Hilton Lakes Trail

Route

Plan with 13 source-backed facts, 13 related records, and explicit uncertainty.

Check before choosing this trip

Rules can change across jurisdictions. Each fact below belongs to the named place; a connected place is not automatically part of your itinerary. This is recorded evidence; recheck current rules and conditions before travel.

Selected place

Hilton Lakes Trail

Pretrip current conditions recheck

Required
Yes
Topics
  • Rock Creek Road access
  • trail conditions
  • weather and early snow
  • fire restrictions
  • trailhead parking and facilities
Evidence and sources (1)

No claim effective interval recorded.

Spatial scope IDs: scope-rock-creek-corridor, scope-route-little-lakes-valley, scope-route-mono-pass-rock-creek, scope-route-morgan-pass-rock-creek, scope-route-tamarack-lakes-rock-creek, scope-route-hilton-lakes-rock-creek

  1. Evidence stance: supports · Evidence details

    The Inyo National Forest alerts page is the current operational source for forest orders, fire restrictions, closures, and access notices affecting Rock Creek travel.

    Publisher
    USDA Forest Service
    Observer / attribution
    Not recorded
    Observed at
    Unknown
    Retrieved at
    2026-09-23T21:00:00+00:00

    Retrieval time does not establish when an event occurred.

    Observation details · Source details · Original source: USDA Forest Service

Source: USDA Forest Service. Retrieved: 2026-09-23.

Still unresolved

Review unresolved questions · Compare connected places and approaches

Route map

This overview is built from a reviewed, versioned source snapshot. It is planning evidence, not navigation-grade mapping.

Interactive map loads when scrolled into view.

StartDestination4.09 miles one way

Download generated GeoJSON · 8 canonical segments · source geometry accuracy not reported

Plan a visit

Requirements and current conditions

Overnight wilderness permit required

Recorded for: Inyo National Forest Overnight Wilderness Permit

Applies to
overnight trips entering John Muir Wilderness from the Rock Creek routes
Required year round
Yes
Evidence and sources (1)

No claim effective interval recorded.

Spatial scope IDs: scope-route-little-lakes-valley, scope-route-mono-pass-rock-creek, scope-route-morgan-pass-rock-creek, scope-route-tamarack-lakes-rock-creek, scope-route-hilton-lakes-rock-creek

  1. Evidence stance: supports · Evidence details

    The current Inyo wilderness permit page requires wilderness permits year round for overnight trips in John Muir Wilderness, releases 60 percent of quota six months ahead and 40 percent two weeks ahead at 7 a.m. Pacific, requires the signed permit to be carried, and cancels an unprinted permit at 10 a.m. on the entry date.

    Publisher
    Recreation.gov / Inyo National Forest
    Observer / attribution
    Not recorded
    Observed at
    Unknown
    Retrieved at
    2026-09-23T21:00:00+00:00

    Retrieval time does not establish when an event occurred.

    Observation details · Source details · Original source: Recreation.gov / Inyo National Forest

Pretrip current conditions recheck

Recorded for: Rock Creek Canyon

Required
Yes
Topics
  • Rock Creek Road access
  • trail conditions
  • weather and early snow
  • fire restrictions
  • trailhead parking and facilities
Evidence and sources (1)

No claim effective interval recorded.

Spatial scope IDs: scope-rock-creek-corridor, scope-route-little-lakes-valley, scope-route-mono-pass-rock-creek, scope-route-morgan-pass-rock-creek, scope-route-tamarack-lakes-rock-creek, scope-route-hilton-lakes-rock-creek

  1. Evidence stance: supports · Evidence details

    The Inyo National Forest alerts page is the current operational source for forest orders, fire restrictions, closures, and access notices affecting Rock Creek travel.

    Publisher
    USDA Forest Service
    Observer / attribution
    Not recorded
    Observed at
    Unknown
    Retrieved at
    2026-09-23T21:00:00+00:00

    Retrieval time does not establish when an event occurred.

