Mammoth to Sawmill

This route, as might be guessed from the title, travels between Mammoth Pass on the northern end and Sawmill Pass on the southern end. It primarily utilizes the Pacific Crest Trail between the pass trailheads, and there are, as is true throughout the wonderful Sierra Nevada, ample opportunities for side trips and mountain climbing. At 117 miles, it can take anywhere from 5-10 days to complete. It can be traveled in either direction, but will be briefly described here from a north-to-south direction.

This route begins by taking the Mammoth Pass Trail from Horseshoe Lake. During the summer, there is a free shuttle from town to Horseshoe Lake on the Lake Basin Route (https://www.estransit.com/summer-routes). We quickly join the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), and pass Purple Lake (not great camping) and Lake Virginia (ample camping). We then descend into Cascade Valley, and climb again to Silver Pass, passing Silver Pass Lake soon after, and descending to Mono Creek. Here is a junction toward Vermilion Valley Resort if needed. We later join Bear Creek and ascend gently toward the very attractive Lake Marie toward Selden Pass. It is a long descent to join the South Fork of the San Joaquin River, which we follow until meeting Evolution Creek. This Evolution section is often a favorite of hikers from around the world. The meadows (McClure and Colby) are peaceful (unless the mosquitoes are out and about), and the entire Evolution Basin is beyond picturesque. It would be worth spending some time here, before making the scenic climb up to Muir Pass. The descent from here is the longest of our route, dropping into LeConte Canyon and passing tranquil Grouse Meadows. We then follow Palisade Creek toward Mather Pass, the highest point of our route. Soon after crossing Pinchot Pass, we meet the junction to Sawmill Pass. Woods Lake, near Sawmill Pass, is a worthy stop before making the descent into Owens Valley. 

Hikers will pass through the John Muir Wilderness in Inyo National Forest and enter Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park. Wilderness permits are required for backcountry camping, which can be found at www.recreation.gov. For more information regarding advisories, weather, road conditions, campgrounds and more, check out the Inyo National Forest website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/inyo, and the Sequoia-Kings Canyon website at https://www.nps.gov/seki/index.htm. Practice the principles of leave no trace, and take action to defend threatened wilderness areas (wildernesswatch.org).