The Sierra High Route (SHR) is a 195 mile long alternative to the John Muir Trail (JMT) pioneered by famed Sierra climber and explorer Steve Roper in the1990's. It mostly parallels the JMT, and coincides with it for about 28 miles, but includes about 100 miles of off-trail travel and over 30 cross-country passes that vary in difficulty between Class 1 and Class 3. We did our first section of the trail in 2014 from Piute Pass to Mammoth Lakes before we started this blog, so no documentation. Our second big section was the northernmost in 2015 from Mammoth Lakes to Twin Lakes (Bridgeport). That report can be found here: Sierra High Route - Northern Section (Day 1). We managed to pick up a few other small chunks on day hikes and such, then in 2024 backpacked the more difficult section through the Palisades Basin: Backpacking the Palisades. After all these years, all that remained was the southernmost section between Palisades Lakes and Roads End in Kings Canyon National Park. We solved that problem with a one-way hike from Bishop Pass to Roads End, picking up the remaining section of the SHR. The logistics of this is a bit tricky, starting on the east side of the Sierra and finishing on the west side. While its only about 30 miles as the raven flies, it's closer to 75 miles by our hiking route, and 6+ hours by car. Thankfully we have so many good friends who are willing to help us with our crazy adventures, and this time it was Nancy who stepped up to take us to the trailhead on the first day, then drive around and pick us up on our last day. We can't thank Nancy enough for being such a good friend. Day 1 - South Lake to LeConte Canyon. We had just been over Bishop Pass a few days before with the kids, and up we went again. But once in Dusy Basin we stayed on the trail and headed for the incomparable LeConte Canyon over 2000 feet below. The views from the edge of the basin into the canyon are incredible. We arrived at our known hidden campsite along the South Fork of the Kings River by early afternoon and had a pleasant evening.
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| The trailhead at South Lake |
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| Our wonderful friend Nancy hiked with us for part of the morning |
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| Hurd Peak over Long Lake |
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| Looking back toward the trailhead as we ascend the switchbacks to the pass |
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| Weren't we just here? |
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| Dusy Basin |
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| Looking into LeConte Canyon as we descend |
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| Our favorite little campsite along the river in LeConte Canyon |
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| We even had a friendly little Pika for company |
Day 2 - LeConte Canyon to Palisades Lakes. We hiked along the Kings River for a few miles, reaching the low point of 8000 feet. From there we turned east and ascended into the Palisades Lakes Basin, up the Golden Staircase. As they say, what goes down, must climb back up. 2600 feet of climbing later we were there. 10+ miles, enough for one day.
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| The Sentinal, as we wander down the river trail |
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| Grouse Meadow, LeConte Canyon |
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| Climbing the Golden Staircase, looking back to LeConte Canyon |
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| One more look back as we approach the lakes |
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| The final push to Lower Palisades Lake, the Palisades in the background |
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| Our evening view at Lower Palisades Lake |
Day 3 - Palisades Lakes Basin to the base of Frozen Lakes Pass. We start out the morning still on the JMT and ascending to the 12,000 foot Mather Pass. It's another slog, but once we get over we'll finally be able to turn onto the section of the High Route that is new to us. From there to the end, four and a half days later, we'll be in new territory. We made it to the base of Frozen Lakes Pass by shortly after lunch, but with a brewing severe thunderstorm and a tough and lightning exposed cross-country pass upcoming, we decided to call it an early day.
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| Climbing above Lower Palisades Lake, Mather Pass is the dip in the far ridge |
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| Upper Palisades Lake, looking back down canyon |
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| Pushing on to the pass |
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| Lots more switchbacks, we're almost there |
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| The view south from Mather Pass |
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| Down the switchbacks to the valley below |
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| Finally we leave the JMT and head off cross-country |
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| Our lunch stop lake |
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| Another friendly Pika at our campsite |
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| The view from camp looking back down canyon toward the JMT |
Day 4 - Frozen Lakes Pass to Marion Lake. Nothing like some talus for breakfast, we started out with what is rated as one of the two toughest passes on the entire SHR - Frozen Lakes Pass. It's steep talus, from softball to school bus in size, and often unstable. It takes concentration and effort to get over this one. For us old-timers, from our campsite at the base of the pass to the first lake on the other side took 4 hours to travel just one and a quarter miles. But we did it safely and successfully, so we were happy. From there we traveled the incredibly beautiful Lakes Basin, a trailless area with dozens of gorgeous lakes and striking mountains, down to Marion Lake for the evening.