    Observation details · Source details · Original source: USDA Forest Service

Routes and geography

Official dataset route segment

Recorded for: Hilton Lakes segment

Coordinate reference system
EPSG:4269
Dataset feature id
{3684A093-14D3-4B83-8166-C9EA4DA55844}
Dataset feature name
HILTON LAKES
Dataset field
lengthmiles
Distance miles
0.68140891
Distance status
known
End coordinate
Latitude
37.462589226225305
Longitude
-118.73733284592811
Geometry snapshot
Feature id
{3684A093-14D3-4B83-8166-C9EA4DA55844}
Path
geometry/v0/snapshots/usgs-rock-creek-principal-routes-20260923.geojson
Sha256
cbbaa853ee6d4ad8a8d995ab91270b7154a5fe3643ac1cb666d43f53c59b600a
Operational status requires current check
Yes
Route role
official mainline
Source data description
USFS Trails Update 03/2026
Source dataset id
{8CC4DB36-D0BE-4189-88C7-64C3569EB754}
Source edit date
1774742400000
Source feature id
2617
Source load date
1777310283000
Source mode attributes
Hiker pedestrian
Unknown
Pack saddle
Unknown
Source originator
U.S. Forest Service
Start coordinate
Latitude
37.454945052278845
Longitude
-118.7410005282141
Evidence and sources (1)

No claim effective interval recorded.

Spatial scope IDs: scope-route-hilton-lakes-rock-creek

  1. Evidence stance: supports · Evidence details

    A bounded USGS National Digital Trails query returned U.S. Forest Service-originated distance-bearing features for the shared Mosquito Flat approach, Little Lakes Valley, Mono Pass, Morgan Pass, Tamarack Lakes, and Hilton Lakes. Twenty-five reviewed features are retained in an immutable snapshot; geometry and source-field distances do not by themselves establish visitor itinerary semantics.

    Publisher
    U.S. Geological Survey / U.S. Forest Service
    Observer / attribution
    Not recorded
    Observed at
    Unknown
    Retrieved at
    2026-09-23T21:00:00+00:00

    Retrieval time does not establish when an event occurred.

    Observation details · Source details · Original source: U.S. Geological Survey / U.S. Forest Service

    Recorded artifact references
    • geometry/v0/snapshots/usgs-rock-creek-principal-routes-20260923.geojson
    • cbbaa853ee6d4ad8a8d995ab91270b7154a5fe3643ac1cb666d43f53c59b600a

    References are not a confirmation of current availability.

Official dataset route segment

Recorded for: Hilton Lakes segment

Coordinate reference system
EPSG:4269
Dataset feature id
{0D7AB5CB-130D-4324-ADBB-130F6C614E6D}
Dataset feature name
HILTON LAKES
Dataset field
lengthmiles
Distance miles
0.05947735
Distance status
known
End coordinate
Latitude
37.46306654289123
Longitude
-118.73680655530393
Geometry snapshot
Feature id
{0D7AB5CB-130D-4324-ADBB-130F6C614E6D}
Path
geometry/v0/snapshots/usgs-rock-creek-principal-routes-20260923.geojson
Sha256
cbbaa853ee6d4ad8a8d995ab91270b7154a5fe3643ac1cb666d43f53c59b600a
Operational status requires current check
Yes
Route role
official mainline
Source data description
USFS Trails Update 03/2026
Source dataset id
{8CC4DB36-D0BE-4189-88C7-64C3569EB754}
Source edit date
1774742400000
Source feature id
1641
Source load date
1777310283000
Source mode attributes
Hiker pedestrian
Unknown
Pack saddle
Unknown
Source originator
U.S. Forest Service
Start coordinate
Latitude
37.462589226225305
Longitude
-118.73733284592811
Evidence and sources (1)

No claim effective interval recorded.

