30 min
Trails
Map

Donohue Pass
to
Reds Meadows
MAP

Tuolumne Meadows
to
Reds
Meadow

MILES
and
ELES

Resupply

North
Tuolumne
Meadows

South
Reds
Meadow

Sierra
Weather

North
Yosemite
Weather

Climbing South along the combined route of the John Muir and Pacific Crest Trails to the pond on the North edge of the great flat constituting Donohue Pass.

Hiking Maps

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Backpacking
to & from
Donohue Pass

The Southern Boundary of Yosemite,
The Northern Boundary of the Ansel Adams Wilderness.

Map

Donohue Pass to Reds Meadow Hiking Map
Covering the JMT, PCT, & River Routes, with June Lake

Donohue Pass

PCT-JMT
SOUTH
TO

...to Marie Lake trail junction
2.52 miles

...to Waugh-June Lake trail junction
3.25 miles

...to Davis Lakes trail junction
3.68 miles

...to Island Pass
4.67 miles

...to 1000 Island Lake Trail Junction
Triple Trail Junction
6.39 miles

Local
Route & Loops
To & From
Mammoth Lakes Trailheads
Backpacking Options

We have a number of local options tying Agnew and Reds Meadows together in big loops around the headwaters of the San Joaquin. We can start North from Agnew Meadows on the PCT, and turn South at the triple trail junction at Thousand Island Lake to return via the Southbound John Muir Trail. Or visa-versa.

We also have fantastic local backpacking loops South out of Reds Meadow & Mammoth Pass, but we will address those later, as we begin hiking South from Reds.

Here, the "local" long distance backpacker has entrance and exit options to our North in Yosemite, to our East through Rush Creek from June Lake, and to our South using Agnew and Reds Meadows.

Donohue Pass to Reds Meadow Hiking Map
Covering the JMT, PCT, & River Routes, with June Lake

Maps and Miles
SOUTH
of
Donohue Pass

Ansel Adams Wilderness

Three Main Routes

South of
Thousand Island Lake

More
Local
Backpacking Options

East of Donohue Pass
lays
Rush Creek Trailhead
(see map below)

JUNE LAKE LOOPS

Here we have options to put together loops coming out of and back to the Rush Creek Trailhead through Agnew and Island Passes.

Regional Topo Map of the Terrain Below
30 minute
Southbound Map
Ansel Adams Wilderness Backpacking Map

Detailed Map of the Above
Donohue Pass to Reds Meadow

From the
Rush Creek Trail junction
on the
JMT-PCT
hiking
NORTHEAST
to the
Rush Creek Trailhead
on
Highway 158

8.26 miles

Hiking NORTH
of
Donohue Pass
to
Tuolumne Meadows
or
Yosemite Valley

Northbound we have two standard targets: Tuolumne Meadows along the Northbound routes of the combined JMT & PCT, or we can cross the Cathedral Range via Ireland Creek out of Lyell Canyon for the walk down to Yosemite Valley.

NORTHBOUND
Maps & Miles

Miles
Northeast
Yosemite Valley
to
Lyell Canyon
(via Vogelsang)
Miles and Elevations

Backpacker Resources
and
Hiker Information

Lakg the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail.

Comments

Donohue Pass
along the
John Muir Trail

Transitions

Crossing
Out of Yosemite

Long Distance Backpacker

Alternative Routes
North & Southbound
We may have arrived at Donohue Pass from Yosemite Valley by climbing up & over the Cathedral Crest into Lyell Canyon hiking a leg of the "Golden Triangle" route down to, and back out of Yosemite Valley, as we make a classic transition from the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail across the North Sierra to the JMT-PCT tracking down the Crest of the South Sierra.

On the other hand, Yosemite Valley may be our destination hiking North from Donohue Pass, starting out of June Lake or Reds Meadow.

We may be hiking South from Tuolumne Meadows along the standard route of the combined John Muir and Pacific Crest Trails, looking to our next resupply spot at Reds Meadow and/or Agnew Meadows, respectively, and maybe even a nice little stop-over in Mammoth Lakes for a couple of nights of extended rest, resupply, and recharge. Or we may be following the JMT-PCT routes North to Tuolumne Meadows on our itinerary.

