Colby Pass via Cloud Canyon

Colby Pass via Cloud Canyon is an 18.9-mile, one-way backcountry crossing from a remote Cloud Canyon junction, over Colby Pass, to the Kern–Kaweah side of the Great Western Divide. The mapped route climbs from about 7,400 feet to nearly 12,000 feet, gaining roughly 4,450 feet before dropping to about 8,050 feet. Treat it as a multi-day backpack, not a day hike from a parking lot. The mapped line is the named trail corridor only; it does not include how you reach the west junction or leave the east end, and the park does not prescribe a standard approach or exit for this crossing.

The west side climbs from forest into open high-country meadows. Big Wet Meadow and Cement Table Meadow break up the long canyon approach; Whaleback’s pointed north face rises beyond the grass and scattered granite. Colby Lake sits higher on the way to the pass, where the canyon gives way to bare rock and steep switchbacks. At Big Wet Meadow, frame Whaleback above the meadow and leave a little path or boulder foreground in the photo to show the scale.

Colby Pass crosses the Great Western Divide between Triple Divide Peak and Centennial Peak, at about 12,000 feet. Expect rough, bouldery ground and steep switchbacks around the pass, followed by a long descent on the far side. The high elevation and distance make this a serious backcountry route even without technical climbing. The line crosses from Kings Canyon into neighboring Sequoia National Park beyond the divide.

Neither endpoint is a roadhead. You need a separate wilderness route into the Cloud Canyon junction and another route out from the Kern–Kaweah side; add those miles when planning your trip. Road’s End is a permit and trip-planning station, but it is not established as this crossing’s starting trailhead. An overnight wilderness permit is required, and entry rules depend on the trailhead you choose. Pets are prohibited on park trails. There are no visitor services along this remote route, so arrange food and supplies before setting out.