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This day’s route continues straight ahead (north-northeast) at this junction. Just beyond the signed junction, pine-filtered views lead to Scepter Peak, which separates Crown and Halfmoon lakes and their drainages (Crown to Middle Fork Kings River, and Halfmoon to North Fork Kings River).

Crown Pass (10,189’) is nestled in the saddle between Crown Peak to the northeast and that unnamed higher peak (10,520’) whose eastern slopes you’ve just descended. (For an exhilarating view, head west cross-country to the unnamed higher peak’s summit for a panorama from the LeConte Divide and Kettle Ridge down the forested slopes west of Wishon Reservoir, and north-south from the Minarets near Mammoth Mountain to the high peaks of the Great Western Divide and the Kings-Kern Divide. Return to Crown Pass.)

Continuing, the rocky path descends toward Halfmoon Lake, moderately at first and then on steep switchbacks under western white and lodgepole pines. Heavily used campsites are located on the north and west banks with larger, more attractive sites situated across the outflow. Halfmoon Lake (9430’; 11S 354494 4016101) is a jewel in a granite setting and offers good swimming and fishing for brook and rainbow trout.