Spatial scope IDs: scope-route-hilton-lakes-rock-creek

  1. Evidence stance: supports · Evidence details

    A bounded USGS National Digital Trails query returned U.S. Forest Service-originated distance-bearing features for the shared Mosquito Flat approach, Little Lakes Valley, Mono Pass, Morgan Pass, Tamarack Lakes, and Hilton Lakes. Twenty-five reviewed features are retained in an immutable snapshot; geometry and source-field distances do not by themselves establish visitor itinerary semantics.

    Publisher
    U.S. Geological Survey / U.S. Forest Service
    Observer / attribution
    Not recorded
    Observed at
    Unknown
    Retrieved at
    2026-09-23T21:00:00+00:00

    Retrieval time does not establish when an event occurred.

    Observation details · Source details · Original source: U.S. Geological Survey / U.S. Forest Service

    Recorded artifact references
    • geometry/v0/snapshots/usgs-rock-creek-principal-routes-20260923.geojson
    • cbbaa853ee6d4ad8a8d995ab91270b7154a5fe3643ac1cb666d43f53c59b600a

    References are not a confirmation of current availability.

Official dataset route segment

Recorded for: Hilton Lakes segment

Coordinate reference system
EPSG:4269
Dataset feature id
{EB9E054A-F723-444D-B923-51058542C4C8}
Dataset feature name
HILTON LAKES
Dataset field
lengthmiles
Distance miles
0.01534069
Distance status
known
End coordinate
Latitude
37.46314453664115
Longitude
-118.73654537092932
Geometry snapshot
Feature id
{EB9E054A-F723-444D-B923-51058542C4C8}
Path
geometry/v0/snapshots/usgs-rock-creek-principal-routes-20260923.geojson
Sha256
cbbaa853ee6d4ad8a8d995ab91270b7154a5fe3643ac1cb666d43f53c59b600a
Operational status requires current check
Yes
Route role
official mainline
Source data description
USFS Trails Update 03/2026
Source dataset id
{8CC4DB36-D0BE-4189-88C7-64C3569EB754}
Source edit date
1774742400000
Source feature id
2768
Source load date
1777310283000
Source mode attributes
Hiker pedestrian
Unknown
Pack saddle
Unknown
Source originator
U.S. Forest Service
Start coordinate
Latitude
37.46306654289123
Longitude
-118.73680655530393
Evidence and sources (1)

No claim effective interval recorded.

Spatial scope IDs: scope-route-hilton-lakes-rock-creek

  1. Evidence stance: supports · Evidence details

    A bounded USGS National Digital Trails query returned U.S. Forest Service-originated distance-bearing features for the shared Mosquito Flat approach, Little Lakes Valley, Mono Pass, Morgan Pass, Tamarack Lakes, and Hilton Lakes. Twenty-five reviewed features are retained in an immutable snapshot; geometry and source-field distances do not by themselves establish visitor itinerary semantics.

    Publisher
    U.S. Geological Survey / U.S. Forest Service
    Observer / attribution
    Not recorded
    Observed at
    Unknown
    Retrieved at
    2026-09-23T21:00:00+00:00

    Retrieval time does not establish when an event occurred.

    Observation details · Source details · Original source: U.S. Geological Survey / U.S. Forest Service

    Recorded artifact references
    • geometry/v0/snapshots/usgs-rock-creek-principal-routes-20260923.geojson
    • cbbaa853ee6d4ad8a8d995ab91270b7154a5fe3643ac1cb666d43f53c59b600a

    References are not a confirmation of current availability.

