Sue Pass

Sue Pass is a backcountry crossing in Yosemite's high country, part of the mostly off-trail Yosemite High Route (YHR) that threads the headwaters of the Tuolumne and Merced Rivers. There's no trailhead, no sign, and no maintained path to it — you find Sue Pass by reading the map and the terrain, which is exactly the point for the off-trail backpackers who seek it out.

Part of the Yosemite High Route

The YHR is a roughly 95-mile cross-country route through the Sierra crest, developed and popularized by backpacking guide Andrew Skurka and completed in sections by experienced off-trail travelers ever since. Sue Pass sits along the route's southern half, between Tuolumne Meadows and the more remote country toward the Merced River headwaters. Trip reports from hikers who've crossed it consistently single it out as one of the more forgiving passes on the route — straightforward, short, and confidence-building compared to some of the route's steeper, looser crossings.

Who Should Attempt It

• This is not a maintained trail — no signage, no cairns to rely on, no cell service, and real route-finding skills are required.
• Best suited to backpackers already comfortable with off-trail travel in high alpine terrain, ideally as one leg of a multi-day YHR traverse rather than a standalone destination.
• A wilderness permit is required year-round for any overnight stay in Yosemite's backcountry, including travel through Sue Pass.

Getting There

Access is typically from Tuolumne Meadows, following the YHR's southern route over several days of cross-country travel before reaching Sue Pass. There's no direct road or day-hike approach — treat it as one leg of a serious backcountry trip, not a side excursion.