Sphinx Lakes in Kings Canyon

After mounting the first headwall you lose the trail for good and soon meet the second headwall. Either cross the creek bed and mount the next headwall on the left, or hear right to the naer large trees. Either way you will meet some bush. The better way may be the right with careful rout-finding.

The Second Headwall

Departing the Avalanche Meadow camp area, there is a sign that says there is an un-maintained trail to Sphinx Lakes, and for a while there is a good trail to above Avalanche Meadow. The guides say to stay on the left east side of Sphinx Creek, but actually the trail starts on the right side. At the first headwall above Avalanche Meadow, the left side would be very bad, with lots of overgrown talus. The trail reaches near the headwall then it is bushwhack time. Try to stay low till you reach the creek and the headwall and look for the faded trail switchbacking up to the right of the creek, which takes you to the top of the headwall before it fades away. As an alternate, you can find an grassy gully on the west side of the creek that will take you up past the headwall, where you then will have to head back to the creek and follow it going upward.
After a long easy walk through trail-less forest the second headwall is reached. You may have to sit down and think about this one. The left side seems steep granite, maybe too steep. The right side has much talus. If you go to the right carefully make your way through some level talus and bush, and up the headwall and into the trees. Route-finding skills is a must here. If you go to the left (probably more difficult with a heavy pack), cross Sphinx Creek and make your way through the meadow and bush to the steep granite just to the left of the creek. Carefully ascend the steep granite slab and make your way to the obvious route near (but not TOO near) the creek and make your way to the trees above. After that it is another long walk through forest and eventually to the first Sphinx Lake. There is no trail, no ducks, no nothing but easy cross-country most all the way.