Official dataset route segment

Recorded for: Hilton Lakes segment

Coordinate reference system
EPSG:4269
Dataset feature id
{864FA16B-E640-424C-A48E-66BA01FCE0A1}
Dataset feature name
HILTON LAKES
Dataset field
lengthmiles
Distance miles
0.12022438
Distance status
known
End coordinate
Latitude
37.464205106431166
Longitude
-118.73490255009858
Geometry snapshot
Feature id
{864FA16B-E640-424C-A48E-66BA01FCE0A1}
Path
geometry/v0/snapshots/usgs-rock-creek-principal-routes-20260923.geojson
Sha256
cbbaa853ee6d4ad8a8d995ab91270b7154a5fe3643ac1cb666d43f53c59b600a
Operational status requires current check
Yes
Route role
official mainline
Source data description
USFS Trails Update 03/2026
Source dataset id
{8CC4DB36-D0BE-4189-88C7-64C3569EB754}
Source edit date
1774742400000
Source feature id
6618
Source load date
1777310283000
Source mode attributes
Hiker pedestrian
Unknown
Pack saddle
Unknown
Source originator
U.S. Forest Service
Start coordinate
Latitude
37.46314453664115
Longitude
-118.73654537092932
Evidence and sources (1)

No claim effective interval recorded.

Spatial scope IDs: scope-route-hilton-lakes-rock-creek

  1. Evidence stance: supports · Evidence details

    A bounded USGS National Digital Trails query returned U.S. Forest Service-originated distance-bearing features for the shared Mosquito Flat approach, Little Lakes Valley, Mono Pass, Morgan Pass, Tamarack Lakes, and Hilton Lakes. Twenty-five reviewed features are retained in an immutable snapshot; geometry and source-field distances do not by themselves establish visitor itinerary semantics.

    Publisher
    U.S. Geological Survey / U.S. Forest Service
    Observer / attribution
    Not recorded
    Observed at
    Unknown
    Retrieved at
    2026-09-23T21:00:00+00:00

    Retrieval time does not establish when an event occurred.

    Observation details · Source details · Original source: U.S. Geological Survey / U.S. Forest Service

    Recorded artifact references
    • geometry/v0/snapshots/usgs-rock-creek-principal-routes-20260923.geojson
    • cbbaa853ee6d4ad8a8d995ab91270b7154a5fe3643ac1cb666d43f53c59b600a

    References are not a confirmation of current availability.

Official dataset route segment

Recorded for: Hilton Lakes segment

Coordinate reference system
EPSG:4269
Dataset feature id
{4511F5F5-B67F-4F85-B848-CCC702EBC2EC}
Dataset feature name
HILTON LAKES
Dataset field
lengthmiles
Distance miles
3.0331486300000003
Distance status
known
End coordinate
Latitude
37.48616008764708
Longitude
-118.75095350840701
Geometry snapshot
Feature id
{4511F5F5-B67F-4F85-B848-CCC702EBC2EC}
Path
geometry/v0/snapshots/usgs-rock-creek-principal-routes-20260923.geojson
Sha256
cbbaa853ee6d4ad8a8d995ab91270b7154a5fe3643ac1cb666d43f53c59b600a
Operational status requires current check
Yes
Route role
official mainline
Source data description
USFS Trails Update 03/2026
Source dataset id
{8CC4DB36-D0BE-4189-88C7-64C3569EB754}
Source edit date
1774742400000
Source feature id
2767
Source load date
1777310283000
Source mode attributes
Hiker pedestrian
Unknown
Pack saddle
Unknown
Source originator
U.S. Forest Service
Start coordinate
Latitude
37.464205106431166
Longitude
-118.73490255009858
Evidence and sources (1)

No claim effective interval recorded.

Spatial scope IDs: scope-route-hilton-lakes-rock-creek

  1. Evidence stance: supports · Evidence details

    A bounded USGS National Digital Trails query returned U.S. Forest Service-originated distance-bearing features for the shared Mosquito Flat approach, Little Lakes Valley, Mono Pass, Morgan Pass, Tamarack Lakes, and Hilton Lakes. Twenty-five reviewed features are retained in an immutable snapshot; geometry and source-field distances do not by themselves establish visitor itinerary semantics.

