Cinnamon Gap
Peak · 4,327 ft · Kings Canyon & Sequoia corridor
Cinnamon Gap is a 4,327-foot peak in the Kings Canyon and Sequoia corridor of the Sierra Nevada, perched above the western Sierra crest. Spring and early summer offer the best access windows before afternoon wind picks up.
Cinnamon Gap experiences moderate afternoon wind funneling across the exposed ridgeline, with mornings typically calm and afternoons gusty by mid-day. Elevation and proximity to the high Sierra crest mean temperature swings are sharp. Snowpack lingers into late spring, making approach conditions highly variable.
Over the last 30 days, Cinnamon Gap has averaged a NoGo Score of 35 with an average wind of 6 mph and temperatures around 50 degrees Fahrenheit. The week ahead shows typical spring volatility; watch for wind gusts approaching 21 mph on exposed afternoons and residual snow on north-facing approaches.
30 days back / 7 days forward
About Cinnamon Gap
Cinnamon Gap sits on the high ridgeline dividing the Kings Canyon and Sequoia backcountry in California's central Sierra Nevada. Access is via Highway 180 from Fresno, leading to the Kings Canyon gateway near Grant Grove, then cross-country or trail-based approach into the high country. The gap itself marks a natural saddle and water divide in terrain characterized by granite slopes, cirque basins, and lingering snowfields through May. The location is remote enough to demand solid route-finding skills and map reading; no maintained trail leads directly to the summit or gap itself.
Spring and early summer define the accessible season at Cinnamon Gap. Winter snowpack, which can exceed 200 inches in the upper basin, gradually consolidates through April and May, opening approach corridors by late May in most years. The 30-day rolling average temperature of 50 degrees reflects the variable spring pattern: mornings often drop to freezing, afternoons may climb above 60 degrees Fahrenheit on clear days. Wind averages 6 mph but gusts to 21 mph are common on exposed ridgelines, particularly from early afternoon onward. Crowding remains minimal (2.0 average) because the peak lies outside primary summer tourist corridors; most traffic concentrates on lower trails near Grant Grove.
Cinnamon Gap suits experienced peak baggers, winter mountaineers tackling late-season snow crossings, and backcountry navigators seeking solitude. Expect to navigate off-trail or use faint use trails; this is not a casual day hike. Late spring and early summer appeal most to visitors comfortable with postholing through corn snow and reading topo maps in real time. Avalanche terrain is present on steeper northern and eastern drainages; spring visitors must assess snowpack stability and avoid ascents after heavy precipitation or rapid warming cycles. Parking is limited to roadside pullouts or trailhead lots near the Kings Canyon approach.
The gap sits roughly 8 to 10 miles from the nearest maintained trail access via the Kings Canyon corridor. Nearby peaks include Kettle Dome and other unnamed summits in the same ridgeline system. Visitors often combine Cinnamon Gap with traverses toward Sphinx Lakes or upper Copper Creek drainages as part of multi-day backcountry loops. Compared to the more heavily trafficked peaks around Rae Lakes or Kearsarge Pass, Cinnamon Gap remains quiet and relatively undiscovered, making it ideal for solitude-seeking visitors willing to invest in route-finding and snow travel skills.