High Sierra Trail

The High Sierra Trail begins at Crescent Meadow in Sequoia National Park, then heads up the canyon of the Middle Fork of the Kaweah River, past the majestic beauty of Hamilton and Precipice Lakes, then traverses the Great Western Divide at Kaweah Gap 10,700 feet. The trail next descends into the beautiful Big Arroyo before beginning a steady climb up to the Chagoopa Plateau. Once again the hiker will lose hard-gained elevation and drop down over 3,000 feet into the Kern River Canyon. While in the Kern River Canyon, sore-footed hikers can enjoy the natural hot spring tub alongside the mighty Kern River. The trail then continues up the bottom of the Kern Canyon and turns east, climbing parallel to Wallace Creek and merging with the John Muir Trail Segment 7, 49 miles from the starting point. Once on JMT Segment 7, the hiker can then follow the John Muir Trail about 13 more miles to the summit of Mount Whitney. Most hikers will continue the remaining 12 miles downhill to Whitney Portal to complete the trail as a point-to-point.