Sierra Century Loop

The Sierra Century Loop is a 100-mile backpacking route in the Sierra Nevada. Depending on both hiker speed and personal preference, this route can usually be done anywhere from 5 to 10 days, with opportunities to extend with side trips and/or mountain climbing. 

The route begins in the Owens Valley on the Sawmill Pass Trail. This can be a particularly hot area during the summer, so prepare to begin the hike in the morning or in later afternoon during this time of the year. One quickly climbs into a new ecosystem, however, with an elevation gain of nearly 7,000 feet in 9 miles. Woods Lakes is an excellent place for camp just over the pass. The trail descends to join the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) around mile 12.5. From here, the loop portion of the route begins, and one can choose either direction. The route will be briefly described here in a clockwise direction. The route continues southbound along the PCT, and then takes the junction onto the Woods Creek Trail. The trail parallels Woods Creek until the creek joins the South Fork of the Kings River. Near mile 30.5, one reaches a western access point to Kings Canyon National Park at Roads End. Just on the other side of the parking lot is the trailhead to begin the arduous, 8-mile climb up the Copper Creek Trail. This climb leads one toward the Granite Basin and the Monarch Divide. At Granite Pass (near mile 41.5), the trail becomes the Simpson Meadow Trail. Not long afterward, our route takes a horseshoe detour to visit the isolated State Lakes before rejoining Simpson Meadow Trail and its eventual descent (the trail becomes difficult to find on this descent) into the actual Simpson Meadow. Take the junction north and east, as the trail begins to parallel the Middle Fork of the Kings River. Close to mile 64, the route rejoins the PCT (southbound) at Palisade Creek, and soon passes by the scenic Palisade Lakes before climbing up to Mather Pass (near mile 74). The route continues south on the PCT, crossing Pinchot Pass (mile 84), before rejoining the Sawmill Pass Trail near mile 88. 

Hikers will pass through both the John Muir Wilderness and the California Bighorn Sheep Zoological Area 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).