Starting at the North Lake TH, we will cross Piute Pass (11,423'). The trail on the right leads north into French Canyon. 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. Hundreds of feet of granite on one side, and beautiful open meadow on the other. We hiked through Evolution Meadow and decided to stay a few miles away near the McClure Meadow Ranger Station (closed due to Covid-19). As a backup, some soft-sided water bottles such as the Platypus will thread onto the filter and work just as well. They were having a seriously fun time on a hot Summers Day. Even so, with campsites spread out along its length, the valley never seems crowded. I highly recommend this one. Our goal was Sapphire lake, but there was still a ton of snow over the 4th and we didnt have proper snow gear to cross over the pass from Evolution lake to Sapphire lake. The McClure Meadow is one of the most beautiful meadows I have ever seen! Oh well. I had 2500 feet of climbing to do tomorrow, and I wanted to get as much of it done as possible while it was still cool. A great spot! This was an absolute must do trail! may have been made. My wife and I did the trek in June with our 9 month old in tow. Challenging but absolutely worth it, forever in my memories. A boat-taxi across the lake is available from the trailhead in the summer. Follow signs pointing to Kings Canyon National Park. slightly uphill or slightly downhill, varying. Call me crazy, but theres just something great about sitting around a campfire with your friends sharing sugar and a swig. There was a strong metal bridge just downstream, and it was fun to cross. The trail descended steeply into the forest as it left Evolution Basin. I decided to stop for lunch a short ways ahead, and hung out in the shade next to the water with a couple of PCT hikers that Id spoken to earlier. . Only one water crossing (Evolution creek) that required getting your feet wet. Which didnt happen until I reached Piute Creek and the metal bridge that crossed it. . lots of water sources so no worries there but u must have enough water to go by as you will drink alot. Our simple food choices were holding very well. Me either, until we exited the forest at about 11,000 feet and monster granite views appeared. 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. 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. Bishop and Muir Pass are still very snowy. One bite of the Evolution area is While there are no 14,000 ft peaks in these groups the peak are high and majestic. The forest and meadows of Evolution Valley had been very beautiful, as had the waterfalls along the way. Bear canisters are not required, but food must be stored in a safe way, e.g. North Lake to Hutchinson Meadow is very straightforward. We found several amazing campsites just off the east side of the trail that held us warm and protected from the wind. These Photos Prove It. Aside from stellar views, you will also find a station in McClure Meadow that is manned in the summer months by a ranger. We hiked this trail June 5th to the 7th. Did this 8/8-8/12, 5 days / 4 nights. Florence Lake Store and Ferry. We headed over Piute Pass and into Humphreys Basin from the North Lake Trailhead. Didnt know you needed a reservation to drive through Yosemite, so consider going through Sonora Pass (unless you go through after 4pm). Overall a great hike in the High Sierras. 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. 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. I climbed down off my hilltop aerie and walked along the southern shore of Evolution Lake. Western States Climbers Emblem Peaks Showing Kimberly Berg's first ascent dates for climbed peaks (0 out of 129, or 0%) 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) Did South to North lake. But it was still too hot for climbing, I told myself. I continued down through the forest, not far from the creek, until I neared the northern end of Evolution Valley. In addition, The John Muir Trail may be accessed via Piute Pass from North Lake which is only 10 miles from the resort. To avoid the risk of getting sick, most Sierra backpackers filter or treat their drinking water. Campsite 4: Darwin Canyon. Evolution lake is awesome. Campsite 1: Upper Golden Trout Lake. I didnt see anyone moving this time. Day 2 Evolution Valley 17.18 2977 AEG Emptied our packs and hiked down to the Muir Trail Ranch to pick our resupply. This was a beautiful scenic area with decent camping and a gorgeous small lake (Loch Leven). Meadows and trees and waterfalls were on my menu. Our payback day ended up being 13 miles, almost all uphill. 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. Either way takes you over 3 high mountain passes and through incredibly beautiful terrain throughout. Piute Pass: Begins at North Lake. My mood was improving by the minute! 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. 110 Piute Pass Trail junction, 17 mi. Also a ton of mosquitos. Darwin/Bench. Cottonwood to Onion Valley: Onion Valley to Bishop Pass: Evolution Loop: July 28-August 4. Evolution Lake was beautiful! We hiked it in 7 days but could have done in 6. John Muir Rock rises directly to the east. It was challenging but not impossible if you hike often. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. I also set an early alarm. Day four Rest and explore. Allow extra driving time to Florence Lake. Mosquitos were pretty bad in the meadows, and none up at Evolution Lake, so I recommend bug spray! There wasnt going to be much of a sunset from down in the canyon, so I went to bed early. One downside though: it's freaking hard. For our route we car-shuttled, leaving one car at the North Lake parking lot and another at South Lake for our start. Peaks north of Bishop Pass, and south of Piute Pass form two basic groups, Bishop Group and Evolution Group. Usually we did it in 7 days. This was hands down one of the best hikes I've done in the High Sierras. A couple of mosquitos came out in the cooler air as the shadow of the mountain came into camp. Very nice hike, lots of scenery. The trail skirts the northern shore of Loch Leven. Muir Pass had miles of near continuous deep snow on both sides of the pass. Inside the hut, I swear I felt intensely connected with the energy of the many hikers who entered tired, cold and grateful. 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. Wanda(sorry if mistaken) is full of mosquitos, prepare mesh covering for you face. 