Up Leavitt Peak. Lake Tahoe to Mount Whitney: Your Backpacking Guide to the High Sierras Yosemite Trail Crew.
Banner of Pink Clouds lit up by Sunset at Sonora Pass
Leavitt Peak
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High Sierra Nevada Mountain Range
Sierra Crestline
Backpacking Maps

Emigrant Wilderness -- Toiyabe National Forest -- Hoover Wilderness
and the
North Yosemite Backcountry

Backpacking Map
INDEXES

of the
Pacific Crest Trail
and
Tahoe to Yosemite Trail

Highway 108 to Tuolumne Meadows

 

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The art of walking
 
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ALL
MAPS

MAP
INDEX

 

TRAIL
GUIDE

GUIDE
INDEX

MAP
INDEX
North

TYT-PCT

Ebbetts
Pass

to
Sonora
Pass

 

TYT--&--PCT

MAP
INDEX
South

YOSEMITE
VALLEY

Tuolumne
Meadows

to
Yosemite
Valley

MAP
INDEX
South

JMT-PCT

Tuolumne
Meadows

to
Reds
Meadow

REGION
MAPS

TYT-PCT

Sonora Pass
Region

Hoover
Wilderness

&
Tuolumne
Meadows

LOCAL
MAPS

TYT
Kennedy
Meadows

to
Relief
Reservoir

PCT LOOP
Bensen
Lake

MILES
&
ELEVATIONS

TYT
Kennedy Meadows
to
Bond Pass

PCT
Sonora
Pass

to
Tuolumne Meadows

TRAIL
GUIDE
INDEXES

TYT-PCT

TRAIL
HEADS

 

Sonora
Pass

to
Tuolumne Meadows

PERMITS
Toiyabe

PERMITS
Stanislaus

PERMITS
Yosemite

SIERRA
WEATHER

Sonora Pass
WEATHER

High Sierra Backpacking Maps

Trail Section
Highway 108
to
Highway 120

End of the North Sierra Nevada

Beginning of the End
North Sierra
Crossing Highway 108 marks the beginning of the end of both the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail and our hike down the North Sierra from the Tahoe Basin. Both the TYT and North Sierra end at Tuolumne Meadows.
Also of note is that the 70+ miles of this next section from Sonora Pass to TM is the longest section along both the Tahoe to Yosemite and Pacific Crest Trails across the North Sierra between Lake Tahoe and Tuolumne Meadows.

The only longer section of trail between Tahoe and Whitney is our final (130?) mile section of trail from Muir Ranch to the Whitney Portal.

The backpacking maps below cover this long and hard section of trail from Highways 108 to 120.

Main Routes
Like their divergent routes to our North across the Carson Iceberg Wilderness, the Southbound routes of the TYT and PCT from Highway 108 continue their divergent routes across and around the Emigrant Wilderness from their respective trailheads along Highway 108, before they finally come together again in the North Yosemite Backcountry.
The Southbound TYT and PCT last parted company way up North where they exited the Tahoe Basin. They rejoin again shortly after entering Yosemite.

The TYT climbs to the Sierra Crest across the heart of the Emigrant Wilderness from Kennedy Meadows Pack Station's location way down on the Western Flank.
The route of the PCT traces out the Eastern boundary of the Emigrant Wilderness along the Sierra Crestline over Leavitt Peak South of Sonora Pass before turning East off Leavitt's South Flank. The PCT runs East into a quiet area of the Toiyabe National Forest adjacent to, and marked to be a future addition to the Hoover Wilderness.

Local and Long Hikes
The backpacking maps below explore our local hiking options South of Sonora Pass & the Highway 108 corridor as well as laying out our classic and potential custom long-distance backpacking routes across Emigrant Wilderness into the Northwestern corner of Yosemite, or into the North end of the Hoover Wilderness.

Wide Range of Map Coverage

"N & S"
Sonora Pass to Tuolumne Meadows

"E & W"
Twin Lake to Hetch Hetchy

The backpacking maps below also explore our hiking options down to Hetch Hetch & the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne and hiking over the West Flank of the Sierra over to Twin Lakes on the East Flank in the Hoover Wilderness.

