Horse Creek Pass Route

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Features Fall Colors · Fishing · River/Creek · Swimming · Views · Wildflowers

Horse Creek Pass Route is a strenuous hike in Hoover Wilderness. This is a primitive trail, not maintained, and deteriorates entirely beyond the pass. This is the finish (or start) of the Sierra High Route and the most common approach used to scramble up the Matterhorn. It is rugged and requires route finding capabilities.

This route is not signed and the trail is not maintained. Bring navigation tools and skills.

The trail begins from the campground at Mono Village on the western side of Upper Twin Lake, and rapidly ascends a series of forested switchbacks. Gorgeous views of Upper Twin Lake soon appear, and the path passes by a series of short cascades. There is no shortage of water during the first several miles of the hike, since the trail closely follows Horse Creek.

After about two miles, the switchbacks end and the trail traverses lush meadows. During the summer this area blooms with wildflowers and is a great spot to take a rest. Soon, the trees are replaced by shrubland, and as the elevation continues to increase the trail becomes progressively rockier.

Eventually the trail becomes difficult to follow, however the stream and eventually the canyon serve as excellent waypoints. During the summer months, it is advisable to stick close to the stream on the west side, as this trail requires less bouldering.

There is also a trail on the east side, but it requires more boulder hopping and is harder to follow. The last mile or so becomes tricky, as the trail fades away into scree and boulder fields. Continue climbing the boulder field until you reach the saddle, then descend slightly to reach Horse Creek Pass.

Hikers may choose to continue past Horse Creek Pass to Matterhorn Peak, which is a popular destination for technical climbing and, in the winter, skiing. Reaching the summit requires class 2-3 scrambling. There are two routes to the peak: one through Horse Creek Pass and the other up a scree slope to the northwest of the saddle. Depending on the time of year, you may need snow and ice travel tools.

- Written by Yelena Sukhanov, Outdoor Project. Edited by Ethan Fichtner