From the plateau of the Giant Forest at Crescent Meadow (elevation 6,700 ft or 2,000 m) the trail travels high on the northern wall of the canyon of the Middle Fork of the Kaweah River to Bearpaw Meadow. This first 11.4 miles (18.3 km) of the trail is a popular though strenuous two-day round trip hike. The Bearpaw Meadow High Sierra Camp (a simple tent hotel) located here dates back to 1934.[3]
Leaving the meadow, the trail climbs through the Hamilton Lakes Basin to Kaweah Gap which, at 10,700 feet (3,300 m), is one of the lowest passes over the Great Western Divide within the park. From this pass, the route descends into Big Arroyo and then climbs to the Chagoopa Plateau, only to drop again to 6,700 feet (2,000 m) in the Kern River Canyon. After following along the Kern River, it turns east and climbs parallel to Wallace Creek to the junction with the John Muir Trail and Pacific Crest Trail 48.9 miles (78.7 km) from Crescent Meadow. This is the end of the High Sierra Trail. Hikers may continue on the John Muir Trail 12.6 miles (20.3 km) to the summit of Mount Whitney.
The Mount Whitney Trail branches to the east from the John Muir Trail 2.4 miles (3.9 km) south of Mount Whitney's summit, and descends to Whitney Portal located at the end of the road from Lone Pine, California. From Crescent Meadow to Whitney Portal, the trail is 72.2 miles (116.2 km) long and often takes 6 days or more for the average hiker to complete. The fastest claimed time to traverse is 15 hours 46 minutes, by Leor Pantilat.[4]
Work began on the High Sierra Trail in 1928, and it was the first Sierra trail built solely for recreational use.
Hikers should check with park rangers before planning a trip with riding or pack stock. At least one section of the trail is closed to stock, and grazing is limited in many areas.
The High Sierra Trail has switchbacks above Hamilton Lake. It passes over the Great Western Divide at Kaweah Gap, climbing some 3,000 feet (900 m) in 4 miles (6.4 km).[5]
USGS 7.5 minute maps through which the trail passes: Lodgepole, Triple Divide Peak, Mt. Kaweah, Chagoopa Falls, Mount Whitney, Mount Langley
December 15, 2023
high, sierra, trail, confused, with, sierra, high, route, hiking, trail, sequoia, national, park, california, trail, crosses, sierra, nevada, from, west, east, according, yosemite, decimal, system, class, class, trail, which, means, simple, scrambling, with, p. Not to be confused with Sierra High Route The High Sierra Trail HST is a hiking trail in Sequoia National Park California The trail crosses the Sierra Nevada from west to east According to the Yosemite Decimal System the HST is a Class 1 Class 2 trail which means simple scrambling with the possibility of occasional use of the hands for balance 2 High Sierra TrailTrail near Hamilton LakeLength49 miles 79 km 1 LocationSequoia National Park Tulare County California USATrailheadsCrescent Meadow 36 33 17 N 118 44 57 W 36 55486 N 118 74910 W 36 55486 118 74910John Muir Trail 36 35 40 N 118 22 16 W 36 59437 N 118 37123 W 36 59437 118 37123UseHikingHighest point10 700 feet 3 300 m 1 Lowest point6 700 feet 2 000 m 1 Route editFrom the plateau of the Giant Forest at Crescent Meadow elevation 6 700 ft or 2 000 m the trail travels high on the northern wall of the canyon of the Middle Fork of the Kaweah River to Bearpaw Meadow This first 11 4 miles 18 3 km of the trail is a popular though strenuous two day round trip hike The Bearpaw Meadow High Sierra Camp a simple tent hotel located here dates back to 1934 3 Leaving the meadow the trail climbs through the Hamilton Lakes Basin to Kaweah Gap which at 10 700 feet 3 300 m is one of the lowest passes over the Great Western Divide within the park From this pass the route descends into Big Arroyo and then climbs to the Chagoopa Plateau only to drop again to 6 700 feet 2 000 m in the Kern River Canyon After following along the Kern River it turns east and climbs parallel to Wallace Creek to the junction with the John Muir Trail and Pacific Crest Trail 48 9 miles 78 7 km from Crescent Meadow This is the end of the High Sierra Trail Hikers may continue on the John Muir Trail 12 6 miles 20 3 km to the summit of Mount Whitney The Mount Whitney Trail branches to the east from the John Muir Trail 2 4 miles 3 9 km south of Mount Whitney s summit and descends to Whitney Portal located at the end of the road from Lone Pine California From Crescent Meadow to Whitney Portal the trail is 72 2 miles 116 2 km long and often takes 6 days or more for the average hiker to complete The fastest claimed time to traverse is 15 hours 46 minutes by Leor Pantilat 4 Work began on the High Sierra Trail in 1928 and it was the first Sierra trail built solely for recreational use Hikers should check with park rangers before planning a trip with riding or pack stock At least one section of the trail is closed to stock and grazing is limited in many areas nbsp The High Sierra Trail has switchbacks above Hamilton Lake It passes over the Great Western Divide at Kaweah Gap climbing some 3 000 feet 900 m in 4 miles 6 4 km 5 nbsp Bearpaw High Sierra Camp Main Tent 36 33 54 N 118 37 15 W 36 564987 N 118 620806 W 36 564987 118 620806References edit a b c Secor R J 1999 The High Sierra Peaks Passes and Trails 2nd ed Mountaineers Books p 92 ISBN 0 89886 625 1 Wallace Z 2016 Plan amp Go High Sierra Trail sandiburg press p 10 ISBN 978 1 943126 02 6 Bearpaw High Sierra Camp Guest Information PDF Retrieved 2008 10 04 commercial Bakwin Peter High Sierra Trail Fastest Known Time High Sierra Trail Map HighSierraTrails com High Sierra Trail Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park National Park Service Retrieved 2008 03 13 Starr Walter A Jr 1977 Starr s Guide to the John Muir Trail and the High Sierra Region Sierra Club Books ISBN 0 87156 172 7 USGS 7 5 minute maps through which the trail passes Lodgepole Triple Divide Peak Mt Kaweah Chagoopa Falls Mount Whitney Mount Langley Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title High Sierra Trail amp oldid 1159513773, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
