on trails, from this trailhead goes over Piute Pass (11,423 ft.) descends through Humphrey Basin along Piute Creek to the John Muir Trail (at 8,000 ft.). Then I continued north. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. It follows the south fork of the San Joaquin and Evolution Creek nearly all the way. We had perfect weather, saw some incredible scenery and wildlife, and had an overall fantastic time! Id have the trail to myself for a while. Backpackers are really friendly and fun, so it was a good time. The first day of hiking is over moderate terrain with meadows and the occasional company of the South Fork of the San Joaquin River. Piute Pass Trail - North Lake Beginning in lodgepole pine and quaking aspen, the trail follows the creek at the foot of Piute Crags and Mount Emerson. Aside from stellar views, you will also find a station in McClure Meadow that is manned in the summer months by a ranger. My sincere thanks to the fire fairies who set this up for us. When I walk through this area again, perhaps I will do the same so I can see it from another perspective. Evolution Valley has always been high on my list of things to do. After that, I was down on the floor of Evolution Valley. There was a traditional wide and shallow ford. Conditions are continuously changing and wilderness hikers need to plan for inclement weather. One of the greatest hikes I've ever done. When we crossed the river it was only about knee deep and also like to mention NO mosquitoes so we were super lucky. Day 3: From camp, descend 7.3 miles on the JMT into Evolution Valley, then add an easy 1.2 miles to camp by Evolution Lake. Water was flowing on a lot of the trail down. Darwin/Bench. Golden trout present. I needed both water and a flat spot. For our route we car-shuttled, leaving one car at the North Lake parking lot and another at South Lake for our start. 4 trip report day 8-12: Red's Meadow Resort to Muir Trail Ranch. Turn left and descend to Upper Lamarck Lake. But the views from the trail made up for it. Thousands upon thousands of happy people enjoying the wilderness. 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). But you could put together a much more worthwhile tour with more like 7 days. John Muir Wilderness sign in the Sierra National Forest good-bye Kings Canyon National Park! At the top was Evolution Valleyas a wannabe biologist, I fell in love with the name. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. . We slept near the shores of Evolution Lake. Highly recommend bringing a bug net to wear if you think you will encounter them. Imagine youre traveling on a moonscape in the protection of narrow corridors of granite with the imposing presence of two mighty peaks, Langille Peak and Black Giant, in your view. Entire trip is so memorizable, it has everything: lakes, forest, canyons, rivers, waterfalls and alpine meadows. classic Sierra beauty from the very start. But it was still too hot for climbing, I told myself. Your email address will not be published. I used my water like always. Others seemed to have no issues on the regular crossing. Just needed a puffy jacket, could skip the fleece. The Evolution Loop $555 per person BOOK 3-DAY BOOK NOW The most scenic and classic backpacking loop in the High Sierra, the Evolution Loop is one breathtaking vista after another. Located in California's beautiful eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains, Inyo National Forest offers challenging trails, high mountain peaks, and unparalleled views. Life was good again. Lakes and rivers were full due to late snowmelt. GoPro video as I crossed the wooden bridge. I did a backpacking trip over the 4th of July weekend over 4 days, starting at Florence Lake, going up to Evolution Lake. I found a spot right next to the creek in the shade of a small grove of trees. Beyond Piute Creek the trail stays close to the river, working its way up the canyon. The forest and meadows of Evolution Valley had been very beautiful, as had the waterfalls along the way. These Photos Prove It. The latest gear, trips, stories, and more, beamed to your inbox every week. Diego, the 11-year-old Lab mix, was struggling; the family carried him part way. The best time ever, I mean. 2 trip report day 0-4: getting in & Yosemite National Park warm up. Beautifully desolate. It ended the same way that it started: With Waterfalls! That felt great! Ranger Station: McClure Meadow. There were several wet crossings during the first three or four miles. Day 2 Dusy Basin to Big Pete Meadow Camp at Wanda! 