Simpson Meadow Trail

Simpson Meadow Trail is a 22.9-mile, one-way wilderness traverse from the Copper Creek Trailhead at Road’s End to the junction with Upper Middle Fork Kings Trail near Simpson Meadow. That total includes the 10.9-mile approach to Granite Pass and about 12 miles of trail north of the pass. The route climbs above 10,600 feet, then drops through high meadows and steep, loose tread toward the Middle Fork. This isn’t a loop or a day hike: allow about two days of walking, plus camp time. Overnight trips require a wilderness permit, and you’ll need a plan for animal-resistant food storage. There’s no road at the far end, so arrange an onward wilderness route or a return plan before setting out. The shorter 13-mile figure describes roughly the pass-to-river section and leaves out the Road’s End approach.

From Road’s End, Copper Creek climbs steadily through a mix of open slope and forest. The lower climb gets hot and has little shade, so an early start helps. Lower Tent Meadow, about four miles in, is the first allowed campsite; the trail continues past Upper Tent Meadow toward the Granite Lip. Upper Tent can be difficult to spot, and the Lip itself has no water. Water sources on this ascent are limited and seasonal, so don’t plan on every small stream being dependable.

Past the Lip, the route drops into Granite Basin, where open granite, green meadows and small lakes break up the climb. The trail then rises again to Granite Pass, the high point at about 10,660 feet. Stop at the saddle and look both ways: south across the basin, then north toward the Middle Fork and LeConte Canyon. This is the view to linger over. Include a little of the trail or basin in a photo so the steep approach reads in the foreground; side trips to nearby lakes add mileage and aren’t part of this line.

North of the pass, the path descends through three meadows. Shorty’s Meadow is the largest; look among the trees near its southeast end for a cabin remnant associated with Joseph Walter “Shorty” Lovelace, a winter trapper who built small shelters about a day’s walk apart. The cabin sites form part of a historic district listed in 1978. Farther on, the route crosses the forks of Dougherty Creek four times. After the third crossing, a drift fence opens a west-facing view toward the partly hidden Lake of the Fallen Moon. The lake is a viewpoint, not a separate trail destination; stay on the mapped route.

At the State Lakes junction, the final five miles drop about 4,000 feet. This loose, very steep, minimally maintained stretch is commonly called The Bitch Trail. Going north, the East Fork of Dougherty Creek is the last source the route description identifies; water can be seasonal. The mapped line ends at the Upper Middle Fork Kings Trail junction on the river’s east side. It does not cross the Middle Fork. A separate crossing nearby is marked disused, so don’t build an exit plan around it; continue on a verified backcountry route or retrace your steps. There is no vehicle access at this end.

For a same-start trip that returns to the car, the separate Copper Creek Trail to Granite Pass is a 22-mile out-and-back. It shares the exposed climb and high-country scenery but stops at the pass and retraces the approach, avoiding a remote one-way finish. It’s still a strenuous backpacking objective, not a short substitute.