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Evolution Loop – Mule Supported
$4,945.00
Dates
- August 25 - September 1, 2025
The Evolution Loop showcases the beloved destinations of John Muir Trail hikers and High Sierra backpackers. It combines the best the Sierra has to offer; Evolution Basin, Dusy Basin, and French Canyon—all frequently named as top favorites by seasoned adventurers. This journey offers a breathtaking experience through towering granite peaks, expansive valleys, sparkling alpine lakes, rushing rivers, and tranquil creeks. It’s a spectacular blend of the Sierra’s most iconic landscapes, making it one of our all-time favorite trips.
We start the 59-mile loop by hiking over Bishop Pass and entering Kings Canyon National Park. Then we drop into Le Conte Canyon and meet up with the John Muir Trail. We climb over Muir Pass to arrive in the Evolution Basin. We pass by Wanda Lake, Sapphire Lake, and Evolution Lake. From the Evolution Basin, we follow the San Joaquin River into the Evolution Valley. On day 5 we leave the JMT and head up Piute Canyon to Hutchinson Meadow. Finally, we climb over Pine Creek Pass before descending to the Pine Creek trailhead.
You will carry only a light daypack with water, clothing, lunch, sunscreen, etc. Your day pack ideally weighs less than 15 pounds. and the mules will carry the rest!
Inclusions
Price includes shuttle, guiding, pack stock support, permits, group gear, tents, kitchen gear, breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. We provide delicious healthy meals – our guides are great backcountry chefs! No pre-packaged dehydrated meals, we promise!
Prerequisites
You should be able to hike, with a day pack, up to fourteen miles a day with 3,000 feet or more in elevation gain and/or loss. While we use mules to carry the loads, the distances to be covered each day are significant.
Acclimatization & Physical Training
For proper acclimatization, we suggest spending at least one night at a moderate altitude, higher than 8,000 feet, just prior to the start of the journey. See our detailed tips on acclimatizing and physical training in the “Resources” tab.
Shuttle
We will leave our vehicles in Bishop for the duration of the trip. We will shuttle you to the trailhead to start the trip. We will pick you up at the end and bring you back to your vehicles.
Day 1 – South Lake to Dusy Basin
9.4 miles, 2,360’ gain, 1,400’ loss
The Bishop Pass trail is a superb way to enter the backcountry, starting in dense forest, and passing along a chain of beautiful lakes to the base of the pass. The route starts with a series of junctions that require some attention to stay on the correct path. The trail climbs steadily to the Treasure Lake junction, gaining 420’ in 0.8 miles. Turn left at the junction to ascend another 200’ in 0.6 miles to the Marie Louise Lakes junction. Follow the trail to the right gaining 280’ in 0.5 miles to the Chocolate Lakes junction. Keep right as the trail soon follows the east shoreline of Long Lake to the Ruwau Lake junction, 0.9 miles. Continue straight toward 11,972’ Bishop Pass. The trees begin to thin as the path passes four more lakes, gaining another 620’ in 1.6 miles. The final ascent of the pass begins at mile 4.6, climbing another 720’ in 1.5 miles. A stop at the top is rewarded with views down the lake basin and into magnificent Dusy Basin. The trail descends steadily past lakes, rocky slope, and alpine meadows surrounded by a wall of 14,000’ peaks. Camp is to the left of the trail, 1/5 mile before Lake 10742. Drop down a short grassy slope to cross a shallow creek and then climb over a low knoll to a bench above the string of unnamed lakes feeding Lake 10742. The cook and gear will stay with the guests and the packers will take the stock down to Dusy Creek to graze.
There is reliable water from lakes and stream crossings on the north side of Bishop Pass. There are lakes off-trail on the south side of Bishop Pass.
