Davis-McGee Pass
Peak · 11,757 ft · Kings Canyon & Sequoia corridor
Davis-McGee Pass sits at 11,757 feet in the Kings Canyon and Sequoia corridor of the Sierra Nevada, straddling high alpine terrain between major drainages. Spring and early summer conditions dominate visitor planning.
Wind accelerates through the pass by mid-afternoon, funneling off adjacent ridges and open slopes. Morning calm typically breaks by noon. Snowpack stability and avalanche terrain exposure define spring approach risk; cornicing is common on the ridge.
Over the last 30 days, Davis-McGee Pass averaged 11 mph wind and 19 degrees Fahrenheit, with gusts to 38 mph. The rolling score of 37 reflects winter-into-spring transition: unstable snow, unpredictable wind, and thin crowding. Watch the week ahead for temperature swing and wind trend; afternoon conditions degrade quickly.
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About Davis-McGee Pass
Davis-McGee Pass sits at 11,757 feet in the Kings Canyon and Sequoia high-Sierra corridor, roughly 10 to 12 miles east of the main Sequoia watershed divide. The pass lies on the ridgeline between Kearsarge Peak and the Kern Plateau, accessed via backcountry routes from Onion Valley (east side, Highway 395 corridor near Independence, California) or from the west via high-country trails from the Kern River drainage and Highway 180. Both approaches require either a multiday backpack or a high-clearance vehicle approach to trailheads; there is no direct road access. The pass itself is often a waypoint rather than a destination, lying on the Inyo-Kern Divide and marking the boundary between ESAC avalanche advisory zones.
Spring conditions at Davis-McGee Pass are dominated by snowpack transition and wind exposure. The 30-day average temperature of 19 degrees Fahrenheit reflects mid-April to late April conditions; overnight lows frequently dip below 10 degrees, while afternoon peaks can reach the low 30s on clear days. Wind averages 11 mph but regularly gusts to 38 mph in the afternoons, driven by pressure differential between the Owens Valley and the Sierra crest. Crowding remains minimal (average 2 out of 10) because the pass lies well off main recreational corridors. By late May, sun-cup and corn-snow conditions firm the surface; by early June, much of the pass may clear to bare ground on south-facing slopes, though snowdrifts persist in wind-scoured basins well into early summer.
Davis-McGee Pass suits experienced alpinists, ski mountaineers, and high-route trekkers who understand avalanche terrain. Spring visitors must read snowpack bulletin advisories from ESAC and recognize slab, wind-slab, and wet-loose hazards. The pass is not a hiking destination for casual traffic; the approach demands route-finding, crampons or microspikes in spring, and self-rescue skills. Experienced visitors plan around afternoon wind buildup and aim for predawn or early-morning crossing. The high elevation and remote drainage context mean weather windows are narrow; a 48-hour forecast shift can change the pass from feasible to dangerous.
Nearby alternatives include Kearsarge Pass (to the north, lower elevation, more traffic, more stable spring access) and Forester Pass on the High Sierra Trail (south, similarly exposed and remote). The Onion Valley trailhead and Highway 395 approach from Independence offer faster access than Highway 180 from the west, though both routes require winter closure awareness on approach roads. Inyo National Forest and Sequoia National Park boundaries overlap in this zone; permits and seasonal closures apply. Experienced high-route skiers and mountaineers who summit Kearsarge Peak often traverse to Davis-McGee Pass as part of a linked traverse; solo pass crossing is rare.