Rock Island Pass
Peak · 10,157 ft · Yosemite corridor
Rock Island Pass sits at 10,157 feet in the high Sierra along the Yosemite corridor, a windswept alpine crossing between Tenaya Lake and Cathedral Range. Exposure and elevation make it colder and windier than valley floors.
Wind dominates here. Afternoon gusts funnel off the pass itself; mornings are calmer and clearer. Snowpack persists late into spring; exposed ridgelines shed that snowpack fast, creating wet-slab hazard windows. Crowding stays light year-round due to elevation and access difficulty.
Over the last 30 days, Rock Island Pass averaged a NoGo Score of 34 with temperatures around 24 degrees Fahrenheit and winds averaging 13 mph. The week ahead continues this pattern of cold alpine conditions with afternoon wind gusts; check the wind trend chart to identify calmer morning windows. Avalanche terrain demands snowpack awareness through late spring.
30 days back / 7 days forward
Today's score by factor
About Rock Island Pass
Rock Island Pass is a 10,157-foot alpine saddle in the Yosemite Sierra, crossed by the High Sierra Trail between Tenaya Lake and the Cathedral Range. Access typically runs via Highway 120 to Tioga Pass road, then trailhead parking near Tenaya Lake; the approach is a full day hike or backpacking trip, not a casual walk-up. The pass sits on the eastern shoulder of the Sierra crest, exposed to both maritime air from the west and the rain-shadow drying of the Great Basin to the east. Base popularity is low (0.2 on regional scale) because the high elevation and multi-hour approach filter out casual visitors.
Conditions at Rock Island Pass run cold and windy year-round. The 30-day rolling average temperature is 24 degrees Fahrenheit; the 365-day range spans 7 degrees at the low end to 37 degrees at the high. Wind averages 13 mph over 30 days but peaks at 36 mph, with afternoon gusts funneling across the pass saddle between roughly 1 and sunset. Spring and early summer bring snowpack instability; avalanche terrain in the Cathedral Range to the west demands constant awareness of slope angle, recent weather, and settlement cracks. Crowding averages 3 on a 10-point scale, lowest in shoulder seasons and highest on first weekends after Highway 120 opens.
Rock Island Pass suits experienced backcountry travelers and alpinists comfortable with multi-pitch navigation, exposed terrain, and self-rescue. Wind makes the pass challenging for those with lightweight shelters or marginal cold-gear; skip afternoon crossings if you lack wind-shedding clothing or a bivi. Snowpack conditions control the window for safe travel; contact the Sierra Avalanche Center or check recent field reports before committing. Water is scarce on the pass itself; plan cache or melt points at Tenaya Lake or Cathedral Lakes. Parking near the trailhead fills early on weekends, especially after snow melts and the High Sierra Trail season opens.
Nearby alternatives include Cathedral Pass (slightly lower elevation, more forested approach) and Tioga Pass (lower still, more direct access to Highway 120). The Yosemite corridor as a whole offers dozens of high passes and basins; Rock Island Pass is one of the more exposed and wind-prone. Comparison: it runs windier and colder than most Yosemite Valley rim approaches, similar in character to Kearsarge Pass on the eastern Sierra but with steeper approach terrain. Winter and early spring closure is not hard (Highway 120 may close) but the pass itself remains technically accessible to skilled parties managing avalanche risk.