Black Rock Pass Trail

This is a 23-mile out-and-back from Sawtooth Parking Lot: climb to Timber Gap, drop to Cliff Creek, then climb to Black Rock Pass at roughly 11,600–11,700 feet. The mapped outbound corridor is 11.5 miles; the return retraces it and climbs back over Timber Gap. Allow about 17–18 hours of trail time across the trip. Most hikers should split it into an overnight rather than force a day return. This is an exceptionally demanding high-country route, chosen for the pass and its views into the Five Lakes basins.

Timber Gap Trail begins at the parking lot and climbs moderately steeply through forest and small lakes. The first allowed campsite is Timber Gap, 2.2 miles in, but there is no water there. From the gap the route drops through forest to Cliff Creek. The crossing is unimproved, so take time to find the tread on the far bank before continuing.

Beyond Cliff Creek, the trail follows the creek past a waterfall toward Pinto Lake. It is a small, marshy lake that can be hidden by willows. Above it, faint paths spread across a meadow; hikers have lost the main tread there, so retrace to the last clear trail if the route becomes uncertain. The climb then steepens over exposed, loose rock and talus toward the pass. Snow can linger at this elevation early in the season.

From the crest, look back toward Spring, Cyclamen and Columbine Lakes below Sawtooth Peak. The opposite side opens over Little Five and much of Big Five Lakes, then toward Big Arroyo, Kern Canyon and the Kaweah Peaks. This is a strong place to stop and look around before turning back; framing a lake below the ridgeline gives the view scale. Continuing down toward Little Five Lakes makes a longer through-route and is outside this return itinerary.

There is no dependable potable water on the route. The park notes no water at the Timber Gap campsite; treat any natural water you collect. Reports describe campsites near Cliff Creek and Pinto Lake, but confirm which sites are allowed for your itinerary. Overnight wilderness travel requires a permit. Silver City Resort has a small market and showers on Mineral King Road, a separate stop with limited supplies.

Start at Sawtooth Parking Lot, the Timber Gap access at the end of Mineral King Road. The road is narrow, steep and winding, with unpaved stretches; trailers and RVs are not advised. Mineral King typically opens from late May through October and closes in winter snow, so check current road and trail conditions before setting out. Pets are prohibited on park trails; service animals are allowed.

Timber Gap follows an old mining route. In the 19th century, miners used red fir for fuel and mine-shaft supports, while Mineral King's metamorphic rocks drew silver prospectors. That history belongs to the approach and region; no specific origin story for the name Black Rock Pass was established.