After the TYT & PCT merge in the Northwestern corner of Yosemite in the top of Jack Main Canyon the TYT breaks off one last time. The TYT loops around Tilden Lake before rejoining the PCT a couple of miles South of Tilden Lake between Bailey and Macomb Ridges.

From that point deep in the North Yosemite Backcountry the PCT and TYT share the remaining trail South to Tuolumne Meadows.

A Long Hard One
Most important about this route is the high degree of difficulty over an extended time and distance. I figure on five days at fifteen miles per day while carrying an extra day's food for screwing around, scrambling around exploring, or just kicking back and watching.

This section from Sonora Pass to Tuolumne Meadows consists of sustained high difficulty trails and terrain.

I consider the overall rating of a trip from Sonora Pass to Tuolumne Meadows as a
"Hard 1 Backpacking Trip."
(Trail Rating System)

Highway 108 Trailhead
to
Store & Post Office
Tuolumne Meadows

Tahoe to Yosemite Trail
73.21 miles
Pacific Crest Trail
73.71 miles

Black and Red Dots
The maps below cover both the TYT and PCT from Highway 108 to Highway 120 in two scales. The black dots on the large scale maps link to detailed maps of that area.

The red dots on both maps lead to trail guide reports for the selected location.


High Sierra
Backpacking Maps

Stanislaus National Forest
into
Yosemite

to
Tuolumne Meadows

TYT-PCT
Highway 108 Corridor
TRAILHEADS

 

Topo
Tahoe to Whitney
Hiking Maps
for the
Tahoe
to
Yosemite
Trail

BACKPACKING MAPS

Kennedy Meadows
to
Tuolumne Meadows
73.21 miles

The Best
7.5 minute
USGS
Backpacking Maps

1:24 000

 

The Best
30 minute
USGS
Backpacking Maps

1:100 000

 

TYT
North
of
Highway 108 Corridor
Carson Iceberg Wilderness
Backpacking Map


1> Saint Marys Pass
Backpacking Map

 

 

TYT
South
of
Highway 108
Emigrant Wilderness
Backpacking Maps



2> Kennedy Meadows
to
Relief Reservoir
Backpacking Map

 

TYT-PCT
EAST-WEST

LINK

2a> TYT-PCT
Connector Trail
via
Kennedy Lake

 

TYT
South
of
Highway 108

3> Relief Reservoir
to
Brown Bear Pass
Backpacking Map

 

TYT
South
of
Highway 108

4> Emigrant Basin
to
Bond Pass
Backpacking Map

 

 

Entering
North
Yosemite Backcountry

PCT & TYT
Maps


5> Upper
Jack Main Canyon
via
Tilden and Wilmer
Lakes
to
Stubblefield Canyon

 

 

OFF
the
PCT-TYT
Down
Lower

Jack Main Canyon

NEW MAP
Trails OFF
the
PCT-TYT

Lower
Jack Main Canyon,
Tilltill Valley,
and
Rancheria Falls,
to
Hetch Hetchy
Backpacking Map

 

 

PCT & TYT
Shared Route Across
North
Yosemite Backcountry
MAPS

6>
Stubblefield Canyon
to
Bensen Lake
Backpacking Map

With
NEW MAP
Trails OFF
the
PCT-TYT
:
Kerrick and Rodgers Canyons
Trail Junctions
into
The Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne River
Bear Valley
&
Rodgers Canyon
to
Pate Valley
Backpacking Map

 

 

PCT & TYT
Shared Route Across
North
Yosemite Backcountry
MAP

7> Bensen Lake
to
Miller Lake
Backpacking Map

With
NEW MAP
Trails OFF
the
PCT-TYT
:
BENSEN LAKE LOOP
via
Twin Lakes
Backpacking Map

 

 

PCT & TYT
Shared Route
North
Yosemite Backcountry

MAPS

8> Miller Lake
to
McCabe Lake
trail junction

Backpacking Map


 

9> McCabe Lake
trail junction
to
Glen Aulin
Backpacking Map

 


Crestline Resupply
Yosemite

Hub of the
PCT & TYT & JMT


10> Tuolumne Meadows
Region Backpacking Map


 

TYT & PCT
North and
South
of
Highway 108 Corridor
INCLUDING

Carson Iceberg Wilderness,
Emigrant Wilderness,

&
Yosemite Wilderness
Backpacking Map:

TYT & PCT
1
> Sonora Pass Region
Topo Map

TYT and PCT routes across Highway 108 including approach through Southern Carson Iceberg Wilderness across Emigrant.
High resolution map may be magnified. Click Red dots to see trail guide pages, click trail routes for detailed maps.

