Fernandez Pass

Fernandez Pass tops out at 10,211 feet on the wild southeastern edge of Yosemite, where the Sierra National Forest's Ansel Adams Wilderness runs right up against the park's own wilderness boundary. This isn't a trail you wander into from Yosemite Valley — you reach it from the Fernandez Trailhead near North Fork, well south of the main park entrances, on a route built for backpackers rather than day-trippers.

The Route

The trail to the pass covers about 11.9 miles with roughly 3,894 feet of elevation gain, rated strenuous. From the trailhead the path climbs past Rutherford and Anne Lakes, crosses marshy ground near Fernandez Creek, then grinds out a steep final 700 feet over the last 1.6 miles to the saddle. The payoff at the top is a clear view of Mt. Ritter, the Minarets, and ridgelines running deep into the eastern Sierra.

Permits and Season

This is wilderness-permit country. Reservations run through Recreation.gov, with a daily quota for the Fernandez Trailhead area — 13 spots bookable up to six months out, 8 more in the two-week window, plus a $6 reservation fee and $5 per person. Walk-up permits are available at the Bass Lake Ranger Station in North Fork or the High Sierra Ranger Station in Prather. The trail is typically open June through October, snow conditions permitting. Campfires are banned above 10,000 feet — which covers the pass itself — and bear-resistant food storage is required throughout.