Red Pass
Peak · 11,574 ft · Eastern Sierra corridor
Red Pass sits at 11,574 feet in the Eastern Sierra, a high alpine crossing between the Inyo and Mono basins. Winter and spring snow dominates access; summer winds funnel through the saddle.
Wind accelerates through the pass by mid-morning, particularly from the west. Afternoon gusts routinely exceed 20 mph; the exposed ridgeline offers no shelter. Early starts yield calmer air; plan to descend before noon if exposed to weather.
The 30-day average wind speed stands at 12 mph, with max gusts reaching 42 mph and average temperature at 19 degrees Fahrenheit. Crowding remains low year-round, averaging 2.0 on the visibility scale. Watch the week ahead for wind spikes in the 7-day forecast; sustained calm is rare at this elevation.
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About Red Pass
Red Pass is a 11,574-foot alpine saddle on the crest of the Eastern Sierra, straddling the boundary between Inyo and Mono counties. Access depends entirely on snowpack and season. In winter and spring, approach is technical and avalanche-exposed; the pass sits in terrain flagged by the Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center. Summer and early fall approach via High Sierra routes from the west (typically via Humphreys Basin drainage) or from the east through Bishop Pass corridor. No maintained road reaches the pass itself. Drive time from Bishop to trailheads serving the pass runs 45 minutes to over an hour depending on exact route and parking.
Red Pass sits at the intersection of three weather regimes: westerly Pacific flows, the Owens Valley thermal draft, and high-altitude radiation cooling. The 30-day average wind is 12 mph, but afternoon gusts regularly hit 30 to 42 mph by late spring and summer. Average temperature over 30 days is 19 degrees Fahrenheit; expect sub-zero nights year-round and freezing days until July. The pass sees minimal crowding; average crowding score of 2.0 reflects low baseline traffic. Winter brings heavy snow and avalanche instability; late spring sees rapid melt and stream crossing hazard. Summer offers the most stable conditions but not the calmest wind. Early fall can deliver clear, colder weather with reduced afternoon wind compared to midsummer.
Red Pass suits backcountry travelers: mountaineers, high-pass scramblers, and remote-camp backpackers comfortable with exposure, snow navigation, and self-rescue. Do not attempt in active storm, whiteout, or after heavy recent snow without avalanche training and assessment. Experienced parties plan two-day traverses to manage fatigue and weather windows. Parking at trailheads fills quickly on weekends in July and August, though actual pass-summit traffic remains sparse. Water is snow-fed and seasonally variable; plan for water scarcity on dry rock sections. Cell coverage is absent.
Red Pass lies on a high-altitude traverse corridor that connects to Mount Darwin, Mount Humphreys, and the northern Sierra Crest. Nearby alternatives include Bishop Pass (12,370 feet, more maintained approach), Kearsarge Pass (11,823 feet, better-known route to the east), and Glen Pass (11,978 feet, farther north). Red Pass differs from these in exposure, minimal established trail, and lower relative traffic. Winter alpinists use Red Pass as a link in ski traverses; summer hikers treat it as a standalone peak or col objective. The Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center monitors the region; check forecasts before winter or spring approach.