 

 

 

Emigrant, Toiyabe
&
North
Yosemite Wilderness
Backpacking Map:

PCT
2
> Sonora Pass
to
Bensen Lake
Backpacking Map

This map gives us a look at the Highway 108 corridor from Kennedy Meadows Pack Station to Highway 395. This covers all the trails running South into Emigrant & Hoover Wilderness.

This map follows our routes South down to where they cross into Jack Main Canyon in Yosemite or Twin Lakes in the Hoover.

 

 

 

 

Hoover Wilderness
into
North
Yosemite Backcountry,
The
Bensen Lake Loop:

Twin Lakes
to
Twin Lakes
(LOOP)
via

Kerrick Canyon, Bensen Lake
and
Matterhorn Canyon
Backpacking Map

 

 

 

 

 

SOUTH
Trails
OFF the Route
of the
PCT-TYT
NEW MAP
down to

The Grand Canyon
of the
Tuolumne River
Backpacking Map

 

 

 

North
Yosemite Backcountry
Wilderness


3
> Bensen Lake
to
Virginia Canyon
Backpacking Map

 

 



North
Yosemite Backcountry
Wilderness

4> Virginia Canyon
to
Tuolumne Meadows
Backpacking Map

 

 

 

 

 

 

PCT ROUTE
MAPS BELOW

 

 

 

 

 

 

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7.5 maps feature high detail.   30 min maps present a wide context.

Maps Index
North
 Ebbetts Pass
to
Sonora Pass
  Maps Index
South
Tuolumne Meadows
to
Reds Meadow

 

TRAIL MAPS
Now that we've got a set of planning maps, what do we bring on the trail with us? I've put together a collection of links to various paper maps that I have used or seen used over the years. These include USGS maps (when I started hiking), Forest Service Wilderness Maps, and various offerings by private mapping companies, including the National Geographic's "do it yourself" mapping programs.

I will be producing complete paper and digital mapsets of the Sierra for field use derived from these Tahoe to Whitney Maps sometime in the future. You are welcome to print and use them for your own personal and non-profit uses.

If you are adventurous you can download, customize, and print out your own hiking maps using free USGS maps.

Paper and Online
Map Services

High Sierra Backpacking Map
Information and Assets

 

Backpacking Map
Information and Instruction

USGS
Map Information
USGS
Map Symbols
pdf

Online and Trail
Backpacking Maps
Decimal-Degree
Conversion Tool

USGS MAP LOCATOR
FREE
USGS Maps
for
Downloading


Onsite Resources
Navigation Page Astronomical Information

Offsite Resources
Navigation Videos Map Tools Tutorials
(excellent map tools too)

 

MAP NOTE
Those squares breaking the USGS maps up into grids are the Universal Transverse Mercator / Military Grid Reference System, otherwise commonly known as UTM.

What's important for our general reference purpose is that each side of a square is 1000 meters, or a Kilometer.

From my point of view that is 1093.6 yards or .62 of a mile.

Diagonal: 1414.22 meters, if my trig is correct.

That converts into 4,639.8 feet or .88 of a mile.

