Plan with
Confidence
The trailhead is located at the end of a dirt road. A high clearance vehicle is needed. Snow or rain will necessitate a four-wheel drive vehicle, and travel is generally not recommended under these conditions. Although accessible in summer, use of the trail is not recommended due to hot temperatures, steep slopes and lack of shade. Heat exhaustion and stroke are very real dangers on this trail.
Path Type
Loop
The best direction of travel is to start the hike at the parking area by the gate, then hiking down the Hite's Cove 4x4 Road for 2 miles, then turning right, not far past Marble Point (an excellent viewpoint), onto a minimally signed footpath which travels upstream alongside the "Wild and Scenic" South Fork of the Merced River for about 2 miles to Devil's Gulch. At the gulch, keep right where you'll then connect to the bottom of the Savage-Lundy Trail. The trail to the left and which heads further up the river, is the very difficult "South Fork Trail." But your hike will continue on the right (facing upstream). Before heading up the Savage Lundy Trail, be sure to have treated yourself to rest and relaxation by the river, possibly even staying there until evening if the day is hot. It's best to time the hike so that you are climbing out of the gulch in the early evening, not in the heat or blazing sun; give yourself a couple of hours to hike this segment back to the parking area. Once near the top of the trail, you'll notice young Knobcone Pines growing. It seeds only after a fire. The young trees you see all germinated after the Ferguson Fire of 2018.Backpacking: There are no established campsites along this trail; all campsites are considered "dispersed camping." Several campsites can be found off the trail downstream of Devil's Gulch. A campfire permit is required. Keep bears wild and alive by placing food and all scented items in a bear box or container.
Hite's Cove Road History: In 1867, access to Hite's Cove from Mariposa was solely by way of a pack animal trail. From 1871 to 1875, a narrow wagon road was constructed from Snyder's Ranch to Hite's Cove, providing access to the booming gold mine.Savage Lundy Trail History: As early as 1870, a trail plunged into the gorge to reach mining areas in the canyon, and which extended eastward into Yosemite Valley via Pinoche Ridge. Then, about 1927, another trail was cut down to Devil's Gulch by pioneers Savage and Lundy. In 1976, the USFS constructed a longer but less steep route that is still in use today.
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