Entire trip is so memorizable, it has everything: lakes, forest, canyons, rivers, waterfalls and alpine meadows. Evolution Valley. Lots of camping spots with water so you can make your day as long or short as you like. Maybe if I was lucky there would be a breeze. Finally, two ladies told me that there was a spot just ahead, right next to the creek! 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. Day 6: In the morning the sun popped over Piute Pass and we were instantly warmed and reluctant to pack up and head back out into civilization less than 7 miles away. Wanda(sorry if mistaken) is full of mosquitos, prepare mesh covering for you face. It often has waterfalls cascading from its outlet because of the abrupt drop off. Pat was the captain of the ferry and Charlie ran the little store, nice couple. Darwin via the class 3 West Ridge. straightforward trail. Day Zero Travel day. Leisurely pace over 6 days / 7 nights, This was an amazing hike! And it felt like it. The map shown above is for illustrative purposes only. There was a strong metal bridge just downstream, and it was fun to cross. Soon the trail crossed Evolution Creek, which was quite large at this point. 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. The most challenging part of the hike was crossing the river. Or bag flattopped Mt. for errors or for changes that may have occurred since publication. South Lake From South Lake, hike 6.0 miles up Bishop Pass (11,972 ft.). 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. 11/10/2022 - Expect winter conditions. 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 mosquitoes were intense in certain areas. There's no reason to hurry -- it's such awesome, varied country. While there are no 14,000 ft peaks in these groups the peak are high and majestic. Piute Pass 01:05:00 Hutchinson Meadow 02:18:02 Piute Canyon/JMT Junction 3:13:44 Goddard Canyon Junction 3:50:59 McClure Meadow Ranger . Pictures posted. Mosquitos were pretty bad in the meadows, and none up at Evolution Lake, so I recommend bug spray! Dinners were instant potatoes with packaged salmon or tuna along with instant soup or couscous. In August we did North lake to south lake direction which avoided the climb up to Bishop pass. We put in about 11.5 miles but it was almost all downhill or level deep-forest hiking. I wished her well. Next came McClure Meadow and the Ranger Station. It was gorgeous. Driving times may vary based on conditions. 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. There must have been many more waterfalls on the way down, but, sadly, that wasnt part of my plan for the day. To avoid the risk of getting sick, most Sierra backpackers filter or treat their drinking water. Building anything out here must be quite the challenge. I drank a lot of water. 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! Day 1: The first day held an unexpected bonus in that, inadvertently, it turned out to be Get-used-to-less-oxygen Day. I found a shady spot above the creek and took off my pack. Then I got some water and filtered it. Having two cars so as to shuttle between trailheads made the logistics a lot easier. Here you will find the most recent trail conditions available to us. 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. Its not an extremely hard hike; most of it is pretty gradual and flat in the meadows, but there are two sections of switchbacks: heading up into evolution valley and heading up to evolution lake, but they werent too bad. . Completed hike Aug 14. 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. 27, 28, 33 and 34, T. 15 N., R. 14 E., S. B. M., on the east slope of the Ivanpah range of mountains, in Mescal Mining District, 8 miles north of Cima. Bear canisters are not required, but food must be stored in a safe way, e.g. 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! Elevation gain: 2200 feet 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. There wasnt going to be much of a sunset from down in the canyon, so I went to bed early. A great spot! On my way between JMT and Piute there were 5+ stream crossings that necessitated wading. While the passes were more challenging and toward the beginning going CW, we loved the direction we chose. I never made it that deep into the backcountry that summer. Plenty of camp sites a long the way. 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. Layover at Sapphire Lake while weather passed. may have been made. 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. . There was still quite a bit of snow on the surrounding mountains and still ice in the lake. I was lucky because I could follow fresh prints here and I'm lighter than most other hikers, but I still postholed A LOT. It follows the south fork of the San Joaquin and Evolution Creek nearly all the way. Then I continued north. Day 4: Evolution Valley to Piute Creek. Recommend to everybody. Day 4: Today turned out to be a truly cushy one. Thats what happens when you go to sleep at sunset! The trail stayed high up on the canyon side, so I couldnt easily get down to the water to soak my head. We had it easy in September, but Ive heard that earlier in the season hikers should be prepared for more difficult fordings. It all worked out in the end, however. I am now a retired academic, so I was able, in all three trips, to exploit my college timing to hike in early September before the start of classes. We got there between 4:30-5 on a week day and there wasn't anyone available -- so we hitched and got a ride pretty easily. The views along the way make up for it. By heading upstream on a use-trail for a quarter mile to a meadow, you will find a shallower ford. Well, yeah, maybe then. Saw plenty of deer, and other hikers saw a few bears in the meadows. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 12 h 41 min to complete. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. Campsite 2: Just past the footbridge over Piute Creek, set up camp on these designated pads. I've done this trail 4 times and it is amasing. Completed end of July 2022. Trailhead to Piute Lake Distance from Trailhead: 7.0 miles (round trip) Part of the trail down to the junction of the John Muir trail needs improvement. I also set an early alarm. Would recommend to anyone wanting to experience the High Sierras. This famous combo-trail will be our path for the next 26.5 miles. Good campsites can be found there also. Well worth every step! I put on my night clothing and used a bit of DEET on my face to repel them. We were usually finished hiking each day between 2-5 PM giving us plenty of time to enjoy the area. Then continue up the valley to McClure Meadow. Pingback: Tahoe hiking: Bay View to Azure Lake. My inner dialogues attitude was quickly adjusted when I looked back from whence we cameMt. Bishop Pass Trail to John Muir Trail to Piute Trail. 