Gunsight Pass to Jackson Glacier
What to Expect
Safety Advisory
Grizzly bear activity is common throughout this corridor, especially in late summer when berry season peaks. Carry bear spray accessible on your hip, not buried in your pack, and make noise on blind corners.
Snow lingers on the pass well into July most years, and the final approach can require traversing steep snowfields. Without microspikes and an ice axe, a slip here could send you down several hundred feet of hard-packed snow.
Weather above treeline changes without warning. Clear skies at the trailhead can become lightning, sleet, or whiteout conditions at the pass within an hour. Pack rain layers and turn back if you see dark clouds building over the Divide.
Trail Details
Pro Tips
Start before 7 AM to give yourself a cushion — the return trip involves retracing that same elevation gain in reverse, and afternoon thunderstorms roll in fast above treeline.
Carry at least three liters of water per person. There are stream crossings in the valley, but the upper section above treeline is bone dry, and the climb to the pass is fully exposed.
Bring trekking poles for the descent from Gunsight Pass — the scree field on both sides is ankle-twisting terrain, and poles will save your knees on the way back down.