Hell for Sure Pass Trail

Hell for Sure Pass Trail is a remote out-and-back from J54 Maxson Trailhead at Courtright Reservoir to an 11,286-foot pass above Goddard Canyon. The pass is about 16 miles from the start, so plan on roughly 32 miles round trip and about three days with two nights out. The route climbs from around 8,184 feet through forest and open basins, past Post Corral Creek and a chain of alpine lakes, to a rocky saddle with a long view east. The pass sits about 3,100 feet above the start, and the upper route is faint enough that this is a serious wilderness hike for backpackers who can navigate, not a casual day walk.

The trail drops into trees and small meadows, briefly follows the Dusy-Ershim OHV track, then leaves it for a dirt hiking path. Expect a quiet forest stretch without a big view right away. Post Corral Creek, the first major creek crossing, is about seven miles in. The path climbs again after the creek; at the junction just beyond it, take the branch toward Hell for Sure Pass rather than Blackcap Basin.

The climb to Fleming Lake gains about 1,500 feet over roughly 4.5 miles. The route winds through timber and small meadows before the country opens around the lake. From there it continues toward Disappointment Lake and Hell for Sure Lake, with smooth granite and cairn-marked stretches. Primitive campsites are reported near the lakes; plan this as a self-supported trip. Carry a way to treat water and do not assume a creek will be flowing when you arrive.

From Hell for Sure Lake, the pass is roughly 1.5 miles and 1,000 feet higher. The upper route turns across open rock and can be easy to lose; follow the cairns and use your map instead of treating this like a signed trail. At the 11,286-foot saddle, look east down Goddard Canyon toward the LeConte Divide and Mount Goddard. Turn north for Red Mountain. For a photo, keep a little of the rocky pass foreground in the frame so the canyon's depth reads.

Start at J54 Maxson Trailhead at Courtright Reservoir, where parking is available. The Forest Service lists June through October, snow conditions permitting. An overnight wilderness permit is required and the Maxson trailhead has a quota; hikers starting here can get the permit for the full itinerary from the Forest Service even though the route enters Kings Canyon National Park. Pets are prohibited on National Park trails, so dogs cannot complete this route. Store food in a bear-resistant container, and do not build fires above 10,000 feet. The mapped outing turns around at the pass; the path continues east into Goddard Canyon, but that is a separate through-hike and needs its own exit plan.