Baxter Pass Trail

Baxter Pass Trail is a challenging and less-traveled route in the Eastern Sierra, offering access to the John Muir Wilderness and Kings Canyon National Park. Gaining over 6,000 feet in the first six miles, this steep and rocky trail rewards hikers with stunning mountain views, rugged granite peaks, and colorful geology. Ideal for experienced hikers, trail runners, and backpackers, Baxter Pass Trail provides a remote and strenuous climb with breathtaking scenery. The best time to hike is June through October when the trail is typically snow-free. The area is also home to the Sierra Bighorn Sheep, a protected species, so dogs are not allowed. Getting There The trailhead is about five miles west of Highway 395 on North Oak Creek Road via Fish Hatchery Road. The final stretch is unpaved but generally passable without high clearance, depending on recent weather conditions