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

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:

Timber 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.