Lewis Creek Trail to Kennedy Pass

The trail climbs steadily from the road through chaparral. The first couple of miles are the hardest part to enjoy: hot, dusty switchbacks with only limited valley views. Near the Hotel Creek junction the tread narrows and the grade eases for a while. It dips to several creek crossings, then moves through open subalpine pines, meadows and wooded glens. The scenery changes gradually rather than delivering one big view, so this middle stretch is more about the walk and the high-country setting than a nonstop panorama.

Frypan Meadow is 5.5 miles from the trailhead and the first permitted campsite. If you want a shorter but still substantial walk, turn around here for about 11 miles total; the pass climb is still ahead. Overnight travel requires a wilderness permit. Plan the rest of a backpack around the designated camping rules rather than assuming you can stop anywhere along the route.

Past Frypan, the trail gets steeper and brushier as it climbs toward Kennedy Pass. A backpacking account describes faint tread and cairns in this upper section, with about 1,300 feet of gain in the final mile. Expect to work for the last climb and keep your navigation aid handy. The pass sits near 10,800 feet, where the trees thin and broad High Sierra views open up. For a photo, include a piece of the trail in the foreground with the distant ridges; it helps show how the route climbs out of the valley.

This route ends at the pass and follows the same trail back to Lewis Creek. The continuation north becomes difficult to follow, so it is not part of this mapped outing. Kennedy Mountain is a separate, harder summit scramble beyond the pass; don't count it as a small add-on to this hike.

Wilderness permits are required for overnight trips on this trail, and Cedar Grove permits are issued at Road's End Permit Station. Pets are prohibited on park trails; service animals are allowed. The route passes through the 2024 Happy Fire footprint, where damaged tread, downed trees and falling hazards are possible. Don't linger in burned sections, and check the latest trail conditions before setting out because the most recent report I found was dated July 31, 2026.