Red Peak Pass Loop

Red Peak Pass Loop is a 48.1-mile counterclockwise backpacking circuit from Mono Meadow through the Clark Range and back by the Merced River and Nevada Fall. It links forest, high-country lakes, and an exposed pass into a remote wilderness trip, not a day hike. Plan five or six days at ordinary pack-carrying pace, about eight to ten miles a day. A six-day itinerary averages roughly eight miles daily; five days pushes that closer to ten. The full route gains 6,650 feet, so leave room for a demanding climb at altitude and a long finish.

The opening approach is forested, with occasional breaks for domes such as Mount Starr King. It drops about 1,000 feet over roughly 3.4 miles before the route turns southeast toward the Ottoway lakes. Save some energy for the return: the route climbs back toward the trailhead after circling the high country.

Ottoway Lake sits in the heart of the Clark Range. From the Merced Pass Lakes, the steep climb to Red Peak Pass gains about 1,200 feet; dirt and stone steps give way to exposed granite above the trees, with switchbacks threading between rock spires. Red Peak Pass is Yosemite's highest pass, and the open crossing is the defining effort and view. From the top, frame the nearby granite and a little trail against the jagged ridge so the scale comes through in a photo.

Beyond the pass, the route drops through lakes, streams, and granite basins toward Washburn Lake and Merced Lake High Sierra Camp, then follows the Merced River west to Nevada Fall. Stay with this westward return instead of taking one of the Happy Isles versions that begins in the valley. The landscape shifts from open high country to forest again; allow time for the long descent. Merced Lake High Sierra Camp is a useful landmark, but don't count on it as a dependable resupply stop.

From Nevada Fall, the route climbs through forest toward Mono Meadow. The mileage is spread around a loop rather than concentrated in one summit push, but the altitude, remoteness, and pack-carrying distance make this a serious backpacking commitment. Build a pace that leaves energy for the final uphill section.

Mono Meadow Trailhead is on Glacier Point Road. The road typically opens to cars from late May through October or November, depending on conditions, so check its current status before planning access. Overnight trips in Yosemite Wilderness require a permit year-round, and pets are not allowed on trails or in wilderness. Pack food and supplies for the full trip; no dependable resupply is established along this route.