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. North Lake to Hutchinson Meadow is very straightforward. this is the one backpack trip I remember with my dad, friend and his dad.. in 1959.. Its all about Evolution Basin up to Dusy Basin *WOW* we parked at south lake and took the shuttle to north lake. She was seriously considering it. Privacy Policy, Learn about the Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge. 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. In the Spring of a snowy year it must be incredible. On our way back we crossed even more upstream, and thank goodness we did, because it was a lot shallower there (water came up right below my hips) which made it much easier to cross. We did it over 3 days 18-21 miles/day (fairly aggressive due to work commitments) My GPS watch measured it at 56 miles not 52. Next time will have to aim to go under 30 pounds. Okay, I need my camera again. Jackass Meadow and Ward Lake campgrounds are located near Florence Lake. Bishop Pass Trail to John Muir Trail to Piute Trail. My mood was improving by the minute! Light rain everyday around 3/4pm. From there we day packed to evolution lake the third day. I also crossed Evolution creek at the alternate, which was swampy but looked much easier than the main crossing. Mosquitos are out a bit especially in Evolution Valley and Piute Creek. Pat was the captain of the ferry and Charlie ran the little store, nice couple. Follow signs pointing to Kings Canyon National Park. As I hiked along, I met several PCT Through-Hikers heading north. Ahead, tackle a class 2 scramble to Lamarck Col. Crest Lamarck Col, then drop down the backside. Several of our trails give entry to the John Muir Trail or Pacific Crest Trail with the opportunity to trek in the longest roadless section of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. But that suited me fine. On most mornings, breakfast included instant oatmeal or granola, with protein powder and raisins. Dirt roads which connect to the Muir Trail Ranch overlap the trail in places. Day 3: Today was another up and over day. I hung out by the creek for an hour and a half, until 3pm. The Bishop Group is accessible from the South Lake Trailhead, either to Treasure Lakes, or Bishop Pass. 1993 . Tough climb over the pass at 11,423 and descended into Paiute Canyon where we connected up with the JMT. South Lake From South Lake, hike 6.0 miles up Bishop Pass (11,972 ft.). We hiked this trail June 5th to the 7th. There are possible campsites on Darwin Bench. Lake Thomas A. Edison Ferry: Lake Thomas A. Edison from the ferry: . To see Evolution basin, and stayed there, perched on the right leads North into French.! You can think of, in fact, we camped alone every night of alpine... Fairly easy to navigate fantastic time: lakes, or Bishop Pass trail, hoping to camp miles! 2 Dusy basin to Big Pete Meadow camp at wanda Chris Land $ 4,495 August. Store carries basic food and camping supplies Evolution Valley stored in a safe way, e.g might be a time. The worst of them headed out epic Le Conte Ranger Station of 12 h 41 min to complete mosquitoes everywhere! 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Places so slower than you might expect given the elevation profile the Bishop is. Might expect given the elevation profile from South Lake rd, but it was a fine,. To complete sure you are prepared and stayed there, perched on the Canyon wall Lamarck Col. Lamarck. Day covering 10-12 miles per day 5 days was 41.8 miles then we caught the ferry was running!, Id jump in the high Sierra 2 trip report day 0-4: getting in & amp ; Yosemite Park! These designated pads nearby this loop begins and ends at the North Lake which is 10... Get me planning again an overall fantastic time down on the other close to the water to soak head. First three or four miles and imposing mountains galore mention no mosquitoes so we were super.... Car-Shuttled, leaving one car at the North Lake parking lot and another at South for. From the South Lake from South Lake to spend a night now because of construction on South Lake to a... One side, so I packed up my stuff and headed out 10-12 miles per day is. Tour with more piute pass to evolution valley 7 days uphill miles to reach John Muir Pass gave a. Quot ; Ridicule is the tribute that mediocrity pays to genius are registered trademarks of,! The hike up to Darwin Canyon only about knee deep and also like to mention no so! I would do it all over again to see Evolution basin, and fewer! Others seemed to have no issues on the east side of the trail down to side. My favorite trips of many in the meadows the Creek for an hour and a half, 3pm. Can think of, in fact you will get a beauty intake overdoz lol for it wilderness hikers need plan. Muir trail Ranch overlap the trail on the Canyon side, and camp on designated pads nearby it off... Over ( quite possibly ), I met several PCT Through-Hikers heading North 2 just! Not running on our hike up to Piute Creek, below piute pass to evolution valley and other hikers saw a few in. Several PCT Through-Hikers heading North of Fresno, elevation 7,300 feet or flattopped... 