Extended Evolution Loop: 9 Days, 84 Miles of Backpacking and Fishing
September 19 - 27, 2026 · 9 days / 8 nights
In mid-September, a good friend and I set off to complete the Evolution Loop over nine days, adding plenty of side trips to nearby lakes and a few off-trail spots along the way. The scenery was incredible, the fall colors were at their peak, and the fishing was amazing. It ended up being one of my favorite backpacking trips in the Sierra.
The Evolution Loop is arguably one of the best backpacking routes in California, traveling through the John Muir Wilderness and the backcountry of Kings Canyon. Despite the name, it isn’t actually a true loop but more of a horseshoe, with separate starting and ending trailheads. The standard route is around 55 miles without any side trips, and most people complete it in four to six days. We gave ourselves quite a bit more time so we could explore side trails and spend plenty of time fishing.
If you’re into backcountry fishing, I’d highly recommend doing it this way. Every day was different and we caught more trout than we could count (including tons of goldens). We also found some surprisingly large fish, which isn’t always easy to come by in the Sierra backcountry.
Trip Overview
- Starting trailhead
- North Lake Trailhead
- Ending trailhead
- South Lake Trailhead
- Total mileage
- 84.71 miles
- Elevation gain
- 14,911 feet
Campsites
- Night 1Muriel Lake
- Night 2Piute Canyon
- Night 3Evolution Meadow
- Night 4McClure Meadow
- Night 5Wanda Lake
- Night 6Wanda Lake
- Night 7Le Conte Canyon
- Night 8Bishop Lake
Campsites Along the Route
We camped at Muriel Lake, Piute Canyon, Evolution Meadow, McClure Meadow, Wanda Lake for two nights, Le Conte Canyon, and Bishop Lake. Along the way, we also made side trips to quite a few nearby lakes, including some with no trail and even a few without names. Some days, since our daily mileage was relatively short, I could leave most of my gear at camp and spend the rest of the exploring and fishing lakes further from the main trail.
Scenery, Weather, and Stream Crossings
The views were phenomenal throughout the trip and every day felt different. Fall colors were in full force, and it never got too hot during the day. Nights were a little chilly, but I don't think it ever got down into the 20s. The water was too cold to really swim, and there were no bugs at all.
At this time of year, stream crossings weren’t an issue for us. The only place we had to get our feet wet was heading into Evolution Meadow. I’d imagine crossings could be pretty difficult earlier in the summer when the snow melt is at its peak.
Fishing
We fished more than 20 different lakes and streams and had a lot of action throughout the trip. We caught goldens, rainbows, brook trout, and quite a few hybrids. We only got skunked a few times, and I suspect at least a couple of those lakes may have been fishless.
If you’re planning to fish, I’d definitely budget extra time to explore nearby lakes. Some don’t have a trail, and a few don’t even have official names. In our experience, the spots away from the main trail were usually the most rewarding and had the biggest fish. We had success with both lures and flies, but it was surprising how much the fishing could change from one lake to the next. Something that worked really well at one spot might get no attention at another lake just a couple miles away.
Logistics
We chose to start at North Lake and hike counter-clockwise, and I’d highly recommend going this direction. The first half of the route felt relatively easier, with more gradual climbs and plenty of downhill, which was especially nice while carrying nine days of food. By the middle of the trip, I was much better acclimated to the altitude and felt ready for the bigger climbs later in the route.
On the first morning, we planned to leave our car at the South Lake Trailhead, but the lot was already full by the time we arrived. We ended up parking about a mile down the road, past Parchers Resort, and then hitchhiked over to North Lake to start the trip. Hitchhiking ended up being much easier here than I expected. We got a ride pretty quickly, and it was nice getting to chat with some of the locals along the way.