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| Up we go |
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| Look carefully, Susan is in there amongst the giant boulders |
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| An intermediate tarn at the base of the final ascent to the pass. It just keeps getting steeper. |
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| A permanent snowfield made walking a little easier for a few yards |
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| She's in here too. It's really steep |
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| Finally near the top some almost walkable dirt |
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| And we're up. But wait, there's more! Lots more talus down to the first lake on the other side. |
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| Lunchtime, and a cooling foot soak |
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| From the lake looking back at the pass. Yikes, that was a lot of talus slogging... |
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| We're off into Lakes Basin |
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| It took a while, but we made our miles down to the incredibly beautiful Marion Lake |
Day 5 - Marion Lake to Horseshoe Lakes. Four cross-country passes in one day. Thankfully thay came in two pairs with minimal descent between them. First up was Red and White Passes above Marion Lake. From White Pass it was a 1,500 food descent down the South Fork Cartridge Creek before ascending to Gray Pass. Another minor traverse and small climb got us on Windy Ridge, our fourth pass of the day. A pleasant descent took us into the Horseshoe Lakes basin and our camp for the night.
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| Morning at Marion Lake. We'll climb the cliff band on the right up to towards pass |
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| We pass by the monument to Helen Marion LeConte |
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| Joseph and Marion LeConte were early explorers in the Sierra Nevada. Marion Lake and Peak were named in honor of her. Her ashes lie under this rock, placed there by Joseph LeConte and Ansel Adams. |
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| Looking back at Marion Lake as we ascend. The purple color in the lake is real, and striking. |
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| A notch in the cliff we had to climb |
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| Once up the cliff, Red Pass became the objective |
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| Red Pass |
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| The view from Red Pass |
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| The view from Gray Pass a short time later |
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| Another incredible view |
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| Heading down Cartridge Creek drainage |
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| Cartridge Creek basin |
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| Nearing our low point along Cartridge Creek, we'll ascend to the pass on the left |
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| From Gray Pass we could see back to LeConte Canyon, miles (and days of hiking) away |
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| A panorama of the view from Gray Pass. Many mountains we know and love are in view. |
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| From Windy Ridge we could see the Goddard Creek Canyon |
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| After an easy descent of Windy Ridge we were at Upper Horseshoe Lake for the night |
Day 6 - Horseshoe Lakes to Grouse Lake. The next two days were scheduled to be pretty relaxed, but an incoming monsoon system changed our minds. Satellite messaging works great in the backcountry these days, and the technology allowed us to keep tabs on the weather. Our relaxed two days became a longer push to get over the last of the high passes and down to a safer elevation. Two more high passes - Goat Crest Saddle and Grouse Lake Pass - were left to tag. We finished the day at Grouse Lake only a short distance from a formal trail that would take us to civilization.
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| Leaving Horseshoe Lakes |
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| States Lakes along the way |
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| Glacier Valley. We'll work our way up the valley to the wall at the back for a climb up to the Glacier Lakes |
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| We found a safe way up the wall by hugging the edge |
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| Lower Glacier Lake |
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| And another foot soak! |
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| Upper Glacier Lake |
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| Looking back at Upper Glacier Lake as we ascend to the pass |
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| At the pass is a small tarn |
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| Great views as we descend down to Granite Creek for the final climb to Grouse Lake Pass |
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| We''ve made it to Grouse Lake Pass and the weather is moving in. Better hurry! |
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| We're lucky and the storms bypass us mostly. We have a pleasant evening at Grouse Lake. |
Day 7 - Grouse Lake to Roads End, Kings Canyon National Park. It sprinkled on and off all night but we were snug in our shelter. The morning started mostly clear but had that threatening look to it. We had 8.5 miles and a quad thrashing 6,000 feet of descent in front of us. While the storm clouds continued to build all morning, we made it safely to the road by 1:00 pm. Nancy was there to meet us shortly after. We did a little birding in the park, then headed to Fresno and In-and-Out Burger!
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| Morning at Grouse Lake |
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| Heading down Copper Creek Trail. It's a beautifully engineered trail, but 6,000 feet of down always hurts. |
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| The storms are building, but we're almost done |