    Publisher
    U.S. Geological Survey / U.S. Forest Service
    Observer / attribution
    Not recorded
    Observed at
    Unknown
    Retrieved at
    2026-09-23T21:00:00+00:00

    Retrieval time does not establish when an event occurred.

    Observation details · Source details · Original source: U.S. Geological Survey / U.S. Forest Service

    Recorded artifact references
    • geometry/v0/snapshots/usgs-rock-creek-principal-routes-20260923.geojson
    • cbbaa853ee6d4ad8a8d995ab91270b7154a5fe3643ac1cb666d43f53c59b600a

    References are not a confirmation of current availability.

Official dataset route segment

Recorded for: Hilton Lakes segment

Coordinate reference system
EPSG:4269
Dataset feature id
{D012B603-FB10-4BC4-A69A-86CF6C4224D2}
Dataset feature name
HILTON LAKES
Dataset field
lengthmiles
Distance miles
0.02063959
Distance status
known
End coordinate
Latitude
37.48635898868844
Longitude
-118.75094602611534
Geometry snapshot
Feature id
{D012B603-FB10-4BC4-A69A-86CF6C4224D2}
Path
geometry/v0/snapshots/usgs-rock-creek-principal-routes-20260923.geojson
Sha256
cbbaa853ee6d4ad8a8d995ab91270b7154a5fe3643ac1cb666d43f53c59b600a
Operational status requires current check
Yes
Route role
official mainline
Source data description
USFS Trails Update 03/2026
Source dataset id
{8CC4DB36-D0BE-4189-88C7-64C3569EB754}
Source edit date
1774742400000
Source feature id
2999
Source load date
1777310283000
Source mode attributes
Hiker pedestrian
Unknown
Pack saddle
Unknown
Source originator
U.S. Forest Service
Start coordinate
Latitude
37.48616008764708
Longitude
-118.75095350840701
Evidence and sources (1)

No claim effective interval recorded.

Spatial scope IDs: scope-route-hilton-lakes-rock-creek

  1. Evidence stance: supports · Evidence details

    A bounded USGS National Digital Trails query returned U.S. Forest Service-originated distance-bearing features for the shared Mosquito Flat approach, Little Lakes Valley, Mono Pass, Morgan Pass, Tamarack Lakes, and Hilton Lakes. Twenty-five reviewed features are retained in an immutable snapshot; geometry and source-field distances do not by themselves establish visitor itinerary semantics.

    Publisher
    U.S. Geological Survey / U.S. Forest Service
    Observer / attribution
    Not recorded
    Observed at
    Unknown
    Retrieved at
    2026-09-23T21:00:00+00:00

    Retrieval time does not establish when an event occurred.

    Observation details · Source details · Original source: U.S. Geological Survey / U.S. Forest Service

    Recorded artifact references
    • geometry/v0/snapshots/usgs-rock-creek-principal-routes-20260923.geojson
    • cbbaa853ee6d4ad8a8d995ab91270b7154a5fe3643ac1cb666d43f53c59b600a

    References are not a confirmation of current availability.

Official dataset route segment

Recorded for: Hilton Lakes segment

Coordinate reference system
EPSG:4269
Dataset feature id
{26AC3638-FAF2-46F5-B148-E7975019CD93}
Dataset feature name
HILTON LAKES
Dataset field
lengthmiles
Distance miles
0.03763446
Distance status
known
End coordinate
Latitude
37.48674083556284
Longitude
-118.75094726569864
Geometry snapshot
Feature id
{26AC3638-FAF2-46F5-B148-E7975019CD93}
Path
geometry/v0/snapshots/usgs-rock-creek-principal-routes-20260923.geojson
Sha256
cbbaa853ee6d4ad8a8d995ab91270b7154a5fe3643ac1cb666d43f53c59b600a
Operational status requires current check
Yes
Route role
official mainline
Source data description
USFS Trails Update 03/2026
Source dataset id
{8CC4DB36-D0BE-4189-88C7-64C3569EB754}
Source edit date
1774742400000
Source feature id
6546
Source load date
1777310283000
Source mode attributes
Hiker pedestrian
Unknown
Pack saddle
Unknown
Source originator
U.S. Forest Service
Start coordinate
Latitude
37.48635898868844
Longitude
-118.75094602611534
Evidence and sources (1)

No claim effective interval recorded.

