Goddard Creek Pass
Peak · 12,355 ft · Kings Canyon & Sequoia corridor
Goddard Creek Pass is a 12,355-foot Sierra Nevada peak in the Kings Canyon and Sequoia corridor, accessed via the high country above the Goddard Creek drainage. Wind-exposed alpine terrain with avalanche hazard in winter and spring.
Wind accelerates through the pass by mid-morning, funneling down from the high Sierra crest. Temperatures stay well below freezing on most days. Early morning calm lasts only 2 to 3 hours; plan ascents before 9 am to avoid afternoon gusts and unstable snow.
The 30-day average wind of 11 mph masks afternoon peaks of 38 mph. Average temperature sits at 19 degrees Fahrenheit; the last 365 days have ranged from 8 to 33 degrees. Crowding remains light at a 2.0 average. Watch the 7-day forecast for temperature swings above freezing, which destabilize existing snowpack and trigger wet-slab avalanches on the steeper approach slopes.
30 days back / 7 days forward
About Goddard Creek Pass
Goddard Creek Pass lies at the convergence of the upper Goddard Creek drainage and the High Sierra Trail corridor, roughly 8 to 10 miles northeast of the nearest roadhead trailheads in the Kings Canyon and Sequoia corridor. Access requires multi-day backpacking from either Highway 180 near Kings Canyon Village or from the Highway 395 eastern Sierra gateways. Winter and spring ascents are dominated by snowpack; the pass sits in full avalanche terrain with steep gullies and wind-loaded ridges on its approaches. Summer and early autumn crossings are dry but windy.
Winter through mid-spring, the pass carries 6 to 12 feet of consolidated snow depending on the year. Average 30-day temperature is 19 degrees Fahrenheit; the coldest readings drop to 8 degrees. The 30-day average wind of 11 mph regularly spikes to 38 mph in the afternoons, when thermal circulation off the high basins accelerates. Crowding remains minimal, averaging 2.0 on the rolling 30-day metric; the pass sees fewer than 20 parties per month. Late spring into early summer, wind patterns remain strong but temperatures climb above freezing, creating unstable corn snow and wet-slab risk. By late summer, afternoon winds dominate but skies are typically clearer.
The pass suits experienced winter mountaineers and spring ski tourers willing to navigate steep, exposed terrain and assess avalanche hazard in real time. Parties typically camp 1 to 2 days lower and make a single summit push, timing the ascent for pre-dawn calm and returning before wind escalates. Standard practice is to avoid the pass entirely if recent warming or wind loading has occurred; the 30-day max wind of 38 mph and exposure to unstable snowpack make marginal conditions deadly. Crampons, ice axes, and avalanche transceivers are mandatory. Solo crossings are rare; experienced parties travel in groups of 3 or more.
Nearby alternatives within the corridor include Muir Pass (11,955 feet, less exposed, lower avalanche hazard) and the Evolution Creek basin crossings, which offer similar high-country experience with gentler terrain. The Kings Canyon and Sequoia corridor as a whole is less crowded than the Yosemite high country but demands the same winter mountaineering discipline and avalanche awareness. Weather in this part of the Sierra is less predictable than the western slope; afternoon wind and rapid temperature swings are the rule, not the exception.