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TYT
Distance Data

presented on
Map Format

Emigrant Wilderness
Miles-Map
Emigrant Wilderness
Backpacking Loop Schematic

 

TYT
Miles and Elevations

on the TYT between

Carson Gap
to
Lake Alpine
Lake Alpine
to
Saint Marys Pass
Kennedy Meadows
to
Tuolumne Meadows


Route Options Connecting
the
TYT & PCT
between
Sonora Pass to Bond Pass
in
Emigrant Wilderness

Linking
the
PCT & TYT
Connecting the TYT and PCT across the Emigrant Wilderness opens up alternative routes for hikers along the PCT. These alternative routes open up much more of the Emigrant Wilderness for PCT hikers who normally follow the PCT route around Emigrant Wilderness.
Northbound PCT hikers have two options. The best alternative route is off the PCT at the top of Jack Main Canyon through Bond Pass onto the TYT across Emigrant Wilderness down to the resupply service at Kennedy Meadows Pack Station.

The Second Alternative Route would be through Bond Pass from the PCT onto the TYT, but instead of following the TYT to the Northwest down to Kennedy Meadows we continue North off the TYT at Grizzly Peak over Big Sam to reconnect with the PCT at the Kennedy Canyon trail junction. This cuts us through the Heart of the High Emigrant Basin.
From the Kennedy Canyon trail junction we can continue North over Leavitt Peak to Sonora Pass along the PCT, or hike West past Kennedy Lake to the TYT just above and two miles South of Kennedy Meadows Pack Station, where we are going to pick up a critical resupply.

This site covers all of the above routes with maps and trail guide pages.

Many Treasures
These are fantastic trail options for Northbound backpackers that really open up the beauties of the Emigrant Wilderness for your inspection, rather than hiking around them on the PCT.
The detailed maps on this page above cover these potential alternative routes we can hike across the High Emigrant Wilderness. This series of trail junctions tying a series of positions along the PCT with a series of points along the TYT opens up a huge number of local Emigrant Wilderness backpacking trip options as well as giving well-informed PCT & TYT hikers a whole set of alternatives to the classic routes of the PCT & TYT.

We really need a "bird's-eye view," to make sense out of these alternative routes, one that puts them into a broad context.

One Map to Link them All
So I designed the Sonora Pass Region Map and the Emigrant Wilderness Schematic Map to highlight our TYT-PCT route options while backpacking across the Emigrant Wilderness. Click the marked routes on the Sonora Pass Region Map for detailed maps, and the red dots for that location's trail guide information.

Local Backpacking Loop Significance
These trails connecting the PCT and TYT across the Emigrant Wilderness open up huge local backpacking loops that pretty much stay within the Emigrant Wilderness. We may hike through the top of Jack Main Canyon into Yosemite, and visit the slice of the Toiyabe National Forest between Dorothy Lake Pass and the Kennedy Canyon trail junction, but our longer loop hikes here in Emigrant Wilderness will be focused and centered on the High Emigrant Basin.
(High Emigrant Basin Definition)

Trails Linking
the
PCT & TYT
across
Emigrant Wilderness

East-West
1> Kennedy Lake trail

An East-West trail linking the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail from the Kennedy Lake trail junction 2.67 miles South of Kennedy Meadows running East via Kennedy Lake to the Pacific Crest Trail at Kennedy Canyon which is 7.97 miles South of Sonora Pass.

North-South
2> Kennedy Canyon on the PCT to the TYT at Grizzly Peak
South from the PCT at the Kennedy Canyon trail junction over Big Sam across Emigrant Basin to the TYT at Grizzly Peak. This route departs the PCT to hike the TYT through the heart of Emigrant Wilderness. We can continue South on the TYT to rejoin the PCT in the top of Jack Main Canyon, or we can turn fantastic backpacking loops around the High Emigrant Wilderness.

Northeast-Southwest
3>TYT at Grizzly Peak through Emigrant Pass to the PCT at the West West Walker Bridge

This trail is of little use to long distance through hikers as its line does not fit into the purpose of either the PCT or TYT. But it does open up loop possibilities and access for local backpackers, especially those using the Leavitt Meadow Trailhead.

These three segments of trail connecting the TYT and PCT across the Emigrant Wilderness open up a wide range of local loops and trailhead to trailhead backpacking trips.

Sonora Pass Region Map Emigrant Wilderness Schematic Map

In Yosemite
3> The Tilden Lake Loop vs. the PCT route.

