Mineral King Loop

This 28.5 mile route begins and ends at Sawtooth Trailhead. Begin at the Sawtooth Trailhead and ascend north on the Timber Gap Trail. Upon reaching the first intersection with Monarch Lakes Trail at 0.6 miles, turn left to continue on Timber Gap Trail. Climb 2,350 vertical feet to Timber Gap at 2.2 miles, then descend 2,000 vertical feet to the Cliff Creek junction at 5.3 miles. Turn right onto the Cliff Creek Trail and cross the creek, then keep left at the junction for Blackrock Pass at 9.1 miles. Begin a grueling climb to the summit of Blackrock Pass at 11.5 miles. Descend east into the Big Five Lakes basin. At 13.1 miles, turn right onto the Big Five Lakes Trail. Follow this through the lake basin, turning left at the junction with Upper Big Five Lakes Trail at 14.9 miles, then crossing a ridge to descend into Lost Canyon. At 18.0 miles, turn right onto the Lost Canyon Trail. Ascend the canyon west, climbing gently at first, then steeply up to Columbine Lake at 21.8 miles. From the lake, follow the unmaintained, rocky use-trail climbing 700 vertical feet to Sawtooth Pass at 22.7 miles. Descend the extremely loose sand and scree use-trail on the west side of Sawtooth Pass, dropping 2,300 vertical feet to Monarch Lakes at 23.8 miles. Continue west on the Monarch Lakes Trail, bearing right at the junction with Crystal Lake Trail at 25.0 miles. Turn left at the junction with Timber Gap Trail at 27.7 miles, following the trail down to complete the route at the Sawtooth Trailhead.