Baxter Pass Trail

Dogs No Dogs

Features Commonly Backpacked · Lake · River/Creek · Views

Permit requires for overnight trips. Reserve permit in advance at recreation.gov

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

Baxter Pass Trail passes through diverse habitats, with pines, wildflowers, and alpine plants at higher elevations. Wildlife includes Sierra Bighorn Sheep, mule deer, black bears, marmots, and pikas, along with birds like golden eagles and mountain bluebirds.