Where is sawtooth pass

The trail will continue in this way for some time before coming to a dryer and more open slope. Views west toward San Joaquin Valley will either be smogged in, or maybe even surprsingly clear as they were on the day I hiked.

The trail will round a rocky bend, switchback some more, and then reach a junction with the Crystal Lakes Trail. Turn left to continue following the Monarch Lakes trail. After the junction, the trail will become increasingly rocky as the trees begin to thin.

Hints of the view about to open up to you are present from the slopes of domineering Empire Mountain directly to the north. The trail will pass over a rise dotted by foxtail pines before bending right to traverse the rocky and exposed slopes of Monarch Canyon. Monarch Canyon is expansive and wide, and the sounds of falling water echo up from the lower reaches. The rock on the south side is sedimentary, and is flakier and darker than the usual Sierran granite.

This adds to some of the richer hues present throughout the canyon. The steep slope ascending down to your left adds a bit of drama for seasoning.

The trail follows this slope for about a mile before it bends to the right and passes through some lush spring-fed growths of grasses and wildflowers.

Past this marshy spot, the trail will cross over two branches of Monarch Creek, indicating that the lake is almost near. The trail will climb up another low rise, which is actually the moraine that holds the lake into its small glacial basin. At the top of the moraine, the lake appears, along with the first of a number of campsites. If you come here during the morning or afternoon on a warm day, be prepared for dreadful swarms of mosquitos.

Without those things, they may become a nightmare from which there is no waking. A use trail leads left past the first campsite to another campsite with a bear box. Past this campsite is an open air pit toilet that might offer one of the nicest views of any toilet in California. There are a number of easily climbed granite boulders from which to consider the lake.

Or, one may follow a continuation of the use trail up and over a second moraine leading to the larger but less accessible second Monarch Lake. If you are a glutton for punishment and want to drag yourself up a steep, difficulty, sandy, slippery slope, you can follow a different use trail off to the left.

The trail will meander through some boulders before beginning to climb in earnest. The scree appears almost immediately, and the first feet of climbing occurs on brutally steep switchbacks traced through the scree. Occasional patches of firm ground exist, providing a moment of temporary relief. However, expect scree from start to finish, and do not expect any part of the trail to be easy. July 25, Catherine W. July 12, No shade Scramble. Aaron Clemen.

July 4, Hiking No shade. Andrew Dean. June 20, Xcole Cav. June 11, February 8, Keaton Danielson. August 8, Kris S. July 21, Hiking No shade Rocky Scramble. DC Hassett. July 11, Hiking No shade Off trail Rocky Scramble. Marina K. July 5, Rocky Scramble. David Stahl. Hiking Scramble. Jonathan Markovich. October 6, Hiking No shade Scramble. Angie Cabral. September 8, Jesus Cervantes.

September 2, Hiking Bugs Off trail Rocky Scramble. Alexander Alabbas. January 30, Fred Boes. October 23, Rich Boyd. September 22, June 26, Shiwei Li. May 30, Yueling Luo. May 29, May 28, We backpacked to Monarch Lake the night before and hike to Sawtooth Pass.

Antonio Diaz. September 9, Tyler Manning. August 25, Eric Chow. June 12, Edgar Gonzalez. May 4, Rebecca Mckee. August 15, Show more reviews Showing results 1 - 30 of Add photos of this trail Photos help others preview the trail. Upload photos about this trail to inspire others. Show more photos Showing results 1 - 56 of Share your route with others Help other users find their next route.

Upload your activity and inspire others. September 12, Who Dis. September 4, Stefan V. August 28, Jaskiran Kaur. August 27, Boruch Ungarischer. Katie Cowan. August 7, Jose Luis Madrigal. August 4, Eduardo Madrigal. Carol de Vries. July 27, Justin Rivard. July 14, Hunter Jones.

Alex Marlay. May 10, A trick I was told about was to put mothballs under the car, and this would keep the marmots away. Might check with the rangers if this is still going on. In places where marmots chew car hoses and belts I use coyote urine.

One can buy a bottle at Amazon. Cheapest I've found is at Walmart. Easier and less scratch provoking than chicken wire. A different approach to the peak, and much better than approaching from Sawtooth Pass to avoid the scree , approach via upper Monarch Lake and from the south side.

Not any more technical but more scrambling. Did get down this but not without battle wounds. Children refers to the set of objects that logically fall under a given object. Parents refers to a larger category under which an object falls. For example, theAconcagua mountain page has the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits' asparents and is a parent itself to many routes, photos, and Trip Reports.

Toggle navigation. California, United States, North America. Sawtooth Peak. Log in to vote. The path begins to ascend steeply via switchbacks that lead to a fork in the trail. The right fork climbs to Crystal Lakes. To continue to Monarch Lakes and beyond bear left. The lakes lie approximately one mile past the fork in the trail, a relatively flat trek.

Beyond the lakes, the trail climbs 1, feet in one and a half miles to Sawtooth Pass, a strenuous hike, but one that provides one of the grandest views in the southern Sierras.