In any case, our long distance backpacking objectives typically requires we cross Donohue Pass. Why Donohue Pass?

South End of Yosemite
Donohue Pass is remarkable for a number of reasons, one being it's the first point the Sierra Crest trails cross 11,000 feet hiking South from Lake Tahoe.

We come close to 11,000 feet while crossing the Latopie Gap on Leavitt Peak, about 2.5 miles South of Sonora Pass. Donohue Pass is also about the right distance for our first day South out of our last resupply stop at Tuolumne Meadows, or our last night before hiking North into Tuolumne Meadows, in either case Donohue Pass has beautiful campsites on both its North and South Flanks, if each location does have its own specific complications.

Yosemite Donohue Pass Exit Quota

Yosemite Permits

Busy Place
NORTH FLANK
The complication on the North Flank under Donohue Pass is that camping and campsites in the upper and lower basins along the upper reaches of the Lyell Fork of the Tuolumne River are limited along the line of the combined JMT-PCT routes. There can be lots of JMT-PCT hikers looking at the very few campsites on the North flank below Donohue Pass.
At the upper basin we have the option of scrambling a bit upriver off the line of the John Muir Trail, following the Tuolumne River off the line of the JMT where it crosses the upper basin, with us hiking up into the, "upper-upper" basin, to find a nice, remote campsite up there. We can always find a nice campsite up there, a ways off the JMT, along what turns out to be the line of one of the routes leading up to the top of Mount Lyell.

The Top
There is not much in the way of attractive camping at Donohue Pass itself. Though I've camped nearby, just a short ways down the South Flank below Donohue Pass. Though there is water in the ponds at the top of Donohue Pass, it's pond water. By far my favorite place to camp near the top of Donohue Pass is on the South flank at the two lakes nestled just under the Crestline off to the South of Donohue Pass (by the compass), once we cross over to the South Flank of Donohue Pass and descend a very short way.

Our 7.5 map of South Yosemite best shows the location of these lakes to the South of Donohue Pass.

Off the Trail
A short but challenging little scramble brings us South over to these two lakes wedged up under the Sierra Crestline on the South Flank of Donohue Pass.

These lakes were described on the
previous trail guide page.

South End of Yosemite
into
Ansel Adam Wilderness
We covered approaching these lakes, checking them out, and scrambling beyond these lakes at the very end of the previous trail guide page covering the hike from the
Ireland Creek junction to Donohue Pass.

If we are not camping at or near Donohue Pass we will likely hike down to the top of the finger of lush, verdant green terrain reaching up to just beyond the top of the treeline along Rush Creek, to find a plush site along its scenic moss-covered banks, rock formations, at the top of the furtherst reach of the whitebarks, for this night's campsite.

Crossing over Donohue Pass, the character of the grandure surrounding us changes.

SECTION GOALS

Southbound JMT
What we are doing after reaching Donohue Pass depends on when we reach it, and how that fits into our overall plans. I am typically continuing South from Tuolumne Meadows on the John Muir Trail after finishing the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail.

Scrambling-Exploring Zone
I'm looking forward to packing the resupply to support an extra night or two along this short section of trail between resupply points to check out the amazing range of beauty and complexity of the mountain terrain here. Two locations typically grab my attention here.

Top of Rush Creek
Verdant Wonderland
The first is the Garden of Eden type environment along the top of the finger of moss, granite, and whitebark pines reaching up along the upper reaches of Rush Creek into the stark white hard granite under the South Flank of Donohue Pass & Donohue Peak. I always enjoy approaching and entering this remarkable fertile green zone of lush terrain below the stark granites composing the Pass, while sitting above the warm forests below.

Island Pass to Lake Catherine
The other area that demands my attention is the shelf of terrain running from Island Pass bending to the West & South around the West Shore, the backside of Thousand Island Lake, reaching around to Lake Catherine wedged into the backside of Banner Peak. This shelf of terrain is a scrambler's wonderland, and I like to spend an extra night at one of the fantastic lakes near Island Pass to explore it at my leasure during a "day off" from hiking the long trails. We will take a day or two of extra scrambling and exploring along this next remarkably beautiful and expansive section of trail from Donohue Pass to Thousand Island Lake.