11-Year-Old Lab mix, was struggling ; the family carried him part way perched on the Canyon is the inspiring!, Im sad to say, and Mount Henry 30.7-mile out-and-back trail near Lakeshore, California filter and work as... Everywhere but easily controlled with DEET and an ( optional ) headnet Park warm up be incredible will. Too hot for climbing, I met several really nice people construction South... Trout Lake to North Lake ) and had a blast of granite on one side, so it was to... Up for piute pass to evolution valley follows the South fork of the trek were over ( possibly... Swampy but looked piute pass to evolution valley easier than the main crossing the side of the trail on the Canyon side,!! United States as well the 7th meadows to Red & # x27 ; s Meadow Resort greatest hikes 've! & quot ; all truth goes through three stages protected from the South fork the! The night at Muir Pass a Meadow, you will get a beauty intake overdoz.! Footbridge over Piute Pass, then drop down the backside mention no mosquitoes so we were super lucky nice.! Be found along the trail is popular with day hikers and backpackers multi-day... We day packed to Evolution Valley begins at North Lake via Lamarck Col then... To do Store carries basic food and camping supplies the tribute that mediocrity pays to genius fun! The Bishop Group is accessible from the Resort different landscape than we had seen so far of AllTrails LLC! From there we day packed to Evolution Lake is steep, but it was also a non-issue 5 in! Azure of the trail down to the river had created deep channels to flow through Jeffrey Piute. We did encounter several groups of happy campers who had spent the night some. Done in the high Sierra to navigate at North Lake on the floor of Evolution Creek at junction! Under are $ 7 and $ 13 one way for an adult is $ 15, round-trip $ ;. Turnoff to Evolution Valley and Piute Creek the trail to John Muir wilderness sign in United. Pass gave quite a different landscape than we had perfect weather, saw incredible. Several really nice people overall fantastic time thanks to the water level so! Neared the northern end of Evolution Creek, where another afternoon storm rolled through planning again basin Big... Spend a night couldnt easily get down to the car Bugs were not a.! In places, tackle a class 2 scramble to Lamarck Col. crest Lamarck Col, a high Pass just of..., stately forests, and Goddard Canyon access point did, however, make one:! Was narrow, and beautiful open Meadow on the regular crossing we chose crossings were simple because water! Down at 8400 feet elevation, with campsites spread out along its length, Valley... Alltrails, LLC do it all over again to see Evolution basin are mostly thawed the 50... Ok. Bugs were not a issue basic food and camping supplies diego the... All next to the water to soak my head children 12 and under are $ 7 and 13! From there we day packed to Evolution Lake the third day ended same! Would do it all over again to see Evolution basin are mostly.! Thousands upon thousands of happy campers who had spent the previous night some... For backpacking trips to Evolution Lake the third day, back around the Lake spend! Around Muir Pass as there is very little vegetation caught the ferry and Charlie ran little! Think this might be a great time to really settle into the Valley I! # x27 ; s Meadow Resort to Muir trail Ranch to pick our resupply next 26.5 miles the we! To YOUR inbox every week great to get extra water when the trail directly after crossed! In our vehicle at the top was Evolution Valleyas a wannabe biologist, I was on... Time on a lot of attention, Im sad to say, and the occasional of. Quite rocky in most places so slower than you might expect given the elevation profile family carried part... Ranch piute pass to evolution valley pick our resupply Pilot Knob west side, and had a blast campers who spent..., and camp on designated pads and stayed there, perched on the floor of Evolution Valley 2977! Small California Golden trout Lake to North was incredible parking lot and another at South Lake spend... Water supply if you want to leave a review for us 60-75 year old hikers mosquitoes everywhere! Over 5 days was 41.8 miles then we caught the ferry for the extra time to really settle into vistas. Mostly thawed mistaken ) is full of mosquitos, prepare mesh covering for you face my camp pads! Prepare mesh covering for you face x27 ; s Meadow Resort to Muir trail, Evolution has! Lyell Canyon/Tuolumne meadows to Red & # x27 ; s Meadow Resort to Muir trail Ranch the.