Spatial scope IDs: scope-route-hilton-lakes-rock-creek

  1. Evidence stance: supports · Evidence details

    A bounded USGS National Digital Trails query returned U.S. Forest Service-originated distance-bearing features for the shared Mosquito Flat approach, Little Lakes Valley, Mono Pass, Morgan Pass, Tamarack Lakes, and Hilton Lakes. Twenty-five reviewed features are retained in an immutable snapshot; geometry and source-field distances do not by themselves establish visitor itinerary semantics.

    Publisher
    U.S. Geological Survey / U.S. Forest Service
    Observer / attribution
    Not recorded
    Observed at
    Unknown
    Retrieved at
    2026-09-23T21:00:00+00:00

    Retrieval time does not establish when an event occurred.

    Observation details · Source details · Original source: U.S. Geological Survey / U.S. Forest Service

    Recorded artifact references
    • geometry/v0/snapshots/usgs-rock-creek-principal-routes-20260923.geojson
    • cbbaa853ee6d4ad8a8d995ab91270b7154a5fe3643ac1cb666d43f53c59b600a

    References are not a confirmation of current availability.

Official dataset route segment

Recorded for: Hilton Lakes segment

Coordinate reference system
EPSG:4269
Dataset feature id
{3516AF3D-8A4D-49DD-BE35-EE6E007DC4E5}
Dataset feature name
HILTON LAKES
Dataset field
lengthmiles
Distance miles
0.11746828000000001
Distance status
known
End coordinate
Latitude
37.48692717618752
Longitude
-118.7527127813209
Geometry snapshot
Feature id
{3516AF3D-8A4D-49DD-BE35-EE6E007DC4E5}
Path
geometry/v0/snapshots/usgs-rock-creek-principal-routes-20260923.geojson
Sha256
cbbaa853ee6d4ad8a8d995ab91270b7154a5fe3643ac1cb666d43f53c59b600a
Operational status requires current check
Yes
Route role
official mainline
Source data description
USFS Trails Update 03/2026
Source dataset id
{8CC4DB36-D0BE-4189-88C7-64C3569EB754}
Source edit date
1774742400000
Source feature id
3331
Source load date
1777310283000
Source mode attributes
Hiker pedestrian
Unknown
Pack saddle
Unknown
Source originator
U.S. Forest Service
Start coordinate
Latitude
37.48674083556284
Longitude
-118.75094726569864
Evidence and sources (1)

No claim effective interval recorded.

Spatial scope IDs: scope-route-hilton-lakes-rock-creek

  1. Evidence stance: supports · Evidence details

    A bounded USGS National Digital Trails query returned U.S. Forest Service-originated distance-bearing features for the shared Mosquito Flat approach, Little Lakes Valley, Mono Pass, Morgan Pass, Tamarack Lakes, and Hilton Lakes. Twenty-five reviewed features are retained in an immutable snapshot; geometry and source-field distances do not by themselves establish visitor itinerary semantics.

    Publisher
    U.S. Geological Survey / U.S. Forest Service
    Observer / attribution
    Not recorded
    Observed at
    Unknown
    Retrieved at
    2026-09-23T21:00:00+00:00

    Retrieval time does not establish when an event occurred.

    Observation details · Source details · Original source: U.S. Geological Survey / U.S. Forest Service

    Recorded artifact references
    • geometry/v0/snapshots/usgs-rock-creek-principal-routes-20260923.geojson
    • cbbaa853ee6d4ad8a8d995ab91270b7154a5fe3643ac1cb666d43f53c59b600a

    References are not a confirmation of current availability.

