Isberg Trail

Isberg Trail (trail number 24E01) is a long-distance hiking route in the Ansel Adams Wilderness area of the Sierra National Forest, running from the Isberg Trailhead near Granite Creek Campground to the Yosemite National Park boundary at Isberg Pass.

The route is mapped as a “standard/terra trail” surface and is designated for hiking and horse riding (foot: yes; horse: yes).

Plan for a hard, strenuous undertaking: the full line between the Granite Creek Campground area and Isberg Pass is about 11.9 miles one-way, and hikers typically treat the full out-and-back or loop planning as a multi-day backpacking trip rather than a quick day hike.

A typical way to experience the route is to move from the Granite Creek Campground/Isberg Trailhead area toward The Niche, then continue along Granite Creek toward Cora Lakes and onward to Sadler Lake before climbing into the higher granite-country approach to Isberg Pass.

The pass is where the high alpine transition opens up—massive granite fields appear near the climb to Isberg Pass, and the route reaches the Minarets and Ritter Range views area as you gain elevation.

Entry management matters for overnight trips: wilderness permit reservations are available via Recreation.gov, and Ansel Adams Wilderness regulations apply. If you enter Yosemite, Yosemite wilderness regulations also apply.

More information: Visitor information, Hiking up the Isberg Trail to Surprise Saddle, Joe Crane Lake and Cora Lakes via Isberg Trail