Kuna Peak, Parker Peak, Mount Lewis in Yosemite National Park, CA

Hike Kuna Peak, Parker Peak, Mount Lewis Yosemite National Park, CA

Class 2 21.1 miles 6200 gain 9-12 hrs Out + Back Aug 4, 2025
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Solitude
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Aug 4, 2025 — I decided to check out some peaks south of Tioga Pass to wrap up my summer Sierra trip. Mount Conness and its surrounding peaks to the north had me psyched for this area, so the cluster of peaks around Parker Pass felt like a good outing, and I was looking forward to the straightforward access due to the Yosemite National Park trail system. I got my required timed entry permit and parked at the Mono Pass Trailhead.

I kicked things off at the Mono Pass Trailhead, excited to see what the day had in store. The trail stretched out mostly forested and pretty flat for miles, and every now and then the trees gave way to meadows with views toward my peaks to come.

I eventually reached the junction with the Parker Pass Trail and used it to cross a sweeping meadow and entered the tundra at the base of Kuna Peak. The trail led up and over Parker Pass, descending for a bit past some small lakes, then reached the start of a crap ton of switchbacks leading up the talus slope at the base of Parker Peak.

The trail wraps beneath Parker Peak, and continues toward the base of Koip Peak. I ditched the trail for a Class 2 scramble up to Koip Peak, just an unranked sub-peak of Kuna Peak. With just a bit of boulder-hopping and some light scrambling I made it from Koip to Kuna enjoying the views of many classic Sierra summits.

I backtracked to Parker Peak, really just a lump with a reasonable slope, though the views toward Mono Lake were excellent. I retraced my steps toward Parker Pass, then left the trail just before the pass to climb Mount Lewis. The slope was steep at first, followed by a long and much gentler ridgeline walk. At the summit of Mount Lewis, I enjoyed the amazing views for a while before cruising down the grassy slope to rejoin the Parker Pass Trail.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Koip Peak
12984 ft
199 rise
2
Kuna Peak
13010 ft
1983 rise
3
Parker Peak
12867 ft
611 rise
4
Mount Lewis
12317 ft
1197 rise

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Starting from the Mono Pass Trailhead.
Starting from the Mono Pass Trailhead.
Along the Mono Pass Trail, Mount Gibbs seen top left.
Along the Mono Pass Trail, Mount Gibbs seen top left.
Mostly forested and often quite flat for miles.
Mostly forested and often quite flat for miles.
Some openings into meadows with views toward Kuna Peak.
Some openings into meadows with views toward Kuna Peak.
View back, Kuna Crest seen on the horizon.
View back, Kuna Crest seen on the horizon.
Crossing a meadow along the Parker Pass Trail.
Crossing a meadow along the Parker Pass Trail.
View back toward Mount Gibbs along the Parker Pass Trail.
View back toward Mount Gibbs along the Parker Pass Trail.
Parker Pass Trail views - an incredible sweeping tundra at the base of the peaks. (FYI lighting different because taken on the way back)
Parker Pass Trail views - an incredible sweeping tundra at the base of the peaks. (FYI lighting different because taken on the way back)
Absolutely lovely stretch of hiking.
Absolutely lovely stretch of hiking.
View back across the tundra.
View back across the tundra.
Parker Pass.
Parker Pass.
Descending from Parker Pass along the Parker Pass Trail. Parker Peak seen right of center.
Descending from Parker Pass along the Parker Pass Trail. Parker Peak seen right of center.
The trail switchbacks up the steep, talus slope in the center.
The trail switchbacks up the steep, talus slope in the center.
Approaching the base of Parker Peak.
Approaching the base of Parker Peak.
View back, Mount Lewis seen top right.
View back, Mount Lewis seen top right.
Starting up the switchbacks.
Starting up the switchbacks.
Koip/Kuna seen ahead, from the switchbacks.
Koip/Kuna seen ahead, from the switchbacks.
Looking back down the Parker Pass Trail switchbacks. Mount Lewis seen center, Parker Pass left.
Looking back down the Parker Pass Trail switchbacks. Mount Lewis seen center, Parker Pass left.
The Parker Pass Trail keeps below Parker Peak's northwestern slope. Koip Peak ahead.
The Parker Pass Trail keeps below Parker Peak's northwestern slope. Koip Peak ahead.
Off-trail Class 2 to Koip Peak.
Off-trail Class 2 to Koip Peak.
On the way up to Koip Peak, view back toward Parker Peak. Alger Lakes seen below.
On the way up to Koip Peak, view back toward Parker Peak. Alger Lakes seen below.
Summit of Koip Peak, onward to Kuna Peak, right.
Summit of Koip Peak, onward to Kuna Peak, right.
Some boulder-hopping on the way.
Some boulder-hopping on the way.
Class 2 to Kuna Peak.
Class 2 to Kuna Peak.
Kuna Peak summit, view back toward Koip Peak.
Kuna Peak summit, view back toward Koip Peak.
Kuna Peak summit, view north.
Kuna Peak summit, view north.
Close-up north toward Tigoa Pass peaks (Conness, Excelsior, etc.)
Close-up north toward Tigoa Pass peaks (Conness, Excelsior, etc.)
Kuna Peak summit, view west toward Lyell, Banner, Ritter.
Kuna Peak summit, view west toward Lyell, Banner, Ritter.
I backtracked and headed up to Parker Peak next. It was rocky, but not scrambly or boulder-hoppy.
I backtracked and headed up to Parker Peak next. It was rocky, but not scrambly or boulder-hoppy.
View back toward Koip Peak on my way up Parker Peak.
View back toward Koip Peak on my way up Parker Peak.
Parker Peak summit, view toward Alger Lakes and Mount Ritter.
Parker Peak summit, view toward Alger Lakes and Mount Ritter.
Mono Lake.
Mono Lake.
I backtracked toward Parker Pass, leaving the trail again shortly before the pass to head up to Mount Lewis. View back toward Parker Pass on my way up.
I backtracked toward Parker Pass, leaving the trail again shortly before the pass to head up to Mount Lewis. View back toward Parker Pass on my way up.
Steep, but straightforward slope.
Steep, but straightforward slope.
Followed by a more tame, long ridgeline slope.
Followed by a more tame, long ridgeline slope.
View back along the slope to Mount Lewis. It was pretty, but a bit boring. Mount Gibbs seen top right.
View back along the slope to Mount Lewis. It was pretty, but a bit boring. Mount Gibbs seen top right.
Summit of Mount Lewis, view south toward Parker Peak.
Summit of Mount Lewis, view south toward Parker Peak.
A quick hike down the slope to rejoin the Parker Pass Trail.
A quick hike down the slope to rejoin the Parker Pass Trail.

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