11/10/2022 - Expect winter conditions. Backpacking Has Changed a Lot Over the Past 50 Years. I had a really good time and met several really nice people. Our payback day ended up being 13 miles, almost all uphill. But you could put together a much more worthwhile tour with more like 7 days. It took us a little over five days (as schedued) to complete the hike. It was challenging but not impossible if you hike often. When I walk through this area again, perhaps I will do the same so I can see it from another perspective. This was an absolute must do trail! I had descended 2500 feet and climbed another 1000 feet to get up here. Piute Creek to Evolution Creek, 3.5 miles Beyond Piute Creek the trail stays close to the river, working its way up the canyon. Along the way I came across the Muir Rock which I had seen on the topo map. 5.1 trip report. Such a memorable backpacking trip! Follow signs pointing to Kings Canyon National Park. counter-balance method. best of luck and make sure you are prepared. Goode, Bishop Lake, Jigsaw Pass. The trail even flattened out to make my way easier. Didn't make it up to the lake, but SO HAPPY that we made it to the Hermit. She was seriously considering it. So prepare rain And wind covering if comfort is a must. The benefits of hiking, more than you can imagine! Day three Descend 7.3 miles on the JMT into Evolution Valley, then add an easy 1.2 miles to camp by Evolution Lake. You could do a quick trip, via Echo Col in both directions, in about 4 days. The next morning we left the JMT and made our way up, up, and up to Bishop Pass via Dusy Basin which was over 6 miles away from the JMT junction. I hiked onward, rather than head back down. Trailhead: Florence Lake, 84 miles east of Fresno, elevation 7,300 feet 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). I checked my GPS and discovered that I had hiked almost 15 miles today! 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. Absolutely beautiful. No rain. At first the canyon was narrow, and the river had created deep channels to flow through. The traditional route goes over Piute Pass and down through Humphreys Basin, taking a long time before turning the corner and climbing up to Evolution Valley. The Tyee Lakes part was not the most beautiful part and was pretty strenuous, but made transportation much easier. Some of the travel is cross country but fairly easy to navigate. Just finished the loop from south lake to north lake. P. i. psammophilus is known from the Salinas Valley and may be a synonym of P. i. neglectus (Best 1993; Williams et al. My girlfriends told me I started singing gospel at that point, but I really think they may be exaggerating. I didnt realize it, but that was the last Id be seeing of Evolution Creek. Hiking Distance: 19 miles Just what I didnt need. The air seemed to be getting a bit cooler, so I packed up my stuff and headed out. This trail is great for backpacking, birding, and camping, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. I set up my tent and got my gear situated inside. Mosquitos are out a bit especially in Evolution Valley and Piute Creek. The Best backpacking hike ever! Reach a footbridge over Jeffrey pine-lined Piute Creek, and camp on designated pads nearby. Backpackers are really friendly and fun, so it was a good time. Erika, the alpine pond photograph posted next to the Day 2 text is stunning. We had rain (often with hail) during 5 of our 6 days out, so bring a rain coat and a pack cover. We had perfect weather, saw some incredible scenery and wildlife, and had an overall fantastic time! Campsite 3: Colby Meadow. The river is nice to camp by here. You have to cross a river to get to them. From there we pass through the giant cirque of Humphreys Basin, and into Hutchinson Meadow, and Piute Canyon. Moderate. Turn left and descend to Upper Lamarck Lake. Great camping along the creek once you cross the several streams in Hutchinson Meadow (night 1). 1993 . It is, of course, the perfect time for this 5 - 7 day hike. Plenty of water along the trail and also plenty of places to camp. Grand views of the high sierra. 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 . By the time I was ready to hike I looked down at the tents below me on the shore of the lake and only one person had crawled out of their tent. 6 days / 5 night. I was breathing so hard I started to suspect my companions might have embraced some trail humor and stashed their heavy items in my pack when I wasnt looking. The trail includes one major unbridged crossing of Evolution Creek - often an exciting wade during the spring run-off - and three . 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. Historical side note: Evolution Valley was named by Theodore Solomons . Day three Descend 7.3 miles on the JMT into Evolution Valley, then add an easy 1.2 miles to camp by Evolution Lake. Oh well. . Humphreys to the north, Goethe Glacier to the south and an unobstructed western vista that gifted us with a goodbye sunset during dinner. Glaciers clung to the northern slopes of the mountains, feeding small waterfalls. Weather was great very little wind. however, if you are an average backpacker like me, expect some brutal acents and decents. Pick up the trail on the eastern edge of Upper Lamarck Lake. I have done this trail three times in all. Id have the trail to myself for a while. Only one water crossing (Evolution creek) that required getting your feet wet. I climbed down off my hilltop aerie and walked along the southern shore of Evolution Lake. Golden trout present. The trail descended steeply into the forest as it left Evolution Basin. Beautiful scenery, abundant water, breathtaking vistas. Many describe Evolution Valley as the most beautiful spot in Kings Canyon National Park. Didnt see a bear which a good thing. 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. I 've done this piute pass to evolution valley 4 times and it is amasing could together. 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