Avalanche Pass Trail to Roaring River

Avalanche Pass Trail to Roaring River is a roughly 30.7-mile out-and-back from Road's End to the Roaring River Ranger Station. It follows the valley trail network through the Bubbs Creek and Sphinx Creek corridor, crosses Avalanche Pass at about 10,000 feet, then drops into the Roaring River country. The distance counts the return by the same route; the mapped line traces the one-way corridor. Budget about 19 hours of moving time and split this into a multi-day backpack. It is a hard, remote trip with long stretches between access, not a day hike. A much shorter day trip can be made from Road's End to Roaring River Falls, but that is a different trail in the lower canyon. The ranger station is far beyond the falls.

Start at Road's End, just past the wilderness permit station at the end of Highway 180. The first miles gain elevation quickly away from the hot, dry canyon floor; views open back toward the river and canyon, and the landscape changes as you climb toward subalpine forest. The route follows Paradise Valley Trail to the Bubbs Creek corridor, then heads toward Sphinx Creek and the pass. The climbs start early and keep going. Treat the first valley section as real work, not a warm-up walk.

Avalanche Pass tops out around 10,000 feet. It is a surprising place to find a forested saddle; rather than a bare summit, the trail crosses among high trees before it starts down the other side. In 1994, one hiker spent roughly eight hours reaching the pass from Road's End, a useful reminder of the scale but not a promise of a standard pace. From the south approach, Palmer Mountain stands near the pass; keep looking back as the trail drops toward Roaring River country.

The descent is steep and longer than a quick pass crossing. You leave the pass toward a moraine, then reach Roaring River Ranger Station. The station is the endpoint for this itinerary; go farther toward Cement Table Meadow or Josephine Lake and you are adding a different high-country route, not completing this trail's out-and-back. Turn here, then retrace the full corridor over the pass to Road's End.

This is a wilderness backpack. Overnight travel requires an NPS wilderness permit; during the quota season, daily entry is limited and reservations are available for many trailheads. Road's End has a permit station, food-storage lockers, parking and a bottle-filling station; bring the meals you need for the trip. The lower canyon is hot and dry in summer, so make your water plan before leaving. Pets are prohibited on all park trails; service animals are allowed. Highway 180 access to Road's End closes for winter, usually reopening in late April. Check trail and road conditions before you start.