"I arrived, I observed, I scrambled."

Since we've spent the time and energy to hike all the way down to Rush Creek and Thousand Island Lake from Lake Tahoe, we're damn sure going to take the time to explore and absorbe as much of this remarkable terrain as we can, every time we hike through.

Our previous section of trail between resupply points to the North took us across the 73.71 miles from Sonora Pass to Tuolumne Meadows. This current section of the John Muir Trail spans 34.25 miles from Tuolumne Meadows South to Reds Meadow only crosses half that distance. This short section gives us a good chance to easily pack a couple of extra days' food to camp at custom sites, to take a couple of days off to do some serious scrambling.

Each of these next upcoming Southbound segments of our trail from Donohue Pass to Reds Meadow all have exceptionally beautiful unique configurations of terrain and ecology that we will only be able to properly explore by taking that necessary time, by packing that necessary extra food, and writing a couple of days off through this section into our plans, for deeper explorations.

Those are my section goals through these upcoming segments of our trails from Donohue Pass to Reds Meadow.

Donohue Pass
11,040
feet of elevation

Maps & Miles

Map North
Tuolumne Meadows Trail Map
15 Minute topo hiking map

30 min Map
Central Yosemite

Donohue Pass

SOUTH
OF

12.69 miles
South of Tuolumne Meadows Post Office-Store-Grill

12.08 miles
South of the Yosemite Wilderness Boundary at TM Car Campground

10.62 miles
South of the Rafferty Creek trail junction

6.45 miles
South of Ireland Creek-Vogelsang trail junction

3.57 miles
South of the End of Lyell Canyon

Donohue Pass

SOUTH
TO

2.52 miles
South to Marie Lake trail junction.

3.25 miles
South to Waugh-June Lake trail junction.

3.68 miles
South to Davis Lakes trail junction.

4.67 miles
South to Island Pass.

6.39 miles
South to 1000 Island Lake
Triple Trail Junction.

21.56 miles
South to Reds Meadow
JMT ROUTE

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Southern Yosemite Boundary into the Ansel Adams Wilderness.

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Breaktime

Donohue Pass

Sometimes I push down to the top of the quite special verdant green swath of moss and meadows running up into the rock terrain under the South Flank of Donohue Pass along Rush Creek. I figure its less than a mile down to the top of this lushness, where it ends at the local treeline. Descending less that 2 miles puts us into the thick of it, with all sorts of custom, awesome campsites to choose from.

Below this narrow zone of lushness the temps warm, the moss retreats, and the hearty stands of whitebarks on granite are supplanted by thicking lodgepoles and mixed forests.

So, I'm going to take a break at the top of Donohue Pass, even if I am only proceeding over the Pass and over to the lakes under the crestline, or if I'm continuing a couple of miles further South from Donohue Pass to camp along the top of Rush Creek's treeline. Donohue Pass is a significant high point, so I am going to kick back, look around, and enjoy it for a while in any scenario.

Plus, I almost always meet some critters up here, mostly birds screwing around in the rocks. The grass growing around this vast talus field supports a big enough population of insects supporting a population of mountain chickens that I almost always have an encounter, an encounter of the mountain chicken type, every time I hike through.

Grouse relaxing at the little pond on Donohue Pass.

I was sweet-talking, and these normally tweaky birds were fluffing-up,
and digging my human mountain joy vibe.

COMMUNICATION
I was clicking softy and telling them what frigging good-looking birds they were, and how happy I was to see them. Their first inclination was flight, as in "run away," but I could see that they had been conditioned by previous backpackers to the possibility of picking up some backpacker food.

Well, no, not from me. I don't feed the critters. Not food.

Seeing that hesitation allowed me to fill it with good sounds and vibes, which they interpreted properly as consisting of pleasure, rather than pain, which stopped their rush to get away from me.

The bird above "fluffed up," and narrowed its eyes enjoying the love.

