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Mineral King Loop: Timber Gap, Five Lakes Basin, Sawtooth Pass

Sequoia & Kings Canyon
Backpack, Lake
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This loop hike is a gorgeous peek into the backcountry of Mineral King in the southern end of Sequoia National Park. At slightly over 30 miles, it can be done in a long weekend. We did this trip in four days, and the maps and tracks below are broken down by our four day itinerary. Scenery along this loop includes:

Entire Mineral King Loop MapTimber Gap
Black Rock Pass
Little Five Lakes
Big Five Lakes
Lost Canyon
Columbine Lake
Sawtooth Peak
Monarch Lakes
Mineral King

Our itinerary on this loop was:
Day 1: Mineral King to Pinto Lake via Timber Gap
8.6 miles with 3400 ft of climbing and 2600 ft of descent.

Day 2: Pinto Lake to Big Five Lakes via Black Rock Pass
7.9 miles with 3500 ft of climbing and 2000 ft of descent.

Day 3: Big Five Lakes to Columbine Lake via Lost Canyon
7.9 miles with 2200 ft of climbing and 1500 ft of descent

Day 4: Columbine Lake to Mineral King via Sawtooth Pass
6.8 miles with 800 ft of climbing and 3900 ft of descent.


Style:

Loop backpack

Distance:

31 miles

Elevation Gain:

Over 9500 ft

Trailhead and Permit Notes:

Permit required. I would recommend reserving ahead of time since the road into Mineral King is windy, narrow, and time consuming. I would not want to get there and find out there is nothing left!

Camping Tips:

There are some beautiful campsites on this loop, but if I did it again I’d avoid the Pinto Lake area. It was not as scenic as the rest of the route, overgrown, crowded, mosquito-ey, and deer chewed up my trekking pole straps overnight.


Resources:

Useful Guides and Gear:

Topo map and GPX track:

Download .GPX

Blog Entries about this Hike:

Mineral King Loop: Timber Gap, Five Lakes Basin, and Sawtooth Pass

Links

Get details on Wilderness Permits
Park Current Conditions – make sure the road is open!

Mineral King Backpack (08.13-16.2010)
218 photos

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Contact Info

Bend, Oregon
bex@calipidder.com
Warning: While the author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information, there is no guarantee that trail descriptions, GPS tracks, maps, and other data is either current or correct. The reader assumes full risk and responsibility for any outing based on this information and is encouraged to use his or her own knowledge and common sense. Contact local land agencies to asses current conditions before traveling. Copyright Calipidder © 2017. All Rights Reserved

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