2012 Map of North Palisade

About this map

North Palisade and the Palisade Glacier anchor this high-elevation study of the Sierra Nevada's crest, where massive granite peaks and glacial features dominate the drainage patterns of Fresno County. The map details the headwaters of the Middle Fork Kings River, which flows through high-altitude grazing and resting spots like Big Pete Meadow and Little Pete Meadow. These meadows served as crucial transit points for early trans-Sierra travel and later recreational trail systems. To the east, the terrain rises sharply toward the serrated ridge of the Palisades, including Thunderbolt Peak and Mount Sill. The landscape is dotted with alpine water bodies such as Amphitheater Lake, the Barrett Lakes, and Dumbbell Lakes, illustrating the post-glacial topography. Significant mountain passes, including Bishop Pass, Jigsaw Pass, and Knapsack Pass, show the traditional routes used to navigate this formidable section of the Sierra crest during the early twenty-first century.