Snake Divide Route

Snake Divide Route is a rugged backcountry out-and-back from Snake Creek Trailhead along Shoshone and Snake Divide to the bristlecone groves near Mount Washington. The full summit outing is listed at 13.4 miles round trip, 7–12 hours, and 3,418 feet of climbing, from an 8,200-foot start to Mount Washington at 11,658 feet. That is a hard day even though one overview labels it moderate. A detailed route account puts the summit outing at 12.6 miles, and the mapped corridor is shorter again, so the upper route's mileage can vary with route-finding. Use the official 13.4-mile figure to plan. Turning around at Magic Grove is the shorter, officially listed 12-mile round trip.

Start on the well-defined Shoshone Trail, cross its footbridge over Snake Creek, and follow it about 1.3 miles to the Snake Divide junction. Turn west. The climb is winding and steep; views of Mount Washington open after the first ridge section. Later, the route traverses an uneven sidehill before regaining the ridge. Beyond the junction, tread can fade to occasional flagging and rock cairns. Follow a downloaded track with a map and compass, and know how to use them; leave the cairns alone.

Magic Grove sits below Mount Washington; Mount Washington Grove is higher on its slopes. Bristlecone pines here can be thousands of years old. Dead wood also carries their climate record, so gathering or burning any part of it is prohibited. At the grove, frame a gnarled trunk with rocky ground and nearby trees to show how the pines stand apart. The summit extension adds the high point and looser footing near a false summit.

Snake Creek Road ends at the trailhead, roughly 12 road miles from Highway 487. Park only in the designated spaces; roadside parking is prohibited. There are pit toilets without running water, and no potable water along the road. No pets except trained service animals. The route is not recommended for children or anyone unsteady on their feet.