We have the option of hiking around Tilden Lake on the Southbound TYT or Wilmer Lake on the PCT.
Tilden and Wilmer Lakes
(last PCT-TYT split)

 

The next maps South
on the
Tahoe to Yosemite Trail

None!

Congratulations!

You've finished
the
Tahoe to Yosemite Trail
arriving at
Tuolumne Meadows

Personally, I continue South on the John Muir Trail towards Mount Whitney, either by hiking down to the Valley & back to the JMT through Voglesang or by following the JMT South from Tuolumne into Lyell Canyon.

Let's continue South through the Whitney Portal.

 

The Big View

Carson Pass to Bensen Lake 1x2 Topographic

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Highway 108
SOUTH
TYT & PCT
East Flank, Sierra Crestline, West Flank
Schematic diagram of High Emigrant Wilderness Trails.
The schematic above is not to scale nor accurate except as a guide to our potential TYT-PCT alternative routes across the Emigrant Wilderness.

It is valuable for revealing some of our potential backpacking loop routes we can hike across the Emigrant Wilderness using bits of the TYT and PCT South of Highway 108.

The Trail Guide South of Highway 108 explores these alternative routes in detail.

 

Map INDEX North: Ebbetts Pass to Sonora Pass          Map INDEX South: Tuolumne to Reds Meadow

High Sierra
Backpacking Maps

Toiyabe National Forest
into
Yosemite

to
Tuolumne Meadows

TYT-PCT
Highway 108 Corridor
TRAILHEADS

 

Topo
Tahoe to Whitney
Backpacking Maps
for
The Pacific Crest Trail

BACKPACKING MAPS

Sonora Pass
to

Tuolumne Meadows
73.71 miles

7.5 minute
USGS
Backpacking Maps
1:24 000

 

30 minute
USGS
Backpacking Maps
1:100 000


Emigrant Wilderness
PCT
Backpacking Map

1>Sonora Pass
over
Leavitt Peak
Backpacking Map

 

 

Toiyabe National Forest
PCT

Backpacking Map

2
> Kennedy Canyon
to
Dorothy Lake Pass
Backpacking Map

 

 

 

OFF
the
PCT-TYT
Down
Lower

Jack Main Canyon

NEW MAP
Trails OFF
the
PCT-TYT

Lower
Jack Main Canyon,
Tilltill Valley,
and
Rancheria Falls,
to
Hetch Hetchy
Backpacking Map

 

 

PCT & TYT
Shared Route Across
North
Yosemite Backcountry
MAPS

3>
Stubblefield Canyon
to
Bensen Lake
Backpacking Map

With
NEW MAP
Trails OFF
the
PCT-TYT
:
Kerrick and Rodgers Canyons
Trail Junctions
into
The Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne River
Bear Valley
&
Rodgers Canyon
to
Pate Valley
Backpacking Map

 

 

PCT & TYT
Shared Route Across
North
Yosemite Backcountry
MAP

4> Bensen Lake
to
Miller Lake
Backpacking Map

With
NEW MAP
Trails OFF
the
PCT-TYT
:
BENSEN LAKE LOOP
via
Twin Lakes
Backpacking Map

 

 

 

5> Miller Lake
to
McCabe Lake
trail junction

Backpacking Map

 

 

PCT & TYT
Northeast Corner
Yosemite Wilderness

6> McCabe Lake
trail junction
to
Glen Aulin
Backpacking Map

 


Crestline Resupply Yosemite
Hub of the
PCT & TYT & JMT


7> Tuolumne Meadows
Region Backpacking Map


Carson Iceberg-Emigrant
&
Yosemite Wilderness
TYT-PCT


1> Sonora Pass Region
Topo Map

TYT and PCT routes across Highway 108 including approach through Southern Carson Iceberg Wilderness across Emigrant.
High resolution map may be magnified. Click Red dots to see trail guide pages, click trail routes for detailed maps.

 

 

 

Emigrant
&

North Yosemite Wilderness
TYT-PCT
Backpacking Map


2
>Sonora Pass
to
Bensen Lake
Backpacking Map

This map gives us a look at the Highway 108 corridor from Kennedy Meadows Pack Station to Highway 395. This covers all the trails running South into Emigrant & Hoover Wilderness.