As the human we are the self-reflective ones, "setting the stage," so to speak.

Duces

Talking softy, speaking "sweet-nothings," and "clicking friendly" got the coupled grouse to chillax.

Cityiodits have been training these birds to solicit food by feeding them, which makes them human-dependent, but I NEVER feed the critters.
Why?

Living Things Policy

Control the Interaction,
Human...
It was helpful that I spotted them first, and clicked them a soft greeting before they had the chance to be too shocked by my sudden arrival. Birds hate being surprised. They much prefer a polite greeting. After controlling and conditioning our meeting with a polite greeting and establishing good audible vibes these birds knew I was not a threat, so they kicked back to listen to my extended lecture on the beauty, utility, and grace of High Altitude Rock Birds.

Bird Identification, News, & Research

They were a good audience for this particular lecture. Other "Animal Lectures" I give every now and again are not as well-recieved. I am thinking about those damn human-acclimated Yosemite Bears that the Park Service pulls out of Yosemite Valley, and drop up here. Those bears just don't listen.

They ignore all good manners even as we lecture them most forcefully about our "no bears in camp" policy with tongue and rock. The Marmots, on the other hand, pretend they do not hear us, but they can, and I know the Marmots know exactly what I'm saying, but are ignoring me as they make their own, independent plans.

The acclimated Yosemite bears ignore both tongue and rock, continuing their quest to steal our food as both our words and rocks bounce off their fortress-like bodies. Marmots will just kick back from a safe distance, ignoring everything we are telling them, while they are watching us and thinking about how far we will have to wander from camp before they will come in to check it out.

I know what you're thinking, Marmot!

Typical Bear Lecture

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The sign marking our passage South across Donohue Pass into the North end of Ansel Adams Wilderness.

Trail Section Forum

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Considering
A Campsite

At, or Just
South
of
Donohue Pass

South Flank of Donohue Pass
to the
Two Lakes
under
The Sierra Crestline
just a bit off the
John Muir Trail

Before continuing South we are going to spend the night up here. I figure I'm going to find my way almost directly South (by the compass) of Donohue Pass to the two little lakes wedged in under the crestline. The thing is, it's pretty rough terrain pushing South from the Crestline at Donohue Pass, or from just below it on the South Flank.
So I figure I'm going to descend South down the John Muir Trail, just a short ways, observing carefully for the best "channel" or "channels" in the rock moving directly to our South, to our Southbound Right off the trail, before I just plunge off the trail. A little foresight and good observation makes our route over to these sweet little lakes a lot easier.

I have it in my mind's eye that it's best to descend a little ways along the Southbound JMT before cutting South off the trail. It's harder to get over from the top. But, don't descend too far. We want to traverse over to the lakes, not climb!

Our other options for camping up here are in or near the Upper Basin of the Tuolumne River, which lay .95 of a mile North along the combined PCT-TYT, down the West Flank from Donohue Pass, shown on the trail guide page to the North.

Our other option for camping is just a short ways, about .83 of a mile to our South down from Donohue Pass along the JMT-PCT, at the fine sites that begin to appear at the top of the finger of green moss and whitebark pines reaching up along Rush Creek to the treeline. Those sites at the top of, and just below Rush Creek's treeline, are located within a unique environment that's worth checking out and exploring, even if you are not going to camp there.

Have one of the day's long lunches at the top of Rush Creek, if you can't camp there.

TOP OF THE TREELINE
along
RUSH CREEK
What makes the top of the green run along Rush Creek so special is the creek's moss covered banks circling around reflective pools highlighting not just the surrounding mountains, but the many mounds of whitebark-topped and shaded granite formations rising out of the moss.

I always expect to see a hobbit chasing a rabbit through here...

Maps & Miles

Map North
Tuolumne Meadows Trail Map
15 Minute topo hiking map

30 min Map
Central Yosemite

Page Index

Up against the Wall;

We've hiked over Donohue Pass, then scanned the terrain to find the best route cutting West off the John Muir Trail over to the two blue lakes nestled up under where the Sierra Crestline bends South.

