Mineral King Loop
Sawtooth Pass β High Sierra Trail β Precipice Lake β Kaweah Gap β Lost Canyon β Columbine Lake
A 5-day backpacking journey through the remote Mineral King wilderness β across the High Sierra Trail to Ansel Adams' Precipice Lake, over Kaweah Gap and Sawtooth Pass, through alpine lakes and ancient redwood groves. This is the route Adams walked in 1932 to capture his iconic photograph of Precipice Lake.
Day-by-Day Plan
Into the Wild: Sawtooth to Redwood Grove
Day 1- Coffee & pastries at Silver City Resortπ 07:00
π‘ The resort opens at 7am β grab a hearty breakfast before the ranger station opens
- Ranger station permit pickup & marmot-proof vehicleπ 08:00
π‘ Borrow a tarp from the ranger station. Wrap it tight around the undercarriage and run the wheels over the edges β marmots chew through unprotected wiring
- Timber Gap ascent (2.7 mi / 1,600 ft gain)π 09:00β± ~2.5 hours
π‘ The first steep push of the trip. Find your rhythm early β this sets the tone for the week. The exposed section is brutal in midday heat β start early
- Cliff Creek water fillπ 12:00
π‘ Fill EVERYTHING here. Redwood Meadow has no reliable water source. Treat with filter or tablets
- Redwood Meadow Grove arrivalπ 14:00
πΏ Healing moment
Standing among these ancient giants after the long climb β the air shifts from pine-dry to damp and cool, and you feel suddenly very small in the best way
β swipe between days β
Route Segments
Sawtooth Pass Trailhead β Redwood Meadow Grove
Redwood Meadow Grove β Precipice Lake
Precipice Lake β Lost Canyon
Lost Canyon β Sawtooth Pass Trailhead
landmarks
Plan This Trip
Affiliate links β we may earn a commissionπ Sawtooth Pass Trailhead
π Timber Gap
π Cliff Creek
π Redwood Meadow Grove
π Bearpaw Meadow
π Hamilton Lakes
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- Coffee & pastries at Silver City Resort
- Ranger station permit pickup & marmot-proof vehicle
- Timber Gap ascent (2.7 mi / 1,600 ft gain)
- Cliff Creek water fill
- Redwood Meadow Grove arrival
- Trek through open pine forest
- Bearpaw Meadow High Sierra Camp
- Join the High Sierra Trail
- Hamilton Lakes lunch stop
- Steep climb to Precipice Lake (4 mi / 2,000 ft gain)
- Morning swim in Precipice Lake
- Photography session on warm granite slabs
- Explore the alpine basin
- Relax β soak feet, journal, nap in the sun
- Short steep climb out of Precipice Lake basin
- Kaweah Gap viewpoint
- Gentle descent on High Sierra Trail
- Big Five Lakes
- Lost Canyon Creek camp
- Lost Canyon to Columbine Lake
- Columbine Lake
- Sawtooth Pass switchbacks (11,630 ft)
- Sawtooth Pass descent (loose shale and scree)
- Monarch Lakes
- Trailhead arrival β celebrate at Silver City
| # | From | To | Transport | Duration | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sawtooth Pass Trailhead | Redwood Meadow Grove | hike | 1 day | 10 mi |
| 2 | Redwood Meadow Grove | Precipice Lake | hike | 1 day | 13 mi |
| 3 | Precipice Lake | Lost Canyon | hike | 1 day | 13 mi |
| 4 | Lost Canyon | Sawtooth Pass Trailhead | hike | 1 day | 11 mi |