Davis Lake Pass
Peak · 11,660 ft · Kings Canyon & Sequoia corridor
Davis Lake Pass sits at 11,660 feet in the Kings Canyon and Sequoia corridor, a high-Sierra crossing with avalanche terrain and persistent wind exposure. Winter and spring conditions dominate the calendar.
Wind funnels consistently across the pass; the 30-day average is 11 mph with gusts to 38 mph. Morning and early afternoon are calmest. Expect rapid temperature swings tied to cloud cover and storm proximity. Snowpack remains deep into late spring, creating instability on steeper flanks.
Over the last 30 days, Davis Lake Pass averaged a NoGo Score of 37 with temperatures near 19 degrees and average wind of 11 mph. The week ahead will track closely with this pattern. Watch for wind spikes in afternoon hours and avalanche hazard on north-facing slopes as melt accelerates.
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About Davis Lake Pass
Davis Lake Pass lies on the high-Sierra divide between Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks, accessed via Highway 180 from Fresno or Highway 395 from the eastern Sierra. The pass is a key backcountry crossing and mountaineering objective in the corridor. Base popularity is low; most traffic comes from technical parties and high-elevation ski mountaineers rather than day-hikers. Winter approach requires avalanche awareness and summer timing often extends into early autumn.
The location sits in continuous avalanche terrain with steep north and south-facing flanks. The 30-day average temperature of 19 degrees and consistent 11 mph wind reflect high-elevation exposure; winter minimums drop to 8 degrees and storm winds exceed 38 mph. Snowpack persists through spring and early summer; the pass rarely opens to foot traffic before late June. Crowding averages 2 (very low) year-round, but parties in the zone tend to be experienced mountaineers planning around avalanche and rockfall hazard.
Head here on spring and early-summer ski-mountaineering missions when snowpack provides safe travel and avalanche danger is manageable. Skip afternoon hours when wind compounds exposure and visibility drops. Parties should check Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center forecasts before approach and carry proper rescue gear. The pass suits skilled winter mountaineers, ski tourers, and technical scramblists; casual hikers should wait for mid-summer when snow clears lower passes in the corridor.
Davis Lake Pass connects to the Taboose Pass and Sawmill Pass routes; the corridor includes higher objectives like Mount Darwin and Mount Wynne. Nearby Kearsarge Pass and Onion Valley offer lower-elevation alternatives on Highway 395 with earlier season windows and less avalanche exposure. For parties avoiding high-pass wind and avalanche terrain, the approach via Highway 120 and Tioga Pass to the north provides gentler terrain but longer drive times from both the Valley and the eastern Sierra gateway towns.