Day 2 – Dusy Basin to Big Pete Meadow
5.6 miles, 540’ gain, 2,070’ loss
This is a day of amazing views. The wall of peaks surrounding the campsite will soon be replaced by extraordinary views of Le Conte Canyon. Return to the trail and follow it left past Lake 10742 and the green meadows of the outlet stream. The relatively flat trail reaches the lip of the canyon after 0.7 miles and then begins a steady drop to the canyon floor. The route first follows the flower-covered north side of cascading Dusy Branch before crossing the creek on a bridge at mile 1.4, 600’ below the lip. The trail drops another 1,450’ over the next 2.5 miles as it switchbacks through open forest to the junction of the John Muir/Pacific Crest Trail. There are a number of stream crossings that can usually be easily crossed on rocks. Go to the right at the junction to follow the Middle Fork of the Kings River past Little Pete Meadow to a stock gate, 1.4 miles and 450’ gain from the junction. Continue up the trail another 0.3 miles and then follow a faint side trail to the left over a low ridge to our secluded camp near the edge of the river.
This is a comfortable camp that is often used for a layover day. Please see the Side Trips section for a description of the trip to Grouse Meadow.
There are several creek crossings on the way down the canyon wall with reliable water.
Day 3 – Big Pete Meadow to Evolution Lake
12.7 miles, 3,040’ gain, 1,420’ loss
The trail follows the Kings River past meadows and cascades, leaving the trees after ascending 1,650’ in 3.4 miles. The barren, daunting landscape ahead can only be described as majestic, with the Black Divide to the west and the Goddard Divide to the north. The path climbs another 1,200’ in 2.8 miles to Muir Pass, going by several lakes, including large Helen Lake. The top of 11,955’ Muir Pass has the only structure on the John Muir Trail between Tuolumne Meadow and Mount Whitney, a small stone hut. The views from the pass are simply tremendous. The trail drops down 1,300’ over 6.5 miles into Evolution Basin with glacial cut walls and shelves of tarns and lakes. There is a small surprise along the edge of Evolution Lake where the trail climbs 100’ up a knob before dropping back to the lake shore. Camp is near the outlet of Evolution Lake, enjoying the view up-canyon as the afternoon light turns the rocky peaks golden.
Day 4 – Rest Day at Evolution Lake
Day 5 – Evolution Lake to Goddard Canyon Junction
8.9 miles, 130’ gain, 2,510’ loss
This is as close as one can get to an easy day traveling through the Sierras. We will leave our perch on the edge of Evolution Basin, to drop 900’ in 1.4 miles to a series of meadows, first Colby, then McClure, and finally Evolution Meadow. The meadows and trees seem greener in comparison to the rocky, barren landscape of Muir Pass. The meadows eventually end and the trail crosses Evolution Creek at mile 7.1, requiring wading during normal water years. The route passes a series of cascades before swinging away to switchback down 750’ in 1.7 miles to cross the South Fork of the San Joaquin River on a bridge. Leave the trail just past the bridge, going straight as the trail swings right. Camp is about 100 yards west of the bridge.
This comfortable camp is a great place for a layover day to fish the river or walk up to the beautiful meadows and waterfalls of Goddard Canyon. See the Goddard Canyon side trip description.
Water is readily available along much of the trail with stream crossings or a side trip to Evolution Creek.
Day 6 – Goddard Canyon Junction to Royce Creek Falls
11.6 miles, 2,710’ gain, 930’ loss
The trail follows the river through forest, crossing the river on a bridge at mile 0.8, and follows the energetic San Joaquin River another 2.6 miles, moving in and out of forest, to a bridged crossing of Piute Creek as the John Muir Trail leaves Kings Canyon Nation Park and enters the John Muir Wilderness of the Sierra National Forest. Turn right after crossing the bridge to follow the cascading Piute Creek. The trail climbs steadily along the creek through a mix of open forest and sunny slopes, to Hutchison Mead and the French Canyon Trail junction, gaining 1,700’ over 5.3 miles. The route goes to the left to follow the French Canyon Trail toward Pine Creek Pass, gaining 850’ over 2.9 miles to our camp beneath the falls of the Royce Lakes outlet creek.