After making camp we scramble further West and up to get this overview of Donohue Pass below, the granite mound rising to its East, and the foot of Donohue Peak rising out of the upper-Right edge of the image.

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Below us stretching out to the Northeast beyond these fine hidden lakes is Donohue Pass, Mount Dana is the great dark pyramid in the distant Left, and the Koip Crest runs South across most of the top of the image.

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Crossing
Out of Yosemite

The character of the grandure changes.

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As we begin making our way South off the Donohue Pass Flat we can begin to see Ritter and Banner peaking over the ridge to our direct South.

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Rush Creek Watershed below South Flank of Donohue Pass, veering off to the Left.

The middle Fork of the San Joaquine River runs Northwest to Southeast in a majestic two-tone canyon below San Joaquin Mountain, which is the predominant peak in Distant Center.

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Hiking down in early morning provides the contrast to pick up the detail of the ridges, peaks, and valleys looking to our Southeast at Mammoth Mountain

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Banner and Ritter from Left to Right in the center distance, with Mount Davis to their "Right," but much closer than Banner and Ritter.

Central & South Yosemite Hiking Map
30 minute topo hiking map

Ansel Adams Wilderness
Inyo National Forest
30 Minute topo hiking map

Miles and Elevations
Tuolumne Meadows to Reds Meadow
MILES and ELEVATIONS

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The Sierra Crestline to our South, wrapping around Davis Lakes, before it bends South across Banner Peak and Mount Ritter.

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Looking back the Way we Came.

View North of Donohue Peak from top of the strip of green running along to the top of Rush Creek.

Donohue Pass is to the Left of Donohue Peak.

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Above find the main routes leading us into or out of the Northernmost segment of the Ansel Adams Wilderness wrapping around the Southeastern edge of Yosemite.

To our East we have road access to Highway 158, the June Lake Loop, via the Rush Creek Trail. These routes offer quick, but steep, access to the PCT-JMT from June Lake, and a number of loops and trips ideal for local backpackers. This direct route down to June Lake would only be benefical to wounded Long Distance Backpackers looking for the easiest way off the trail.

To the South we have three routes bringing us to "civilization," either the route of the John Muir Trail along the granite Western Wall of the headwaters canyon rising above the headwaters canyon of the Middle Fork of the San Joaquin. Or, we can hike the PCT route on the other, the Eastern wall of the canyon.

We can hike East from the trail junction at Thousand Island Lake to wrap around under Agnew Pass, to follow the PCT onto the volcanic terrain making up the Eastern Wall of the Canyon, leading to Agnew Meadow. On the way East following the PCT to the East wall we find the trail leading down the center of the canyon into the bucolic forest, meadows, and soft soils of the River Trail, following the route of the Middle San Joaquin between the two much more famous trails.

Northbound

Central Yosemite Hiking Map
30 minute topo hiking map

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10,072 feet of elevation

SIDE ROUTE
Southwest
to
Marie Lakes from JMT-PCT

1.57 MILES WEST
to
FIRST
of
MARIE LAKES

Marie Lake end of trail

10,856 ft

Island Pass
10,203
feet of elevation

Maps & Miles
NORTH

Miles & Elevations
Marie Lakes

30 min Map
Central Yosemite

Island Pass
Ansel Adams Wilderness

SOUTH
OF
Tuolumne Meadows

15.21 miles
South of Tuolumne Meadows Post Office-Store-Grill

2.52 miles
South of the Yosemite Wilderness Boundary at Donohue Pass

Marie Lakes Trail Junction
Ansel Adams Wilderness

South
Down the Combined
John Muir & Pacific Crest Trails
TO

2.15 miles
Island Pass.

3.87 miles
Thousand Island Lake trail junction.

Thousand Island Lake trail junction
PCT-JMT-RIVER TRAIL JUNCTION

John Muir Trail
South from
Thousand Island Lake

4.39 miles
SE corner of Emerald Lake.

4.74 miles
Ruby Lake outlet creek.

5.96 miles
Garnet Lake footbridge-trail junction.

