2021 Map of North Palisade

About this map

Kings Canyon National Park and the Inyo National Forest meet along the dramatic crest of the Sierra Nevada, where the boundary between Fresno and Inyo counties follows the high peaks. The landscape is defined by the headwaters of the Middle Fork Kings River, which carves through Le Conte Canyon past Big Pete Meadow and Little Pete Meadow. To the east, the terrain rises sharply to a series of formidable summits, including the namesake North Palisade, Thunderbolt Peak, and Mt. Winchell. Movement through this high-altitude wilderness is dictated by established routes like the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trl and the Bishop Pass Trl, which navigate steep elevations via the Dusy Switchbacks Trl to reach Bishop Pass. Glacial features such as the Palisade Basin and Barrett Lakes highlight the transition from deep river valleys to the granite spires of the High Sierra.