Kearsarge Pass

Kearsarge Pass is an eloquent way to see the Earth. There is something very special about the view from the top. It will make a fool adore the ground he walks on and the Earth he inhabits. Demanding respect, this trail is arduous and time consuming but well worth the work. Only feet from the trail you can see some of the world's most beautiful alpine lakes, it's a real treasure to be lucky enough to lay eyes on. The adjacent photo features Heart Lake, one of the trail's many pristine Alpine Lakes.

The trail is located in "Onion Valley" in John Muir Wilderness, a 13 miles drive from the lovely town of Independence, California. If you stay the night, I highly recommend staying at Ray's Den, the best lodging experience West of Death Valley. The place is spotless, you'll get a full breakfast in the morning, it's totally affordable and Linda (the proprietor) is the a wonderfully sweet lady.



The drive up Onion Valley Road is awesome. The views are spectacular. If you have fears of heights, this road (and trail) is not for you! You will begin the trail at around 9,189 feet and climb to 11,760 feet. The trail is relatively easy in the beginning, with lots of switchbacks being the only pain in the ass.

The trail is 4 miles, one way. It should take you about 5-6 hours or so. It's a huge elevation/temperature change so make sure to bring some layers because you will need it. We went in August and at the summit I was pretty cold. I also got quite sunburned from being so close to the sun! So bring some sunscreen, if you care about that stuff. Expect a tough time the last miles, give or take. It's a strenuous uphill that offers no breaks. I run daily and this was still tough on my legs. The photo below is of the last stretch. If you look closely you can see the small trail running alongside the mountain.


The summit is just awesome. Looking down into King's Canyon, I felt more like I was in a sci-fi movie. There were some fires burning in the canyon which created a smoky/misty look that impaired our view. But nonetheless, breathtaking.



We plowed our way down and made it back down the trail in no time. We had to pass 'cheaper by the dozen' along the way down. Too many children!
This was a wonderful late August hike. Enjoy!