This map follows our routes South down to where they cross into Jack Main Canyon in Yosemite or Twin Lakes in the Hoover.

 

 

 

 

Grand Canyon
of the
Tuolumne River

Backpacking Map

NEW
3>The Grand Canyon
of the
Tuolumne River
Backpacking Map

 

 

Hoover Wilderness
into
North
Yosemite Backcountry,
The
Bensen Lake Loop:

Twin Lakes to Twin Lakes
(LOOP)
via

Kerrick Canyon, Bensen Lake
and
Matterhorn Canyon
Backpacking Map

 

 

 

North
Yosemite Wilderness
TYT-PCT


4
>Bensen Lake
to
Virginia Canyon
Backpacking Map

 

 

 

 

 

Northeast
Yosemite Wilderness
TYT-PCT

5>Virginia Canyon
to
Tuolumne Meadows
Backpacking Map

 

 

 

 

 

TYT ROUTE
MAPS ABOVE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The 7.5 map gives high detail.   The 30 min map gives a bigger picture of the terrain

Maps Index
North
 Ebbetts Pass
to
Sonora Pass
  Maps Index
South
Tuolumne Meadows
to
Reds Meadow


TRAIL MAPS
Now that we've got a set of planning maps, what do we bring on the trail with us? I've put together a collection of links to various paper maps that I have used. These include USGS maps (when I started hiking), Forest Service Wilderness Maps, and offerings by private mapping companies.

Paper and Online
Map Services

MAP KEYS and INFORMATION

ALTERNATIVE ROUTES
Linking the PCT & TYT across Emigrant Wilderness
(See Above)

PCT
Distance Data

presented through
Map Format

Emigrant Wilderness
FS Miles-Map
Emigrant Wilderness
Backpacking Loop Schematic

 

PCT
Miles and Elevations

on the TYT between

Mokelumne Wilderness
Carson Pass
to
Ebbetts Pass
Carson Iceberg Wilderness
Ebbetts Pass
to

Sonora Pass
Emigrant-Toiyabe-Yosemite
Sonora Pass
to
Tuolumne Meadows
 

The next maps South:

The John Muir Trail

Tuolumne Meadow to Reds Meadow

Tuolumne Meadow to Yosemite Valley

 

The Big View

Carson Pass to Bensen Lake 1x2 Topographic

 

 

MAP
Indexes
North and South

Map Index
North
PCT

Ebbetts Pass
to
Sonora Pass
This
Map Index

Sonora Pass
to
Tuolumne Meadows
TYT & PCT

Map Index
South
JMT-PCT
JMT to REDS

JMT to VALLEY

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Map INDEX North: Ebbetts Pass to Sonora Pass          Map INDEX South: Tuolumne to Reds Meadow

Backpacker Forums

TahoetoWhitney.Org

TW ORG has Backpacker's Trail Forums covering the Sections and Segments of the long distance High Sierra Trails between Lake Tahoe and Mount Whitney, and topics of interest to backpackers everywhere:

High Sierra Trails High Sierra Topics

Here's a few of my favorite topics:

Gear

Living Things

What you Need to Know

Unidentified Hikers can post up comments in all the Trails and Topics Forums.

Registered Members can post up their own pages in the forums.

Become a Member

Add your experiences, comments, questions, and pictures. Or write up a page about your adventures and trips South from Highway 108 to Tuolumne Meadows, and our trips into the Hoover and Emigrant Wilderness too, right here:

Trail Section
PCT
Sonora Pass to Tuolumne Meadows
Trail Section
TYT
Kennedy Meadows to Bond Pass

Map INDEX North: Ebbetts Pass to Sonora Pass          Map INDEX South: Tuolumne to Reds Meadow

Trailhead

Contact
Alex Wierbinski

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Backpacking Lake Tahoe to Mount Whitney

Your guide to the High Sierra Crest, including the Tahoe to Yosemite, Pacific Crest, and John Muir Trails

© Lake Tahoe to Mount Whitney: Crown Jewel of the Pacific Crest Trail