High-country lovers consider French Canyon one of the jewels of the Sierra. Possible day hikes from camp are described in the French Canyon Camp Side Trips section.
There is reliable water throughout the day.
Day 7 – Rest Day at Royce Creek Falls
Day 8 – Royce Creek Falls to Pine Creek Pass Trailhead
10.5 miles, 950’ gain, 3,780’ loss
The path follows the creek to climb 850’ in 3.7 miles through forest and alpine meadows to 11,135’ Pine Creek Pass. Dropping down from the pass, the trail continues down 700’ through alpine meadows into the forest passing the junction to Honeymoon Lake and Italy Pass in 1.8 miles to reach the shores of Upper and Lower Pine Lakes at mile 5.7. Resupply with water at the lakes before dropping 2,600’ in 4.8 miles to the Pine Creek Pass Trailhead.
The pack station will arrive at the trailhead by 2:00 to transport you and your gear back to the pack station.
Links
Rental Equipment
We have rental equipment available at checkout.
Reviews
Betsy, Mule Supported Mt. Whitney
“I can’t say enough great things about the Sierra Mountain Center’s 7-day Pack Supported Women’s Whitney Trip. Our guides and packers were professional and on top of every detail. The guides especially were knowledgeable, experienced and fun to be around. They made all 10 of us feel supported on our quest for Mt. Whitney. The food was nutritious and delicious and our campsites were private and spacious. All in all, a wonderful way to experience the Sierra!”
More Reviews
Karen, Mule Supported Mt. Whitney
“This is a top notch outfitter. For a week-long, mule-supported trip for 9 women that included summiting Mt. Whitney, our guides were excellent: knowledgeable, experienced, patient, kind, excellent cooks, skilled communicators and planners. As for Sierra Mountain Center, they represented the trip accurately, gave detailed advice on what to bring and how to prepare for the trip, designed a comfortable itinerary that we all could complete, provided excellent tents. The mule support was executed seamlessly, as we always had our gear, transported carefully and delivered in fine form when we arrived at our next camp. I highly recommend this outfitter/guiding service.”
Jennifer, Mammoth to Yosemite Mule Supported
“I had the most amazing experience with Sierra Mountain Center on a mule supported section hike on the John Muir Trail from Red’s Meadow to Yosemite Valley in July 2022. Everything about this trip was fantastic! Emma was wonderful helping set up the trip and answer all of my questions beforehand. Our guide, Larry, was simply the best! He is extremely knowledgeable about backpacking and the surrounding area, and his enthusiasm is contagious. He was as excited as we were to be on the trip, and he was great at anticipating when we might need a break and motivating us to push through the hills. This was my first backpacking trip, so I really appreciated his guidance and encouragement, not to mention his great cooking skills in the back country! I loved that this trip was supported by mules, and our cowboy, Tom, was fantastic as well. The mules helped carry the bulk of our gear, so we only carried a daypack of belongings and snacks, allowing us to fully appreciate the long hikes. The camp spots were beautiful and this section of the JMT is incredible, and I am now looking forward to joining other SMC trips in the future.”
Beth, Mule Supported Mt. Whitney
“Best ever trip in the Sierra! I would highly recommend the Women’s Whitney trip with Sierrs Mountain Center. Everything was ideal. The guides (Heather and Madeline) were the very best–so knowledgeable and supportive of our goals.
Thanks so much!!”
Jessica, Mule Supported Mt. Whitney
“BIG GIANT THANKS to Tyler & Dave for guiding us on an EPIC 7-day adventure through the Sierras and helping us all summit Mount Whitney 🙂 What an incredible playground full of ancient trees, luscious valleys, streams and natures best COLD plunge lakes! It literally was something I dreamed of for the past 20 years and sharing this journey with my teenage boys was a memory I will never forget. You truly spoiled us with all your backpacking & cheffing skills 🙂 Thank you for sharing your passion, wisdom, humor and patience. WE all learned so much and can’t wait for the next one!”