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. Campsite 2: Just past the footbridge over Piute Creek, set up camp on these designated pads. I was definitely overheating, and simply wanted to take a long rest. 11/10/2022 - Expect winter conditions. My first suggestion is if you have seven days to make this trip, your body and spirit will thank you. Would recommend to anyone wanting to experience the High Sierras. Bugs werent that bad. Reports of hail and lightning from others along the trail. Leave the JMT, and follow the drainage up to Darwin Canyon. This wasnt a trivial decision. Once there, you will want several days to enjoy the tranquility of the valley and explore the surrounding lakes, canyons, and peaks. The map showed that it eventually merged into the South Fork San Joaquin River somewhere out of sight of the trail. Because of the late snowfall, we were graced with the continued presence of wildflowers, complimented by the beginnings of golden fall, as we skip-trah-lahed our way alongside crashing gorge waterfalls and the calm tracing of the San Joaquin River. 4 trip report day 8-12: Red's Meadow Resort to Muir Trail Ranch. Following that, we returned to North Lake via Lamarck Col, a high pass just short of 13,000'. The mosquitos were relentless though. Continue straight at the 3-way. The map shown above is for illustrative purposes only. Many describe Evolution Valley as the most beautiful spot in Kings Canyon National Park. Very exciting. It was a smooth and quick process. The stars up there were surreal. Truthfully, I wasnt all that worried about a bear. It was breathtaking up there. 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. Grand views of the high sierra. Oh well. We hiked this loop from North to South Lake. The trail on the left leads to Lower Honeymoon Lake. Theodore S. Solomons and E.C. Did in 4.5 days south to north. I could see both up and down the canyon, and there was no shortage of glaciated granite in evidence. Fantastic hike! We remained on the JMT at the Goddard Canyon junction and continued up a series of switchbacks that led us to a stream crossing where we had to take off our hiking boots & put on our water shoes and continue towards Evolution Valley. Glaciers clung to the northern slopes of the mountains, feeding small waterfalls. Day four Rest and explore. The hike to Evolution Valley was exposed and hot at times. It often has waterfalls cascading from its outlet because of the abrupt drop off. The Sierra Peaks Section was established in 1955. 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). From there we pass through the giant cirque of Humphreys Basin, and into Hutchinson Meadow, and Piute Canyon. Water is abundant if you plan it right. 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. contour 80 feet UTM zone 11 Customers Like You Also Purchased USA Highways Wall Map $10.95 Custom Radius Maps $175.00 Island Visions $39.99 Rides of a Lifetime: Southwest by MAD Maps $16.95 finished this in 5days avaraging 12miles a day. Join Outside+ to get access to exclusive content, 1,000s of training plans, and more. I went down to the water and splashed some on my head. The trail starts at North Lake (9,276'), soon enters the John Muir Wilderness, and ascends to Piute Pass (11,423') in four steep miles. We camped up there on our second night. By heading upstream on a use-trail for a quarter mile to a meadow, you will find a shallower ford. Piute Pass actually puts you into the upper reaches of the San Joaquin River Basin (So. But it helped me make up my mind. I've done this trail 4 times and it is amasing. To win Best in Show our site sported a ledge, floating above a yakkety brook, Mt. On day 4 we headed east along Piute Canyon toward lovely Humphreys Basin, a timeless spot overlooking the Glacier Divide to which we have returned again and again. The Bishop Group is accessible from the South Lake Trailhead, either to Treasure Lakes, or Bishop Pass. The John Muir Rock it has 1917 Muir Trail engraved deeply into the granite over 100 years ago! Was it this heavy yesterday? I didnt realize it, but that was the last Id be seeing of Evolution Creek. The hike isn't strenuous, and even the switchbacks didn't feel that bad. Highly recommend bringing a bug net to wear if you think you will encounter them. Good campsites can be found there also. 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 . Ascending Muir Pass from south to north was incredible. Permits issued from the White . After descending into the valley, I noticed how hot it was. September after Labor Day was a great time to make this trip, as the crowds had thinned but the mild climate lingered. This trail goes by Loch Leven, Piute Pass, Summit Lake, Upper Golden Trout Lake, Lamarck Col, and North Lake Campground. I didnt pay a whole lot of attention, Im sad to say, and even fewer photos. As I hiked along, I met several PCT Through-Hikers heading north. The The trail even flattened out to make my way easier. We had perfect weather, saw some incredible scenery and wildlife, and had an overall fantastic time! Nineteen miles from the nearest trailhead, Evolution Valley is a two-day hike for most backpackers. 6 days / 5 night. At night, Id comb through maps by headlamp, creating my ultimate ticklist for the parks. if you go over table top mountain you can make it a complete loop. I needed both water and a flat spot. We parked 3mi down from the trailhead in the overnight parking and caught a ride in the construction workers truck bed (thank you!). We went north to south. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. We hiked the whole way out the third day, back around the lake to the car. The air seemed to be getting a bit cooler, so I packed up my stuff and headed out. There was no bridge. 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. The tour described below is one example of a 7-day Ionian Basin tour. Fill up on gas at Prather or Shaver Lake. There were several wet crossings during the first three or four miles. Pingback: Tahoe hiking: Bay View to Azure Lake. There are several decent camping spots in the meadow and they are all next to heavy-flowing Piute Creek. The hike up to Evolution Lake is steep, but reasonably graded. I would head up the trail. Enjoy! We returned to camp and reorganized and then started the hike into Evolution Valley. I took off my shoes and let my damp feet dry out in the breeze. 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. It is my favorite all-time Sierra hike. Of course, the unforgettable moments started to pile up as we descended into Evolution Basin and then officially into the hanging valley of Evolution. It ended the same way that it started: With Waterfalls! Following the PCT southward another 4 miles will bring you to Evolution Meadow. The contradiction lies in the amount of water all around. Great camping along the creek once you cross the several streams in Hutchinson Meadow (night 1). John Muir Trail, Evolution Valley, and Goddard Canyon access point. We took the ferry both ways to save us some time and miles! 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