Route profile

Recorded for: Hilton Lakes Trail

Bidirectional
Yes
Distance basis
sum of reviewed USGS source-field lengthmiles values
Map role
principal Rock Creek hiking route
Name
Hilton Lakes Trail
One way distance miles from source features
4.08534229
Sampled elevation profile
Approximate cumulative gain ft
770
Approximate cumulative loss ft
530
End elevation ft
10107
Gain loss method
sum of consecutive USGS 3DEP samples along reviewed route geometry
Maximum elevation ft
10377
Minimum elevation ft
9842
Precision
approximate
Sample count
67
Sample spacing meters
100
Start elevation ft
9862
Evidence and sources (2)

No claim effective interval recorded.

Spatial scope IDs: scope-route-hilton-lakes-rock-creek

  1. Evidence stance: supports · Evidence details

    The official Rock Creek Area Trails map depicts Rock Creek Road, the Palisade, East Fork, Pine Grove, Upper Pine Grove, Rock Creek Lake, and Tamarack developed corridor, three upper-canyon trailheads, John Muir Wilderness, and named Little Lakes, Mono Pass, Tamarack Lakes, and Hilton Creek/Lakes routes. It also labels the lakes and passes associated with those routes.

    Publisher
    USDA Forest Service, Inyo National Forest
    Observer / attribution
    Not recorded
    Observed at
    Unknown
    Retrieved at
    2026-09-23T21:00:00+00:00

    Retrieval time does not establish when an event occurred.

    Observation details · Source details · Original source: USDA Forest Service, Inyo National Forest

    Recorded artifact references
    • Rock Creek Area Trails, one-page map

    References are not a confirmation of current availability.

  2. Evidence stance: supports · Evidence details

    Wayproof sampled each reviewed Rock Creek route geometry at approximately 100-meter intervals against the USGS 3DEP elevation service. Cumulative gain and loss are sums between samples and are approximate rather than surveyed or source-published trail values.

    Publisher
    U.S. Geological Survey, 3D Elevation Program
    Observer / attribution
    Not recorded
    Observed at
    Unknown
    Retrieved at
    2026-09-23T23:00:00+00:00

    Retrieval time does not establish when an event occurred.

    Observation details · Source details · Original source: U.S. Geological Survey, 3D Elevation Program

    Recorded artifact references
    • geometry/v0/snapshots/usgs-rock-creek-principal-routes-20260923.geojson

    References are not a confirmation of current availability.

More planning facts

Official day hike context

Recorded for: Hilton Lakes Trail

Trail character
forest of whitebark and lodgepole pine leading into the Hilton and Davis Lakes basin
Trailhead
trailhead-hilton-lakes-rock-creek
Trailhead elevation ft
9600
Trailhead parking
below Rock Creek Pack Station on the road to Mosquito Flat
Evidence and sources (1)

No claim effective interval recorded.

Spatial scope IDs: scope-route-hilton-lakes-rock-creek, scope-rock-creek-corridor

  1. Evidence stance: supports · Evidence details

    The official wilderness hiking guide describes access from Rock Creek Canyon to Mosquito Flat, Little Lakes Valley, Mono Pass, and Tamarack Lakes; identifies a goat closure at the south end of Little Lakes Valley including Treasure Lakes, Morgan Pass, and Morgan Lakes; recommends treating surface water; and states that pack stock have right of way.

    Publisher
    USDA Forest Service, Inyo National Forest
    Observer / attribution
    Not recorded
    Observed at
    Unknown
    Retrieved at
    2026-09-23T21:00:00+00:00

    Retrieval time does not establish when an event occurred.

    Observation details · Source details · Original source: USDA Forest Service, Inyo National Forest

    Recorded artifact references
    • Wilderness Hiking: Rock Creek Canyon

    References are not a confirmation of current availability.

