Pacific Crest Trail: Sierra Nevada (Kennedy Meadows South to Tahoe Region)

Northbound, the Sierra Nevada portion of the Pacific Crest Trail begins at Kennedy Meadows South, where hikers traditionally reorganize gear for higher elevations, colder nights, and bear-aware food storage practices where required. From this gateway, the trail climbs into a series of high basins and passes, often spending extended time near or above treeline.

Food carries in this section are generally longer than in Southern California. Many hikers leave Kennedy Meadows South with roughly a week or more of food, and then choose a sequence of exits—such as Lone Pine via Cottonwood or Trail Pass, Independence or Bishop via Kearsarge Pass, Vermilion Valley Resort near Lake Edison, Red’s Meadow and Mammoth Lakes, Tuolumne Meadows, or later highway crossings—to break the range into manageable segments.

Conditions in the Sierra change significantly with season and year. In lower-snow years or later-season itineraries, snow patches and water crossings may be relatively straightforward. In higher-snow or earlier entries, consolidated snowpack, meltwater, and lingering cornices can slow progress, influence daily timing, and require careful assessment. Weather patterns can also shift quickly, with sun, thunderstorms, and cold nights all appearing within short spans.

As hikers progress north, resupply opportunities gradually transition from deep backcountry outposts to more easily accessed road corridors. Kennedy Meadows North and the South Lake Tahoe area often serve as practical markers for the northern boundary of “Sierra logistics,” after which terrain remains mountainous but resupply and weather patterns begin to resemble Northern California rather than the high Sierra core.