Virginia Pass
Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2017 2:53 pm
General Overview: Virginia Pass is used to travel from the Green Creek/Green Lake area into Northern Yosemite or vice versa.
Class Difficulty: For the most part this is class 1 as there is a use trail but maybe in some parts it would be class 2. I took my Wife up to this pass and she is strictly a trail pounder and she had no problems or issues with this hike from Green Lake.
Location: The west side of this pass is in Yosemite NP and the east side of this pass is the Hoover Wilderness.
HST Map
Elevation: The pass itself is roughly 10,522'
Route Description: Starting from the Green Lake trailhead on Green Creek you would follow the trail roughly 2.3 miles to the Green Lake/East Lake trail junction. Stay right at the junction towards Green Lake/West Lake. Keep following the trail past Green Lake on its North Side heading towards West Lake and in about 1/3 of a mile there will be another trail junction of sorts and you want to veer left towards the shores of Greek Lake which you will be above at this point. The trail will take you around the Northern and Western shores of Green Lake and then head uphill SW ish into Glines Canyon. Following the trail might be a little tricky in some spots but with a short stop and search one should be able to follow continuously up Glines Canyon to Virginia Pass. If you do lose the trail just look up the canyon and head towards the low point to the left at the top. Once on top of the pass the trail into Northern Yosemite is a lot easier to follow and well worn down return creek.
Photos:
Class Difficulty: For the most part this is class 1 as there is a use trail but maybe in some parts it would be class 2. I took my Wife up to this pass and she is strictly a trail pounder and she had no problems or issues with this hike from Green Lake.
Location: The west side of this pass is in Yosemite NP and the east side of this pass is the Hoover Wilderness.
HST Map
Elevation: The pass itself is roughly 10,522'
Route Description: Starting from the Green Lake trailhead on Green Creek you would follow the trail roughly 2.3 miles to the Green Lake/East Lake trail junction. Stay right at the junction towards Green Lake/West Lake. Keep following the trail past Green Lake on its North Side heading towards West Lake and in about 1/3 of a mile there will be another trail junction of sorts and you want to veer left towards the shores of Greek Lake which you will be above at this point. The trail will take you around the Northern and Western shores of Green Lake and then head uphill SW ish into Glines Canyon. Following the trail might be a little tricky in some spots but with a short stop and search one should be able to follow continuously up Glines Canyon to Virginia Pass. If you do lose the trail just look up the canyon and head towards the low point to the left at the top. Once on top of the pass the trail into Northern Yosemite is a lot easier to follow and well worn down return creek.
Photos: