Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
6
South Lake
to Roads End
in Kings Canyon
National Park
S
CENERY
:
T
RAIL CONDITION
:
C
HILDREN
:
D
IFFICULTY
:
S
OLITUDE
:
D
ISTANCE
:
58 miles
H
IKING TIME
:
6-8 days
O
UTSTANDING FEATURES
:
Bishop Pass, Dusy Basin, Le Conte Canyon, Golden Stair-
case, Palisade Lakes, Mather Pass, Lake Marjorie, Pinchot Pass, Castle Domes, Mist
Falls
This east-to-west section is laden with high-altitude passes for hungry peak-baggers.
With alpine lakes, craggy peaks, and flower-strewn meadows rewarding considerable
effort, this is high drama, Kings Canyon-style. The journey begins at an already for-
midable altitude, so rugged above-treeline views are within grasp almost immedi-
ately. Crest Bishop Pass (11,972 feet) and soak in the silent grandeur of the peaks of
the Inconsolable Range. Summit Mather Pass (12,100 feet) via cleverly camouflaged
switchbacks up a seeming pile of rubble, and finally reach the highest prize of the sec-
tion: Pinchot Pass (12,130 feet) where the thin air does not spoil a rich view. A long
descent past meadows, aspen groves, and thundering waterfalls leads to end of the
road at the namesake canyon of Kings Canyon National Park.
DIRECTIONS: S
OUTH
L
AKE TRAILHEAD—
The closest town to the South Lake trail-
head is Bishop, on US 395, 39 miles southeast of Mammoth Lakes and 15 miles north
of Big Pine. From Bishop, drive west 15 miles on CA 168 (West Line Street) to the
South Lake Road junction. Turn left and travel 7 miles to the Bishop Pass trailhead
and parking. Overnight parking is found in the upper lot.
You can take public transit as far as Bishop via Inyo Mono Transit's CREST bus,
but you will need to walk or hitchhike the remaining 22 miles to the trailhead. The
bus travels north on US 395 between Bishop and Reno via Mammoth Lakes on Tues-
day, Thursday, and Friday, and south between Mammoth Lakes and Ridgecrest on