16.89 miles
South to Reds Meadow
JMT ROUTE

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Central & South Yosemite Hiking Map
30 minute topo hiking map

Ansel Adams Wilderness
Inyo National Forest
30 Minute topo hiking map

Miles and Elevations
Tuolumne Meadows to Reds Meadow
MILES and ELEVATIONS

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9613 feet of elevation

SIDE ROUTE
NORTHEAST
to
Waugh Lake

Island Pass
10203
feet of elevation

Maps & Miles
NORTH

30 min Map
Central Yosemite

Island Pass
Ansel Adams Wilderness

SOUTH

(NOT DONE)

OF

XX.36 miles
South of Tuolumne Meadows Post Office-Store-Grill

XX.76 miles
South of the Yosemite Wilderness Boundary at Donohue Pass

Island Pass
Ansel Adams Wilderness

Down the John Muir Trail
TO

X.72 miles
Thousand Island Lake trail junction.

X.24 miles
SE corner of Emerald Lake.

X.59 miles
Ruby Lake outlet creek.

X.81 miles
Garnet Lake footbridge-trail junction.

16.89 miles
South to Reds Meadow
JMT ROUTE

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9695 feet of elevation

SIDE ROUTE
Southwest
to
Davis Lakes

Island Pass
10203
feet of elevation

Maps & Miles
NORTH

30 min Map
Central Yosemite

Island Pass
Ansel Adams Wilderness

SOUTH

(NOT DONE)

OF

XX.36 miles
South of Tuolumne Meadows Post Office-Store-Grill

XX.76 miles
South of the Yosemite Wilderness Boundary at Donohue Pass

Island Pass
Ansel Adams Wilderness

Down the John Muir Trail
TO

X.72 miles
Thousand Island Lake trail junction.

X.24 miles
SE corner of Emerald Lake.

X.59 miles
Ruby Lake outlet creek.

X.81 miles
Garnet Lake footbridge-trail junction.

16.89 miles
South to Reds Meadow
JMT ROUTE

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Crossing
Out of Yosemite

The character of the grandure changes.

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Central & South Yosemite Hiking Map
30 minute topo hiking map

Ansel Adams Wilderness
Inyo National Forest
30 Minute topo hiking map

Miles and Elevations
Tuolumne Meadows to Reds Meadow
MILES and ELEVATIONS

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Island Pass
10203
feet of elevation

Maps & Miles
NORTH

30 min Map
Central Yosemite

Island Pass
Ansel Adams Wilderness

SOUTH

OF

17.36 miles
South of Tuolumne Meadows Post Office-Store-Grill

4.76 miles
South of the Yosemite Wilderness Boundary at Donohue Pass

Island Pass
Ansel Adams Wilderness

Down the John Muir Trail
TO

1.72 miles
Thousand Island Lake trail junction.

2.24 miles
SE corner of Emerald Lake.

2.59 miles
Ruby Lake outlet creek.

3.81 miles
Garnet Lake footbridge-trail junction.

16.89 miles
South to Reds Meadow
JMT ROUTE

Page Index

Central & South Yosemite Hiking Map
30 minute topo hiking map

Ansel Adams Wilderness
Inyo National Forest
30 Minute topo hiking map

Miles and Elevations
Tuolumne Meadows to Reds Meadow
MILES and ELEVATIONS

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Maps & Miles

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Turning around and looking North, back at Donohue Peak on the Left, what I call, "The Triangle," centered in the image, with the Koip Crest along the Right, just steps after crossing Island Pass.

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Central & South Yosemite Hiking Map
30 minute topo hiking map

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R Peak

F Lake Loop Junction

Mileage

1.86 miles from the Raymond Lake junction South to Raymond Canyon.

3.68 miles from the Raymond Lake junction South to Pennsylvania Creek.

Crossing
The Heart of Yosemite

Down!

WE make our way down to the Rim of the Merced River, then down the North Canyon Wall to Little Yosemite Valley, where we will spend the evening.

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Backpacking Trail Guide

PCT-JMT
North

Lyell Canyon
to
Donohue Pass

Backpacking Trail Guide

PCT-JMT
South

Island Pass
to
Thousand Island Lake