Cyclamen Lake Pass
Peak · 11,127 ft · Kings Canyon & Sequoia corridor
Cyclamen Lake Pass sits at 11,127 feet in the Kings Canyon and Sequoia corridor of the Sierra Nevada, a high alpine saddle with avalanche terrain and exposure to afternoon wind funnels off the adjacent lake basin.
Wind averages 10 mph but gusts to 26 mph in afternoon hours as thermals rise off the lake below. Morning calm persists until mid-day; by 2 p.m., conditions deteriorate. Snowpack lingers into early summer at this elevation, creating slabbing hazard when solar loading increases.
Over the past month, the 30-day average wind was 10 mph with temperatures averaging 25 degrees Fahrenheit. Conditions have ranged from a low NoGo Score of 5 to a high of 65. The week ahead will likely track similar patterns: watch for wind acceleration in afternoon hours and monitor snowpack stability if you're climbing the approach.
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About Cyclamen Lake Pass
Cyclamen Lake Pass is a high saddle on the crest of the Sierra Nevada at 11,127 feet, straddling the boundary between Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks. Access is primarily via the Cyclamen Lake trailhead on the eastern approach, reached from Highway 395 near Independence or from the western slope via the Avalanche Lakes and Outpost Camp route. The pass itself is not a marked destination but a critical col for backcountry travel between the Kern Plateau and the Inyo drainage. Drive times to trailheads range from 3 to 5 hours depending on your origin; the pass sits roughly 8 to 10 miles from the nearest trailhead and requires competent mountaineering.
Conditions at Cyclamen Lake Pass are governed by elevation and exposure to afternoon thermal wind. The 30-day average temperature is 25 degrees Fahrenheit, but the annual range spans from 7 degrees in winter to 38 degrees in summer, reflecting the high-alpine environment. Wind is the dominant factor: the 30-day average is 10 mph, but maximum gusts reach 26 mph, typically in afternoon hours when valley heating funnels air up the lake basin. Snowpack persists from late autumn through early summer; spring and early summer present the greatest avalanche hazard as solar loading destabilizes slab terrain. Crowding is minimal (average 2 on a 1-to-10 scale), making this a remote, technical destination favored by experienced mountaineers rather than day-hikers.
Cyclamen Lake Pass is suited for backcountry skiers, mountaineers, and high-altitude trekkers with solid winter travel skills. The route demands avalanche awareness and competent route-finding; the terrain includes sustained steep sections and corniced ridges. Experienced parties plan for a pre-dawn start to minimize afternoon wind exposure and avoid midday slabbing risk. The pass offers no shelter or established camp; bivouac sites are limited and require careful snow or rock placement. Water is abundant but frozen in spring and early summer, requiring a stove. Parties should carry avalanche beacon, probe, and shovel and understand slab propagation and terrain traps in the hanging basins approaching the pass.
Nearby alternatives include the Avalanche Lakes traverse and the Kern Plateau rim routes, both lower and less exposed but longer in distance. Taboose Pass and Baxter Pass offer similar high-elevation crossings with comparable wind and avalanche hazard but different access approaches. The Kings Canyon corridor overall sees less traffic than the Yosemite high country, making Cyclamen Lake Pass one of the most remote high-altitude passes in the southern Sierra. Parties considering this crossing should cross-reference conditions on the ESAC avalanche forecasts and confirm Sierra Nevada snowpack reports before committing to the approach.