Wilderness travel practices

Recorded for: John Muir Wilderness

Goat closure
Area
south end of Little Lakes Valley including Treasure Lakes, Morgan Pass, and Morgan Lakes
Closed to
goats
Pack stock right of way
Yes
Treat surface water
Yes
Evidence and sources (1)

No claim effective interval recorded.

Spatial scope IDs: scope-route-little-lakes-valley, scope-route-mono-pass-rock-creek, scope-route-morgan-pass-rock-creek, scope-route-tamarack-lakes-rock-creek, scope-route-hilton-lakes-rock-creek

  1. Evidence stance: supports · Evidence details

    The official wilderness hiking guide describes access from Rock Creek Canyon to Mosquito Flat, Little Lakes Valley, Mono Pass, and Tamarack Lakes; identifies a goat closure at the south end of Little Lakes Valley including Treasure Lakes, Morgan Pass, and Morgan Lakes; recommends treating surface water; and states that pack stock have right of way.

    Publisher
    USDA Forest Service, Inyo National Forest
    Observer / attribution
    Not recorded
    Observed at
    Unknown
    Retrieved at
    2026-09-23T21:00:00+00:00

    Retrieval time does not establish when an event occurred.

    Observation details · Source details · Original source: USDA Forest Service, Inyo National Forest

    Recorded artifact references
    • Wilderness Hiking: Rock Creek Canyon

    References are not a confirmation of current availability.

Explore related places

Access and approaches (1)

Places and facilities (2)

Land and management (8)

Routes and related places (2)

Before you go

These open questions need confirmation; Wayproof does not fill them with guesses.

What authoritative source establishes typical duration and a consistent difficulty or technical grade for each Rock Creek route?

The reviewed official sources establish route identity, geometry, distance, mapped context, and an approximate 3DEP elevation profile. They do not publish a consistent duration or difficulty classification, so Wayproof does not derive one from distance and gain alone.

Open question. Linked evidence does not resolve this gap.

No specific claim evidence is linked to this question.

What pedestrian connector joins the official Hilton Lakes Trailhead point to the reviewed route geometry endpoint?

The official Forest Service recreation point and the National Digital Trails route endpoint differ by roughly a quarter mile. The route relationship is sourced, but the intervening connector has not been identified as a canonical segment.

Open question. Linked evidence does not resolve this gap.

No specific claim evidence is linked to this question.

What road, trail, parking, restroom, water, weather, and fire conditions will apply near departure?

Rock Creek Road and high-elevation facilities are seasonally and weather sensitive; current official alerts and conditions must be checked.

Open question. Linked evidence does not resolve this gap.

Pretrip current conditions recheck

Required
Yes
Topics
  • Rock Creek Road access
  • trail conditions
  • weather and early snow
  • fire restrictions
  • trailhead parking and facilities
Evidence and sources (1)

No claim effective interval recorded.

Spatial scope IDs: scope-rock-creek-corridor, scope-route-little-lakes-valley, scope-route-mono-pass-rock-creek, scope-route-morgan-pass-rock-creek, scope-route-tamarack-lakes-rock-creek, scope-route-hilton-lakes-rock-creek

  1. Evidence stance: supports · Evidence details

    The Inyo National Forest alerts page is the current operational source for forest orders, fire restrictions, closures, and access notices affecting Rock Creek travel.

    Publisher
    USDA Forest Service
    Observer / attribution
    Not recorded
    Observed at
    Unknown
    Retrieved at
    2026-09-23T21:00:00+00:00

    Retrieval time does not establish when an event occurred.

    Observation details · Source details · Original source: USDA Forest Service

Sources, evidence, and history

Planning facts above are readable first. Open these records when you need to audit a source or see when knowledge changed.

Evidence for 13 published claims
Published ChangeSet history

Canonical data is historical evidence, not a guarantee of current conditions. Recheck volatile facts before travel.